Most of us come into Co-Anon feeling desperate. We are deeply concerned about the use of cocaine by a relative or friend.

Our concern for another is greatly affecting our own lives. We come to Co-Anon because we want and need help.

Through the fellowship of Co-Anon many of us found that help. We have learned ways out of our misery and despair and are living happy and productive lives.

Suggestions:

We suggest that you attend 6-8 consecutive meetings before you decide whether the Co-Anon Program is for you.

We also suggest that you make no major changes in your life for the first 6 months to a year, unless there is violence. In the meantime continue to attend Co-Anon meetings regularly and use the Co-Anon Tools for Recovery.

Co-Anon Tools for Recovery:

1. Attend Meetings
   Attend as many meetings as possible and keep an open mind. Remember: our situations did not develop overnight and it will take time for us to work our way through them.
   
    
2. Read the Literature
   Read and re-read all of the information in the Literature Packet for Newcomers. Get any additional literature that is available at the meetings and try to read some of it every day.
   
    
3. Share at Meetings
   Co-Anon meetings provide special time for Newcomers to share, usually toward the end of each meeting. At this time, newcomers are encouraged to ask specific questions to the group or to share their feelings and concerns.
   
    
4. Use the Lifeline Phone List
   Each Co-Anon meeting has a confidential Lifeline Phone List. This list contains the first names and phone numbers of Co-Anon members who regularly attend that meeting. These members are willing to be called between meetings when we need to ask a question or to share something that is happening in our lives.
   
    
5. Use the Slogans
   We use the Slogans in order to help ourselves out of our difficult situations and to develop our peace of mind. Some of our Slogans are: "Live and Let Live," "Easy Does It," "Let Go and Let God," "This Too Shall Pass," "Think," "Listen and Learn," "Turn It Over," "Progress Not Perfection," "One Day At A Time," "Keep It Simple," "3 C's: Cause, Control, Cure," "3 A's: Awareness, Acceptance, Action," "First Things First."
   
    
6. Use the Serenity Prayer
   It helps to remember that there is a Power greater than ourselves and that the only person each of us can change is ourselves.
   
    
7. Study the Twelve Steps of Co-Anon Family Groups
   We use the 12 Steps to guide us in our personal growth and enlightenment. We have found that by working these steps we find solutions to practically any problem. Co-Anon has specific meetings designed for study and discussion of the 12 Steps.
   
    
8. Write
   Writing is an important part of our spiritual growth and recovery. We write in order to clarify and to let go of our thoughts and feelings. We may wish to keep our writing confidential or to share it with a trusted friend in the Co-Anon Program.
   
    
9. Get A Sponsor
   A Sponsor is someone who is a longtime member of Co-Anon with whom we identify. This is a person of the same sex whom we admire and would like to emulate. A Sponsor is someone with whom we develop a close relationship in order to share our personal feelings. A Sponsor is someone who gives us guidance in working the 12 Steps.
   
    
10. Pray
    Co-Anon is a spiritual, rather than a religious, program. For many of us, our way out of pain begins when we admit that our lives have become unmanageable and we become willing to turn to a Power greater than ourselves.
    
     

A Few Special Words to Newcomers:

If you are concerned about someone else's use of cocaine, we are concerned about you. Co-Anon is the right place for you. Keep coming back! It works!

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