What is Crystal Meth Anonymous?

Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) is a non-profit organization that strives to help individuals who are recovering from crystal meth addiction and achieve lasting sobriety through a combination of personal support and a spirituality-based twelve step addiction recovery program.¹

The CMA was founded in Los Angeles in 1994 by Bill C., a recovering crystal meth addict who was attending various Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings at the time. Although there was a growing number of crystal meth addicts at these meetings, Bill felt the AA and NA programs were unable to fully provide the required crystal meth anonymous support for crystal meth addicts.²

Bill started organizing the first Crystal Meth Anonymous meetings in 1994. Based on the readings and recovery programs developed by NA and AA, these early meetings were immensely successful and soon became a daily occurrence in Los Angeles. Within a decade, CMA meetings were being held in San Diego, Las Vegas, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, New York City, Phoenix, Atlanta, Georgia, Salt Lake City, and many other parts of the US.²

As of 2022, CMA meetings are a regular occurrence all over the United States, as well as in 8 countries around the globe. Their General Service website lists a total of 818 meetings worldwide.²

What is the “12 Steps of Crystal Meth Anonymous” Recovery Program?

The CMA program consists of 12 steps. These steps are designed to help individuals who are battling substance use addiction disorders (SUDs) live a life that is free of crystal meth and other psychoactive substances.¹

Treatment-seeking individuals follow the 12 steps in sequence with the aid of a sponsor who offers counsel and guidance throughout the program. These programs were formally established by Alcoholics Anonymous in 1946. They have been shown to offer the highest possibility of lasting recovery.³

The 12 steps of Crystal Meth Anonymous are:⁴

• We admitted that we were powerless over crystal meth and our lives had become unmanageable.
• We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
• We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of a God of our understanding.
• We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
• We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
• We’re entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
• We humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.
• We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
• We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
• We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
• We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with a God of our understanding praying only for the knowledge of God’s will for us, and the power to carry that out.
• Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to crystal meth addicts, and to practice these principles in all of our affairs.

What are the Benefits of Crystal Meth Anonymous?

Attending Crystal Meth Anonymous meetings for crystal meth addiction is an important component of aftercare that follows a finished treatment program. These support groups are designed to help individuals maintain long-term sobriety, remain committed to their recovery, and meet others who share the same issues.³

The sponsorship model that is used in 12-step recovery programs involves having a person who’s progressed in their recovery offer guidance and support to a newcomer. Sponsors hold sponsees accountable, help keep them focused on their recovery, and work closely with them to reinforce their willpower and strength. This approach has been shown to aid in long-term recovery and significantly reduce the risk of relapse.⁵

What Happens at Crystal Meth Anonymous Meetings?

During meetings, support groups gather to discuss the 12-step program, listen to speakers, and share popular readings that aid in recovery. Every meeting serves as a safe environment where individuals can relate their experiences, hear other people’s stories, and meet their fellow recovering addicts. Sponsors also offer suggestions, answer questions, and provide emotional support to the sponsees.⁵

What is the Cost to Attend Crystal Meth Anonymous?

The CMA is a fellowship of people for whom all psychoactive substances, but specifically crystal meth, have become an issue. The only requirement for becoming a member is a desire to remain sober and stop using stimulants such as methamphetamine and other psychoactive substances.¹

There are no membership fees or lists, so there’s no need to worry about insurance coverage or pay out of pocket (unless you wish to make a donation). CMA support groups and programs are available in most parts of the country, making it an excellent place to find anonymous help for crystal meth addicts with no money.¹

How to Prepare for Crystal Meth Addicts Anonymous meetings near me?

Whether you or your loved one are attending in-person or online meetings, the only prerequisite for membership is a desire to lead a drug-free life. It’s important to understand that the CMA considers addiction to be a chronic illness that can never be fully cured, but which can be successfully controlled by staying sober, one day at a time.¹

Furthermore, the CMA believes that, by accepting their powerlessness against their SUD and embracing a higher power, individuals can find the inner strength they need to resist their addiction. Learning how to adopt this mindset is essential in order to effectively follow the CMA 12-step program.¹

Treatment-seeking individuals will also have to adjust their schedule to accommodate support group meetings and make other personal adjustments that aid in recovery.

Who Should Attend Crystal Meth Anonymous Meetings?

Treatment-seeking individuals whose SUDs are mild or still in their early stages may need to attend CMA support group meetings as part of their outpatient treatment program. During these meetings, they can learn new coping mechanisms and techniques for managing stressors that don’t involve psychoactive substances. This will help them better understand and control their SUDs, which may prevent them from spiraling into more advanced stages of addiction.³

Patients who have gone through intensive crystal meth detox and completed inpatient treatment programs at specialized rehab facilities may be required to attend crack and/or crystal meth addiction meetings as a part of their aftercare plans.³

What is the Duration of Crystal Meth Anonymous programs?

The type and duration of treatment is determined based on a person’s specific needs and circumstances. People who have completed short-term substance addiction treatment programs may only be required to attend support group meetings for a few months, while individuals who suffer from severe SUDs and have gone through long-term inpatient treatment may be required to go to meetings for years as a part of their individualized aftercare programs.³

A typical CMA support group meeting lasts about 60 minutes. One of the responsibilities of the meeting facilitator is to ensure the meetings don’t last over an hour, as the attendees usually have other responsibilities and commitments to meet. In some cases, such as when speakers are present, a meeting may go on for a few minutes longer than usual.⁵

Are There Any Alternatives to Crystal Meth Anonymous?

Attending CMA or a similar support group can be an effective part of your or your loved one’s recovery process.5 That being said, CMA may not be the right choice for everyone. Depending on their unique situation and needs, treatment-seeking individuals may benefit from medically-assisted detox and a more structured or intensive crystal meth addiction treatment in an outpatient or inpatient setting.⁶

Available rehab options include:⁶

• Comprehensive 3-10 day substance abuse detox programs
• Individualized 28-30 day drug and alcohol rehab programs
• 60-day hospitalization at an alcohol and drug rehab facility
• Extended 90-day substance use disorder treatment programs
• Specialized drug and alcohol rehab treatment for couples
• Medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders
• Drug and alcohol addiction rehab for teenage patients
• Expert assistance with staging effective interventions

How to find a Crystal Meth Anonymous support group or meeting near me?

Since methamphetamine stays in the body for a long time and crystal meth addiction carries a significant risk of overdose, it’s recommended to seek help as soon as possible.⁷ Here at American Addiction Centers (AAC), we’re partnered with a number of reputable drug and alcohol rehab facilities nationwide that can provide you with a tailored, evidence-based treatment you or your loved one need.

To learn more, call our free crystal meth addiction treatment hotline and speak in total confidentiality with one of our trained and experienced navigators. In addition to answering any questions you may have, our team will also be able to verify your insurance coverage, aid you in exploring the available payment options and treatments, and help you find a Crystal Meth Addicts Anonymous group near you, all in the course of a single phone call.AAC methamphetamine addiction treatment centers are located throughout the country and are in-network with major insurers. All you need to do is call our Crystal Meth helpline, and our seasoned operators will guide you through the process of finding evidence-based treatment for yourself or your loved one that has the highest chance of long-term success.