On May 15, 2023 SMART Recovery announced that our SMART Recovery Online Community would be retired on June 30th. We recognize that change can sometimes feel overwhelming, and we are here to support you every step of the way. We have received several questions that we have answered below. Together, we will navigate these transitions and continue to empower individuals on their recovery journeys.
Q: Does the closing of SROL mean that there will be no more online meetings?
A: Not at all! In fact, we have over 500 online meetings available on SMARTfinder waiting to provide support and connection. The only meetings impacted by this change are the 42 that required SROL registration to participate, and those meetings can transition to SMARTfinder if they want to.
Q: Will the SMART Recovery website and its resources still exist?
A: Absolutely! The valuable resources available on the website, including our Toolbox, will remain available after June 30th.
Q: How will this change impact my local meeting?
A: With the closure of SROL, more participants may now discover local meetings through SMARTfinder. As a result, you may witness an increase in attendance. Hopefully, this will provide a fresh source of support and connection for your local recovery community.
Q: How will participants build community without SROL?
A: Building a community of self-empowerment remains at the core of SMART Recovery. Central to that community has always been our meetings, both in-person and online. Volunteers and participants may choose to explore SMART-inspired communities of connection on other platforms to reinforce what they learn in meetings. Such communities exist on reddit, Facebook, and Discord, to name a few options.
Q. As a local volunteer, how can I help?
A: As we work to transition our SROL meetings to SMARTfinder, we need additional co-facilitators. The role of co-facilitator in a national meeting is to provide support to both the facilitator and the participants, not to lead the meeting. If you are interested in helping out or just want to learn more, please fill out this form.
