People struggling with their use of crystal methamphetamine (meth, speed, crystal, ice) sometimes find it helpful to get support from others trying to beat their addiction. Some people find support in Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA), a 12 step group. CMA is a fellowship of men and women for whom all drugs, especially crystal meth, were a problem. They come together in a shared experience to help each other recover their addiction. The meetings are open to anyone with a desire to stop using. You can find a meeting in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Find a computer, get online, and go to the Crystal Meth Anonymous website at crystalmeth.org then and look for the CMA meeting directory. Search for the city you want to attend a meeting at and find a way to get there if you do not drive. Getting home isn’t usually a problem. Talk to another addict in recovery after the meeting and ask for a ride.
Alternatively, look in the phone book under “addiction” or “alcoholism” to find meetings. If there is not an option for a Crystal Meth Anonymous meeting look up Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and ask them if they know of one. If they don’t and you’re looking for a safe place for an hour or so, find the location of a meeting. Not everyone has internet access and the phone book still works! People tweaking, new in recovery, or back from relapse many times don’t have all the gadgets and resources that society learns to take for granted, like cell phones.
Call a local alcohol/drug detox or alcohol and drug rehab center. They are great resources for all kinds of information and often host meetings because they encourage patients to attend. At the very least they should be able to send you in the direction of a recovery meeting. A detox can also answer some questions about the detox process and what it takes to get into a drug rehab if you are still using meth and trying to find a CMA meeting to start getting clean.
If you call a detox or drug rehab stay focused. Ask about the meetings first, time and location, and then get treatment information. The only reason for this is that finding the right treatment center can sometimes take time so approach it as gathering data. If you’re in a hopeless or desperate moment and the counselor tells you the wait is long, or the price is high, or something else that hurts to hear when you’re already at a place of despair then you want to have in your hand the recovery meeting you’re going to when you hang up.
Grab a schedule when you’re at the Crystal Meth Anonymous meeting. This way you can plan ahead and begin to implement recovery into your life in whatever way works best for you. For some it’s not 12 step meetings, but for others they like the supportive environment and “knowing” that only addicts can share with one another.
No matter what don’t ever give up!