National Methadone ClinicsMedication and Support Meetings
If you take methadone or buprenorphine (such as Suboxone) for opioid use disorder, you can go to support meetings. Medication taken as prescribed is a treatment, and many people in recovery use it.
SMART Recovery states that it supports legally prescribed addiction medication and welcomes people who use it at its meetings.
Twelve-step groups such as A.A. and N.A. are run by their own members, and each group sets its own customs, so how a meeting talks about medication can differ from one group to the next.
- Before you go, ask the local intergroup, service office or group contact how the meeting views medication.
- Look for meetings described as medication-friendly or MAT-friendly. Some areas and online meeting lists use these labels.
- Try a few different meetings. If one does not feel right, another may.
- You do not have to tell anyone at a meeting about your medication.
Talk to Your Prescriber
Never stop, lower or change a medication because of something said at a meeting. Talk to your prescriber first. This is general information, not medical advice.
Court-Ordered Meetings and Attendance Slips
A judge, probation officer, drug court or employer program sometimes requires a person to go to support meetings. What is required differs from one court and case to the next.
Fellowships such as A.A. and N.A. are not part of any court and do not report attendance. Where a group agrees to it, the person leading the meeting may sign an attendance slip or verification sheet that you bring. Not every group signs slips, and online meetings handle proof of attendance in different ways.
- Ask your court, probation officer or case manager which kinds of meetings count, how many you need and by when.
- Ask what proof they accept: a signed slip, an online attendance record or something else.
- Bring your own slip or form, and keep copies of everything.
- If a meeting cannot sign, check with your officer before you rely on another kind of proof.
Check with Your Court
This is general information, not legal advice. Your court or probation officer decides what meets your requirements.
How the Groups Differ
Medication for opioid use disorder and support meetings can work side by side. This page covers how to find a meeting in Illinois where you feel at ease while taking methadone or buprenorphine.
Groups differ in style as well as approach, so trying more than one is common.
- SMART Recovery is a secular program for any addiction. Meetings teach practical tools for managing urges and changing habits, and it also runs Family & Friends meetings.
- Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) is a twelve-step fellowship for people who want to stop using any drug, alcohol included. Like A.A., it has a spiritual basis.
- Nar-Anon Family Groups support people whose relative or friend uses drugs, in a twelve-step format.
- Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is a twelve-step fellowship for anyone who wants to stop drinking. It is spiritual rather than religious, and members define a higher power in their own way.
- Al-Anon Family Groups are for people affected by someone else's drinking, such as partners, parents and adult children. Alateen serves teenagers.
- Recovery Dharma uses meditation and Buddhist principles in peer-led meetings, and members do not need to hold any belief in a god.
- Refuge Recovery is a mindfulness-based program rooted in Buddhist practice, for any addiction.
- Celebrate Recovery is a Christian program hosted by churches, open to people dealing with addiction and other life problems.
Find a Support Meeting in Illinois
Peer support groups and mutual-aid programs run their own meetings. The links below go to each organization's official pages for Illinois, where you can search for meetings. We do not list, copy or vouch for individual meetings.
Alcoholics Anonymous
A peer fellowship for people who want to stop drinking.
Narcotics Anonymous
A peer fellowship for people who want to stop using drugs.
SMART Recovery
A science-informed, self-empowering program with in-person and online meetings.
Al-Anon Family Groups
A peer fellowship for relatives and friends of people with a drinking problem.
Nar-Anon Family Groups
A peer fellowship for relatives and friends of people with a drug problem.
Recovery Dharma
A peer-led program that draws on Buddhist practices and principles.
Refuge Recovery
A mindfulness-based recovery community that draws on Buddhist practices.
Celebrate Recovery
A Christ-centered recovery program run through local churches.
National Methadone Clinics is an independent directory. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Narcotics Anonymous World Services, SMART Recovery, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Nar-Anon Family Groups, Recovery Dharma, Refuge Recovery World Services, Celebrate Recovery, or any other fellowship or support organisation named on this page, and none of them has reviewed or approved this page. Each link goes to the organisation's own official page, which controls its meeting information. Meetings move, close and change, so confirm the time and place with the source before you go. Links in this section are editorial. They are not paid, sponsored or referral placements, and no treatment provider can pay to be added to or reordered within this section. Support meetings are not a substitute for professional treatment.
If you or someone else is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). For treatment referral and information, SAMHSA's National Helpline is 1-800-662-4357, free, confidential and open 24 hours a day.
Before You Go to a Meeting
Check the meeting type first. An open meeting suits a first visit or a family member; a closed meeting is for people who share the group's goal.
Formats differ: a speaker shares a story, a discussion goes around the room, or a study group reads together.
If an in-person room feels like too much, an online or phone meeting lets you try from home.
- Nobody will make you talk.
- You can stay anonymous.
- No payment is expected.
- Arrive or leave when it suits you.
Combining Meetings and Treatment
Treatment and peer support do different jobs. Treatment deals with the medical and psychological side of addiction; meetings offer ongoing contact with others in recovery.
A provider can say which kind of care fits, from outpatient visits to residential programs, and most programs encourage meetings as well.
You can browse the methadone clinics this site lists in Illinois below, or call the number on this page to go over options.
This number connects to our central helpline, not directly to a listed facility.
Search and Map Facilities in Illinois
Press Search to list facilities in Illinois, or type a city or ZIP code.
Listed Methadone Clinics in Illinois
These cities in Illinois have facilities listed on this site.
Common Questions About Meetings in Illinois
Will a meeting accept me if I am on medication treatment?
People on medication can attend support meetings. Attitudes toward medication vary between twelve-step groups, so asking ahead helps; SMART Recovery states it welcomes people using prescribed medication.
Can meetings replace rehab?
Meetings are not a substitute for medical or clinical treatment. They are often used alongside it and afterward.
Are there non-religious recovery meetings?
Yes. SMART Recovery is secular. Twelve-step groups describe themselves as spiritual rather than religious and leave the idea of a higher power to each member.
How do I prove I went to court-ordered meetings?
Ask your officer what they accept. Many people bring a sheet for the meeting chair to sign, but groups are not required to sign.
Can I bring someone with me?
Yes, to an open meeting. Closed meetings are kept for people who want to stop drinking or using themselves.
Is there a group for parents or partners?
Al-Anon serves relatives and friends of people who drink, Nar-Anon those of people who use drugs, and SMART Recovery has Family & Friends meetings.