Organizations Texas Sober Living Apartment Environment Community observes.

Alcohol Addiction

National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is one of the country’s most valued resources when it comes to research on alcohol. One of the 27 organizations that are under the umbrella of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), NIAAA has been funding and conducting research on the impact that alcohol has on health and wellbeing for more than 40 years. In fact, it provides more funding for alcohol research than any other organization in the world.

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) is an organization dedicated to helping those who are in the midst of trying to overcome an alcohol use disorder or other substance abuse problem. NCADD offers those who are in need access to information that they need as well as connections to local resources where they can get the in-person treatment necessary to overcome alcohol use and addiction. There are close to 100 NCADD affiliates working on the community level across the country. They operate on the basis of the principle that all people who are struggling with alcoholism can be helped and that treatment can lead recovering alcoholics to healthy, fulfilling lives.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international organization that provides alcoholics in recovery with a safe place to meet, share, and work toward building a stronger life together without alcohol. AA is unique because it is not a professional group or organization but one that is completely supported by the people who take part in it. There are no requirements to attend meetings and no dues – nothing is required except the genuine desire to stay sober and support others in doing the same. Members often utilize the Alcoholics Anonymous book – the Big Book – that was first published in 1939. They also often attend meetings regularly and work with a sponsor as they work through the 12 steps that are designed to help members better understand their use of alcohol and how they can manage their drinking habit and remain abstinent for the long-term.

Drug Addiction

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

The mission of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is to advance science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health. In this regard, NIDA addresses the most fundamental and essential questions about drug abuse — from detecting and responding to emerging drug abuse trends and understanding how drugs work in the brain and body, to developing and testing new approaches to treatment and prevention. NIDA also supports research training, career development, public education, public-private partnerships, and research dissemination efforts.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that spearheads public health campaigns that focus on improving the behavioral health of Americans. Families and their addicted loved ones can connect with SAMHSA to gain a better understanding of the effects of substance abuse and addiction disorders on the country at large, in their local community, and among different populations – and learn more about the treatment services that can jumpstart the healing process for all involved. Increasing access to research and information that can empower individuals, families, and communities to overcome substance abuse and addiction is a needed service. SAMHSA reports that in 2014 alone, an estimated 20 million people were in need of substance abuse treatment services yet did not get the help they needed. The hope is that with increased access to information on drug and alcohol use disorders, there will be increased access to treatment for those in need.

National Institutes on Health (NIH)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an organization that is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services. It is made up of 27 institutes and centers. It is the premiere medical research agency in the United States, and for centuries, it has been a world leader in research and scientific discovery. In fact, 145 Nobel Prize winners have received funding and support from NIH, and it is likely due in large part to these and other NIH researchers that the life expectancy of Americans has increased from 47 years at the turn of the last century to 78 years as of 2009. Additionally, the rate of disability in senior adults over the age of 65 has decreased significantly in the last 30 years as well. In the realm of substance abuse and addiction treatment, NIH-funded studies have been instrumental in better understanding the nature of substance abuse and how it impacts the brain and the body as well as the treatments that can have a positive impact on health and healing among addicts in recovery.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a “nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem”. Narcotics Anonymous uses a traditional 12-step model that has been expanded and developed for people with varied substance abuse issues and is the second-largest 12-step organization. As of May 2016 there were more than 67,000 NA meetings in 139 countries

*excerpts of content from SoberNation