New secular addiction recovery group launches in Kelowna

Photo: Contributed

As the overdose crisis kills people at a record pace in Kelowna and across B.C., a registered charity is offering a new option to support sobriety.

LifeRing Canada is now hosting recovery meetings every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Kelowna John Howard Society on St. Paul Street.

LifeRing differs from many other recovery groups in that meetings are secular and have no religious component and instead focus on scientifically-based recovery methods and “self determination.”

“Many LifeRing members attend other kinds of meetings or recovery programs, and we honor those decisions. Some have had negative experiences in attempting to find help elsewhere, but most people soon find that LifeRing’s emphasis on the positive, practical present-day can turn anger and despair into hope and resolve,” said Kelowna LifeRing convenor Van Hill, who added they embrace what works for each individual.

LifeRing meetings run about an hour long and involve participants sitting in a circle. The meetings are confidential, free of charge and available to people at all stages of recovery. There is no need to register.

“LifeRing tries to support your efforts to strengthen the Sober Self and weaken the Addict Self,” Hill said.

“Our meetings, whether in person or online, consist of addicts using their Sober Self to connect with the Sober Self of other addicts. We share advice, understanding, and encouragement. We focus primarily on our current lives, not on the hurts and damages of the past. Two addicts, talking Sober-Self to Sober-Self, learn from each other, and gain strength from each other.”

More information on LifeRing can be found here.

Photo: LifeRing