The SoberRecovery Glossary of Recovery Terms

Cocaine Anonymous

Cocaine Anonymous, also known as CA, grew out of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. CA’s purpose is to help those who are addicted to cocaine, in all its forms, and other mind-altering substances recover from their addiction(s).

The CA program uses the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, substituting the phrase mind-altering substances for the word, alcohol. The CA program is spelled out in their basic text, Hope, Faith and Courage, often referred to as the CA Big Book.

CA meetings or groups are found in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. They range in size from a few people, to as many as 25or more. Most groups meet once a week. Meeting styles include: speaker meetings where one or two members share the story of their addiction and recovery from a podium; discussion meetings where members share their experience with a particular topic, and step studies where members discuss their experience working with the 12 Steps. All meetings are based, one-way or another, on the sharing of members experience, strength and hope.

Membership in CA is informal. A person becomes a member when they decide they want to stop using drugs and begin attending meetings. There is no registration; no attendance is taken, although the group’s secretary may note the number of people in the room. The commitment to anonymity is taken seriously and people can attend CA meetings with little fear that others, outside the meetings, will find out they have joined.

CA meetings can be found in various ways. There are meeting lists on the web. In the United States, Cocaine Anonymous can be found in the white pages of many telephone books; a call to information will also usually result in a phone number where meetings can be located. Meetings in Canada and the UK can be found in similar ways.

Related links: Cocaine Anonymous

Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Help and Information