If you happen to follow Valley Recovery Center, then you’re probably well aware of the Facebook Alumni Group we set up and how it has been helping people who have been through our program. On pages like these, followers are welcome to post their thoughts, find support and stay informed about events and meetups related to their sobriety. And let us tell you, we are certainly not alone in this venture. Across the country Facebook Groups are helping people in recovery, as referenced in a new article by U.S. News & World Report.
That particular piece touches upon recovery advocate Jameil White and the incredible support network she has built on social media. A former crystal meth addict, White now runs the Warrior Queens and Warrior Kings Facebook Group; which has amassed more than 4,400 followers. Interestingly Jameil offers assistance and management to a wide variety of pages, some available to the public and some closed for privacy. There, of course, is no right or wrong way to operate a Group like this and it is mostly up to the members to decide how open (or closed) the experience needs to be.
“We stay connected online, and we don’t judge anybody on what path they’re on,” White told U.S. News. “Whether they’re still in active addiction and they’re struggling, or whether they’re seeking help, we all take the time and volunteer and answer messages and talk to people. We’re their friends – we allow them to call us if they need to. We go so far as trying to find them local meetings or rehab treatment centers, or anything we can to get them the help they need.”
Another article interviewee has approached the struggle from a totally different angle. 46-year-old Julie Richards hasn’t faced an addiction herself, but watched her daughter nearly die because of a meth dependency. To help create a support network of her own, Richards created a special Facebook Group for parents of addicted children. But hers became hyper targeted, zeroing in to moms and the meth epidemic (with a page called Mothers Against Meth Alliance). And true to form, that targeted Group now has over 5,000 members.
“There’s a big problem with meth in this country,” she told the site. “People need help, and they’re not getting the help they need. A lot of people reach out for love and understanding, and we’re all learning about this together. I’m hoping that we’re helping each other through this.”
For what it’s worth, we are happy that these types of accessible pages are available to those impacted by addiction. And, of course, ours is always happy to welcome in new members.
