Meetings

To the newcomer who wonders what the first thing he or she must do to achieve sobriety, we say that you have already done the first thing; you have admitted to yourself, and now to others, that you need help by the very act of coming to a meeting or seeking information about the C.A. program.

You are also, at this very moment doing the next thing to stay straight; you are not taking the next hit. Ours is a one-day-at-a-time program. We suggest that you should not dwell on wanting to stay sober for the rest of your life, or the year, or even the week. Once you have decided you want to quit, let tomorrow take care of itself. Just for today, you don’t have to use. But sometimes it is too much for us to project even one whole day drug free. That’s okay. Just for the next ten minutes, you don’t have to use. It’s okay to want it, but you don’t have to use it, just for ten minutes. After ten minutes, see where you are. You can repeat this simple process as often as necessary, using whatever span of time feels comfortable.

Just for Today, I don’t have to USE!

In the C.A. fellowship, you are among recovering cocaine abusers who are living without drugs. Make use of us! Take phone numbers. Between meetings you may not be able to avoid contact with drugs and druggies. Some of us had no sober friends at all when we first came in. You have sober friends now! When you begin to feel squirrelly, don’t wait, give one of us a call. And don’t be surprised if one of us calls you when we need help.