Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sobriety & Recovery

Words by Daniel Hirsch

 

Trend alert: non-alcoholic beverages. More Americans report they’re giving up alcohol or describing themselves as “sober curious.” This comes at a time when the impact of excessive drinking and drug use couldn’t be more acute. The CDC reports deaths from alcohol and drug use has been sharply climbing over the last two decades.

In a culture of prevalent drinking, getting sober is no small feat, but there’s help. I talked to DAP Health Peer Support Specialist Bill Bruner — who just celebrated 34 years sober himself — to find out what recovery looks like at the nonprofit.

 

What is sobriety? Is it different for different people?

I’m old school, so for me sobriety is absence of all mind-altering drugs and substances being ingested into your body. Recovery is more than that. Anybody can go into rehab and detox. Well, now what do you do? I tell people: All you have to do after you stop the drugs and the alcohol is change everything else about you.

 

How do you get sober? How do you start recovery?

The biggest thing is you ask for help. Can people do it on their own? Sure. But most people need some kind of foundation. You need somebody to guide you.

 

I’ve heard DAP Health offers something called SMART Recovery. How is this different from the traditional the 12-step program outlined by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?

SMART Recovery [Self-Management and Recovery Training] has a more scientific base than a traditional 12-step program. There’s no higher power, there’s no sponsorship. It offers tools for self-management and recovery training based on cognitive behavioral therapy. A lot of SMART recovery is open sharing in a support group. It’s being there for each other.

 

This question might be different for everyone, but why should someone get sober?

Because their life is falling apart. Thirty-four years ago, I weighed 120 pounds. I could barely walk and I was covered with open sores. I thought I was dying of AIDS. It turned out malnutrition and addiction were killing me. That’s why I got sober. All my other options were gone.

 

What recovery resources are available at DAP Health?

DAP Health offers 12-step groups as well as SMART Recovery groups on a weekly basis. The Everything A group is a mix of all the 12-step groups and has been meeting for over 10 years here. There is a CODA meeting, a 12-step group weekly also. This is for freedom from co-dependency and partners, with all the healing 12-step groups also.

Various 12-step groups have been in existence since the 1930s, starting with AA, and have been helping people with recovery ever since. In 2024, recovery groups have branched out with other forms of groups, including the three SMART Recovery groups offered here at DAP Health, as well as Dharma Recovery and Celebrate Recovery groups in our local community. Everything helps people. 

 

If someone is thinking about starting recovery, what should they know?

Things are going to change. Things will happen as you take control of your life. But things aren’t going to be perfect for the rest of your life because you don’t drink and use drugs anymore. It’s a journey. It’s not easy. It’s also not hard. And it’s really not easy. It’s not hard, because there are people like me to help. And it’s not easy, because it’s a big change.