Crystal Meth Anonymous

Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) is a 12–step–based fellowship whose members share their experiences with each other in order to recover from addiction to crystal meth and to help others do the same. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using and membership is free–of–cost, supporting itself through voluntary member contributions. CMA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; it does not wish to engage in any controversy; and neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Its stated primary purpose "is to help the addict lead a sober life and carry the message of recovery to other crystal meth addicts who still suffer".^[1]

History and demographics

CMA was founded on September 16, 1994 in West Hollywood, California. The first group held its first meeting at the West Hollywood Alcohol and Drug Center.^[2] CMA now has a presence in over 100 metropolitan areas of the United States, as well as parts of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Iran.^[3] The first CMA World Service Conference was held in Park City, Utah in October 2008, during which the CMA Charter was adopted.^[2] Most members use the basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous' "Big Book" as a guide for recovery. At the first General Service Conference, the delegates adopted that

The Fellowship of Crystal Meth Anonymous works a Twelve Step program of recovery. We have not felt the need to elaborate in great detail a specific CMA approach to the Twelve Steps: too many other excellent outlines already exist for following these spiritual principles. But our experience has shown that without the Steps we could not stay sober.^[2]

In 2002, the United States Department of Health and Human Services estimated 12 million people, age 12 and over, had used methamphetamine—600,000 of which were estimated to be current users—with a growth rate of approximately 300,000 new users per year.^[4] In 2005, a Los Angeles clinic estimated that one out of three gay or bisexual HIV–positive men admitted to using methamphetamine.^[4][5] Methamphetamine may lower inhibitions, increasing the likelihood of engaging in unprotected sex and sharing needles.^[6] In large metropolitan areas, such as Atlanta, Chicago, Miami and Washington, DC, many CMA groups are designated as gay, or are defacto gay, reflecting the use of methamphetamine in urban gay communities.^[7] As CMA's popularity grew, the growth of meeting spread to large non–gay communities such as those in Phoenix and Minneapolis.

Effectiveness

A self–selected study limited to men who had sex with other men, used meth, and attended CMA, showed that, after three months of participation in CMA, members reported their number of sexual partners had dropped from seven to less than one, and self–reports of unprotected anal intercourse when using methamphetamine dropped by two–thirds.^[8] In a six–month follow up, 64% had remained abstinent from methamphetamine while an additional 20% had used only once.^[7][9]

Literature

• Crystal Clear: Stories of Hope. Crystal Meth Anonymous, Inc. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4507-7770-4. 
• Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of how Many Thousands of Men and Women have Recovered from Alcoholism (4th ed.). New York City: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. 2001. ISBN 978-1-893007-16-1. LCCN 2001094693. OCLC 864485735. 
• Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. 2012. ISBN 978-0-916856-01-4. LCCN 53-5454. OCLC 13572433. 

See also

• Addiction recovery groups
• List of twelve–step groups

References

Further reading

• Donovan, Dennis M.; Wells, Elizabeth A. (2007). "'Tweaking 12-Step': the potential role of 12-Step self-help group involvement in methamphetamine recovery" (PDF). Addiction 102 (Suppl. 1): 121–129. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01773.x. ISSN 0965-2140. PMID 17493061. Archived from the original on 2015-07-14. 
• Lewis, J. Richard; Boyle, David P.; Lewis, Linda S.; Evans, Maestro (2000). "Reducing AIDS and Substance Abuse Risk Factors Among Homeless, HIV-Infected, Drug-Using Persons" (PDF). Research on Social Work Practice 10 (1): 15–33. ISSN 1049-7315. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-14. 
• Lewis, Trevor F. II (2004). "Walking Down the Twelve Steps with Crystal Meth". Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions 4 (4): 127–130. doi:10.1300/J160v04n04_09. ISSN 1533-256X. 

External links

• CMA World Service website