Recovery

Mission

George Mason University strives to be a community that is accessible, welcoming, inclusive, and encouraging to students in recovery from all substance use disorders, eating disorders, or other process disorders. We have generated this page of resources and information for students in recovery as well as those who support people in recovery. If you would like to consult with a staff member, please fill out a referral or request a meeting and we would be happy to consult about various options with you.

Patriots for Recovery

Patriots for Recovery is our continuing efforts to support and foster a recovery community at George Mason University. Patriots for Recovery is an open peer to peer support group that is for Mason students who identify with being in recovery for a substance use disorder, eating disorder, or other process addictions. Interested students should email recovery@gmu.edu and a representative from the Student Support and Advocacy Center will get you connected to more information. Students are also welcome to just drop into an upcoming meeting Patriots for Recovery meeting if they would prefer.

Patriots for Recovery meetings are held virtually each Thursday during the academic year from 12-1 pm Eastern time. Mason students may join by visiting this zoom link:  https://gmu.zoom.us/j/94644277572.

In addition, students may want to check out our Survivor and Recovery Self-Care space that meets two times each week during the Spring 2021 semester. Here is the link to information about those drop-in self-care spaces: https://ssac.gmu.edu/survivor-and-recovery-self-care-space/

Additional Recovery Resources

On-Campus

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): AA is a “fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism

• Sundays 10:30 am in Engineering Hall 1108
• Wednesdays 7:30 pm in SUB 1, 3008

Meetings do not occur when Mason the campus is closed. The Student Support and Advocacy Center does not facilitate these meetings, and therefore it is best to check the website to ensure that the groups are currently meeting before attending.

You may also find other local AA meetings at aa.org.

Interested in creating a new recovery meeting on campus? Email us at recovery@gmu.edu and we would love to help you get started.

Off-Campus

Due to the public health concerns of the Coronavirus, many recovery meetings have been moved to a virtual format and are consistently changing. Please check out the list of some online and local recovery options to get more information about recovery options in our area. Feel free to reach out to the Student Support and Advocacy Center and we would be happy to help you find a recovery or support group to meet your needs or to discuss alternative options.

Substance use recovery and support meetings

• SMART Recovery: https://www.smartrecovery.org/community/calendar.php
• Refuge Recovery: https://refugerecovery.org/meetings?tsml-day=any&tsml-region=online-english
• Narcotics Anonymous Online Meetings: https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/text-results.php?country=Web&state&city&zip&street&within=5&day=0&lang&orderby=distance
• Alcoholics Anonymous Online Meetings: http://aa-intergroup.org/directory.php
• Marijuana Anonymous Online Meetings: https://www.ma-online.org/
• Al-Anon Online Meetings: https://al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/electronic-meetings/
• Teletherapy for Addiction and Mental Health:  https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/treatment-program/online-counseling/telehealth-app/

Disordered eating recovery and support meetings

• Alsana Free Online Eating Disorder Support Group: https://www.alsana.com/free-online-support-group/
• ANAD (The National Association of Anorexia and Associated Disorders) Free Recovery Groups: https://anad.org/get-help/about-our-support-groups/
• Center for Discovery Free Support Groups: https://centerfordiscovery.com/groups/
• Instagram COVID Meal Support: https://www.instagram.com/covid19eatingsupport/
• Morningside Chats Free Weekend Eating Disorder Support: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Z4t9grcGH-w2sJ14zJLiN1k7B6qDY0R/view
• Prosperity Eating Disorders and Wellness Center Loved One and Family Support: https://prosperityedwell.com/

*These are recovery spaces that are organized by outside organizations and therefore we do not control the membership or content of these meetings. If you visit a meeting and it is not right for you, we are happy to take that feedback. We would also love to help you to find a space that feels more appropriate and supportive for your needs.

Recovery Ally Training

The Recovery Ally training is a workshop that was designed to present participants with the tools to support those in recovery from alcohol and/or other drugs. This workshop demonstrates that recovery is a long-term process with unique implications for student success. This workshop will confront myths and stigma regarding addiction and recovery and will present the resources at Mason and within the community. This workshop can be tailored to last between 90-120 minutes and is offered several times per semester and can be individually requested for your large group.

During this workshop, participants will learn:

• How to use appropriate language surrounding substance use and addiction disorders.
• How to convey openness and empathy to students in recovery.
• An understanding of the science of substance use disorder.
• How to offer support instead of enablement.
• Knowledge about the recovery resources that Mason offers.

For the Spring 2021 semester, SSAC will host three open Recovery Ally workshops. Click below to register. Once you register, you will receive an email to participate in a pre-workshop survey.

February 19^th from 10:30 am-12:30 pm Link: http://cglink.me/2d7/r1001418

March 22^nd from 10:30 am-12:30 pm Link: http://cglink.me/2d7/r1001440

April 7^th from 12-2 pm Link: http://cglink.me/2d7/r1002760