Drinking Support Groups: Finding the Right Support for Changing Your Drinking

Drinking support groups come in many forms, and finding the right fit can make the difference between struggling alone and successfully changing your habits.

What You'll Discover:

• Why support matters when changing your drinking habits.

• The different types of drinking support groups available.

• What to expect from AA and 12-step programs.

• How SMART Recovery offers a science-based alternative.

• Online communities and forums for peer support.

• How coaching programs provide personalized guidance.

• How to choose the right type of support for you.

• Why combining support with medication improves outcomes.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, people who receive both behavioral support and medication have better outcomes than those who receive either alone. Having some form of support significantly improves your chances of successfully changing your drinking patterns.

The challenge is that "support group" often brings to mind a specific image that doesn't appeal to everyone. Understanding the full range of options helps you find an approach that actually fits.

Why Support Matters

The first thing to know is that having support makes changing your drinking significantly easier. Research consistently shows that people who have accountability and encouragement are more likely to reach their goals.

Support helps in several ways:

• Accountability - Knowing someone will ask about your progress provides motivation to stay on track

• Guidance - Learning from others who have faced similar challenges

• Normalization - Realizing you're not alone in struggling with alcohol

• Practical strategies - Discovering techniques that work for others

• Encouragement during setbacks - Having someone to help you get back on track when you slip

Something to consider is that support doesn't have to mean sitting in a circle sharing your deepest feelings. It can be a weekly video call with a coach, participation in an online forum, or regular check-ins with a therapist.

Alcoholics Anonymous and 12-Step Programs

AA is the most well-known drinking support group. Founded in 1935, it has helped millions of people get sober.

How AA works:

• Based on the 12-step model

• Free to attend

• Meetings available worldwide, including online

• Emphasizes admitting powerlessness over alcohol

• Includes a spiritual component (belief in a "higher power")

• Encourages working with a sponsor

• Goal is complete abstinence

Who AA works well for:

• People who connect with the spiritual framework

• Those who benefit from structure and tradition

• People seeking lifelong community membership

• Those who want complete abstinence

• People with severe alcohol use disorder

Who may struggle with AA:

• Those uncomfortable with religious or spiritual elements

• People who prefer evidence-based approaches

• Those who want to reduce drinking rather than abstain completely

• People who don't resonate with the "powerlessness" concept

AA is free, widely available, and has helped many people. It's worth trying at least once to see if it's a fit.

SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery is a science-based alternative to 12-step programs. It uses cognitive-behavioral techniques and has been growing in popularity.

How SMART Recovery works:

• Based on cognitive-behavioral therapy principles

• Uses the REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) framework

• Four main areas: building motivation, coping with urges, managing thoughts and behaviors, living a balanced life

• Meetings available in-person and online

• No requirement to believe in a higher power

• Self-empowerment rather than powerlessness model

• Supports both abstinence and moderation goals

Who SMART Recovery works well for:

• People who prefer evidence-based approaches

• Those uncomfortable with spiritual frameworks

• People who want to develop specific cognitive skills

• Those who prefer the "self-management" framing

• People whose goal may be moderation rather than abstinence

SMART Recovery meetings are less common than AA meetings in most areas, but online meetings are readily available.

Online Communities and Forums

Digital support has expanded options for people who want peer connection without attending in-person meetings.

Reddit communities - Subreddits focused on alcohol recovery have hundreds of thousands of members sharing experiences, asking questions, and supporting each other. These communities are free, anonymous, and available 24/7.

Other online forums - Various platforms offer moderated communities for people working on their drinking. Some focus on abstinence, others on moderation.

App-based communities - Several apps provide daily check-ins, progress tracking, and peer support features.

Benefits of online support:

• Accessible anytime from anywhere

• Anonymous participation possible

• Can supplement other forms of treatment

• No scheduling required for forums

• Diverse perspectives and experiences

Limitations:

• Less personal connection than in-person support

• Variable quality of advice

• No professional oversight

• May not provide adequate support for severe AUD

Coaching Programs

Coaching provides structured, personalized support from a trained professional. Unlike therapy, coaching focuses more on practical strategies and accountability than exploring underlying psychological issues.

What alcohol coaching typically includes:

• Regular one-on-one sessions (often via video call)

• Goal setting and progress tracking

• Identifying triggers and developing coping strategies

• Accountability check-ins

• Practical guidance for specific situations

Benefits of coaching:

• Personalized attention

• Flexible scheduling

• Confidential and private

• Focused on practical results

• Can be combined with medication

For that reason, programs like Choose Your Horizon combine medication with coaching support. This addresses both the biological aspect (cravings) and the behavioral aspect (habits and triggers).

How to Choose the Right Support

Selecting the right drinking support group depends on your personal preferences and situation.

Consider AA or 12-step if you:

• Want a free option

• Are comfortable with spiritual frameworks

• Seek lifelong community membership

• Want complete abstinence

• Benefit from structure and tradition

Consider SMART Recovery if you:

• Prefer science-based approaches

• Are uncomfortable with spiritual elements

• Want to learn specific cognitive skills

• May want moderation rather than abstinence

Consider online communities if you:

• Want anonymous support

• Have scheduling constraints

• Prefer written communication

• Want to supplement other treatment

Consider coaching if you:

• Want personalized, one-on-one support

• Value privacy and discretion

• Prefer practical, goal-oriented approaches

• Want flexible scheduling

So, do you need to pick just one? The short answer is no. Many people combine different types of support. You might work with a coach, take medication, and participate in an online community simultaneously.

Combining Support With Medication

If it seems like support alone should be enough, research shows otherwise. The combination of behavioral support and medication produces better results than either alone.

Naltrexone is an FDA-approved medication that reduces alcohol cravings and the rewarding effects of drinking. It works by blocking opioid receptors in the brain, making alcohol less appealing over time.

When you combine naltrexone with support:

• The medication handles the biological aspect (cravings, reward response)

• The support handles the behavioral aspect (habits, triggers, accountability)

• You address alcohol from multiple angles simultaneously

Naltrexone is taken as a daily 50mg tablet. It doesn't require complete abstinence and can be used whether your goal is reducing drinking or stopping entirely.

Our article on how naltrexone helps you regain control explains the medication in more detail.

Taking the First Step

Finding the right drinking support group can significantly improve your chances of successfully changing your relationship with alcohol. Options range from traditional 12-step programs to modern telehealth coaching, and the right choice depends on your preferences and goals.

All that said, the best support is the support you'll actually use. An imperfect fit that you engage with consistently beats a perfect theoretical match that you never attend.

If you want to explore combining medication with coaching support, take the online Alcohol Use Assessment to see if naltrexone could help you meet your goals.