Support Meetings

Medication and Support Meetings in Texas

You can go to support meetings while you take methadone or buprenorphine. Here is how to find one in Texas where you feel at ease.

Call (888) 209-0266

Medication-Friendly Meetings

Plenty of people go to meetings while on methadone or buprenorphine. What matters is finding a group where you are comfortable.

SMART Recovery supports legally prescribed addiction medication, according to its own published position.

Twelve-step meetings vary, because every group decides its own customs, so it is worth asking before you go.

  • Phone or message the group contact listed on the meeting finder and ask how members on medication are received.
  • Online meeting lists sometimes have a filter or tag for medication-friendly meetings.
  • Nobody at a meeting needs to know what you take.
  • Going with someone who already attends can make the first visit easier.

About Your Medication

Talk to your prescriber before changing how you take any medication. This is general information, not medical advice.

How the Groups Differ

People on medication treatment sometimes wonder whether meetings are for them. They are, and Texas has several kinds to choose from. The comparison below says who each group serves.

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.

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.

Attendance Slips and Court Requirements

Some people come to meetings because a judge or probation officer requires it. That is common, and open meetings welcome them like anyone else.

Signing an attendance slip is up to each group and whoever leads the meeting. Twelve-step groups have no link to the court system.

  • Find out exactly what your order or program asks for.
  • Check whether online meetings count and how they can be verified.
  • Keep your own log of dates, times and meeting names.
  • Raise any problem with proof of attendance with your officer early.

Your Requirements

This page cannot give legal advice. Follow the instructions of your court or probation officer.

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 Texas below, or call the number on this page to go over options.

Call (888) 209-0266

This number connects to our central helpline, not directly to a listed facility.

Where to Find Methadone Clinics in Texas

Pick a city to see the facilities this site lists there.

Support Meetings in Texas: Questions

Can I go to a meeting if I take methadone or buprenorphine?

Yes. SMART Recovery says it supports legally prescribed addiction medication. In twelve-step groups each meeting runs itself, so ask the group or look for meetings described as medication-friendly. Talk to your prescriber before you change any medication.

Are support meetings the same as treatment?

No. Meetings are peer support and do not provide medical care. Many people use both, going to meetings during and after treatment.

Do I have to believe in God to go to a support meeting?

No. Twelve-step groups such as A.A. and N.A. talk about a higher power that each member defines for themselves. SMART Recovery is secular, and Recovery Dharma and Refuge Recovery draw on Buddhist practice without asking members to believe in a god.

Will a meeting sign my court attendance slip?

Some groups will and some will not; each group decides. Ask your court or probation officer what proof of attendance they accept before you go.

What is the difference between an open and a closed meeting?

Anyone can attend an open meeting, including family and friends. A closed meeting is only for people who share the group's purpose, such as wanting to stop drinking or using.

Can family members go to a meeting?

Yes. Al-Anon and Nar-Anon are for relatives and friends, SMART Recovery runs family and friends meetings, and anyone can attend an open A.A. or N.A. meeting.

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