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Sponsor's Role in Alcohol or Drug Recovery

Topic Overview

Your sponsor in a drug or alcohol recovery program helps you stay drug-free or sober. He or she will respect your views and shouldn't force his or her views on you. Your sponsor doesn't have all the answers and doesn't pretend to be right all the time.

Your sponsor is someone who has been in recovery for a long time. You will be able to see how the recovery program has helped him or her and how it can help you.

Your sponsor:

  • Helps you stay drug-free and sober. He or she understands your situation and cares about you.
  • Helps you when you are thinking about using drugs or drinking again or have had a relapse.
  • Shows you what the program has to help you. This can be meetings, brochures, books, and other things. He or she also can help you find more information about drug or alcohol abuse and recovery.
  • Encourages you to attend meetings and helps you get to them. He or she will urge you to join in group events and work with other people to help your recovery. Your sponsor will introduce you to other members and help you find common bonds or interests with them.
  • Sees that you get more than one idea or view of the program. This can help you keep an open mind about it and see if the program suits you and is working for you. He or she will introduce you to the program's traditions and steps and stress how important they are.

You can find a sponsor by going to a program meeting and asking someone to be your sponsor. Ask someone you feel at ease with and can talk easily with.

Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Peter Monti, PhD - Alcohol and Addiction
Last Revised January 5, 2012

Last Revised: January 5, 2012

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Peter Monti, PhD - Alcohol and Addiction

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