Has anyone here heard of the other self-help recovery group called LifeRing Secular Recovery? I know it is very popular in the SF Bay area and has meetings all over the country, but I don't know if it has caught on in the prison systems yet.

I attend 2 of their meetings every week and I feel so much more comfortable there than I ever felt at a 12-step meeting. It isn't that people were rude, or mean, the people who spoke to me were friendly. But the LifeRing meetings are so much more interactive and interesting since everybody does a "How was your week?" check-in.

It is, what I would call, recovery for the modern world. One of their most important "rules" is that, in order to respect people of all faiths (and none), there is no talk about religion. This is a great alternative to other groups like NA, AA, etc., and some people even go to both 12-step and LifeRing meetings.

Their website is unhooked.com (http://www.unhooked.com). There is a listing of meetings around the country.

If it isn't part of the current recovery program in the prison system now maybe we can help spread the word. There are books on the website too, those could make nice introductions to LifeRing to our loved ones in the system who aren't finding the most success with the other programs. I know if it weren't for LifeRing, and my only option was 12-steps, I just wouldn't do it.

I'm sorry my description is kind of vague but I really don't want to sound like a commercial. I just want to pass along information that has been very helpful for me and many others.