The twelve step tradition is based upon anonymity. The principle of anonymity was established to assure a safe place for people to recover. What is also needed is advocacy to change the stigma and discrimination so often faced by individuals and families impacted by alcohol and drug addiction. When people in recovery speak out they can be a formidable agent of change. Listen in to this opiate recovery support group as they discuss privacy issues and advocacy issues.

Discussion Guide:

Do you feel a strong need to protect your privacy due to your history of addiction?

Speaking up carries risk. In what situations do you most need to protect your privacy?

In what situations do you act as a recovery advocate?

What are the positive consequences of being a recovery advocate? To you personally, and to the nation?

Supplemental Reading:

Laura Hilgers, Let's Open Up About Addiction and Recovery, http://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/opinion/sunday/drug-addiction-recovery-alcoholism.html

Faces & Voices of Addiction, http://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/

The Anonymous People (movie) http://manyfaces1voice.org/

Jason Scholl, Here to Help, http://www.amazon.com/Here-Help-Overcoming-Opiate-Addiction/dp/1478773499/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1518830586&sr=1-2&keywords=here+to+help