Like I stated in the sidebar of this blog, I am no expert on recovery. So, I am using this post to refer you to some resources. If you, or someone you care about, wants to get help. Or you are looking for information on the disease of addiction, please see the following;

I pulled these from ARG. (Great Source!!)

As I find more resources, that are not on this list, I will add them.

Remember, You are not alone; There are people and organizations that can and are willing to help.

Some Treatment Facilities

General Resources

Addiction Treatment Forum:An educational site focusing on addiction issues, especially opiate addiction and treatment.

American Council on Alcoholism :Dedicated to educating the public about the effects of alcohol, alcoholism and treatment.

Do It Now FoundationPublisher of prevention literature

Dual Diagnosis WebsiteMental Illness, Drug Addiction and Alcoholism, MIDAA®, MICA

Focus Adolescent ServicesInternet Clearinghouse of resources, support and information

Heroin Information Website

Institute of Alcohol Studies:Information on alcohol and the social and health consequences of its misuse.

Join Together Online:A collaboration of the Boston University School of Public Health and The Partnership at Drugfree.org, delivering substance abuse and addiction news.

Learn-About-Alcoholism.com:Educational resource covering all aspects of alcoholism.

Mental Health MattersDirectory of mental health resources.

Methadone Anonymous:Website that answers questions about methadone and has Methadone Anonymous support.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA):Information on the cost of substance abuse throughout society and its impact on our lives.

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD):Provides education, information, help and hope in the fight against substance abuse.

National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (NIPC):A resource for parents, educators and professionals on inhalant abuse.

Pharmacy Technician:Pharmacy Library: Alcohol Addiction and Alcoholism Facts

Recovery Connection:A website and that helps people locate addiction treatment centers and drug rehabilitation programs.

StrugglingTeens.com:Woodbury Reports presents resources for parents and professionals trying to help at-risk teenagers.

Teen Drug Abuse:Educational site about why teens begin using, what they are using, and how those drugs are affecting teens physically, socially, and mentally.

Web of Addictions:Provides accurate information about alcohol and other drug addictions. Resource for anyone needing factual information about abused drugs.

Eating Disorders Resources
Academy for Eating Disorders (AED):Multidisciplinary association of academic and clinical professionals with demonstrated interest and expertise in the field of eating disorders.

The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness:Aim is to disseminate educational information to parents and caregivers about warning signs, dangers and consequences of anorexia, bulimia and other related eating disorders.

The American Anorexia Bulimia Association, Inc. (AABA):The AABA works to increase the public’s consciousness of Eating Disorders - their prevalence, the early warning signs and symptoms.

Anorexia Nervosa & Related Eating Disorders, Inc.:Provides information about eating and exercise disorders - general information, warning signs and details about recovery and prevention.

The Center for Healthy Living’s Eating Disorder & Resource Guide:Complete source for learning about eating disorders and treatment options.

Eating Disorders Referral and Information CenterInformation and treatment resources for all forms of Eating Disorders.

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD):Dedicated to alleviating eating disorders and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA):Dedicated to expanding public understanding of eating disorders and promoting access to quality treatment for those affected along with support for their families through education, advocacy and research.

Problem/Compulsive Gambling Resources
National Center for Responsible Gambling:Mission is to help individuals and families affected by problem gambling disorders.

National Council on Problem Gambling:Provides information regarding problem and pathological(compulsive) gambling.

North American Training Institute:Information regarding compulsive gambling prevention and treatment.

Responsible Gambling Council (Ontario):Helps individuals and communities address gambling in a responsible way, through information, awareness/prevention, professional development and research.

Government Resources
The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI):Comprehensive source of information and searchable databases on substance abuse prevention.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism(NIAAA):Supports and conducts research on causes, consequences, treatment and prevention of alcoholism and alcohol related problems.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA):Assures that quality substance abuse and mental health services are available to people in need and strives to ensure that prevention and treatment knowledge is used more effectively in the general health care system.

Self-Help Resources
AA Meetings Online:Directory of AA meetings on the Internet.

Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA)

Al-Anon & Alateen

Alcoholics Anonymous & Alcoholics Anonymous HistorySpiritual roots of early AA

Anxiety Self Help

Center for On-Line Addiction (COLA)

Co-Dependents Anonymous (CODA)

Essence of Recovery

Food Addicts Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous

Gift From WithinInternational charity for survivors of trauma and victimization.

Internet Addiction

Marijuana Anonymous (MA)

Methadone Anonymous:

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

Nicotine Anonymous

Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

People Helping People

Recovery LifeDedicated to spreading the message of hope and strength to everyone in recovery.

Recovery USA, IIcAddiction Recovery Supplies

Recovery Zone

Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA)

Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA)

SMART RecoverySelf-Management & Recovery Training (A non-12 Step Recovery program)

Sober Sources Network

Sober Teens Online

The Sober Village

Survivors of Incest Anonymous (SIA)

State Mental Health Departments
Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

There is a difference between being alone and being lonely. Being lonely is a state of the heart, an emptiness that makes us feel sad and sometimes hopeless. Loneliness is not always alleviated when we enter into relationships or surround ourselves with others. Some of us are lonely even in a room full of people. (p. 156, Just for Today)

This is exactly how I have been feeling lately; hopeless and lost. I lie awake at night, my mind racing on random nonsense but mostly how lonely I feel. Sometimes I will sit i front of my computer blogging, tweeting, checking Facebook just to try and fill the void yet, there is still something missing - purpose.

In a city of over eight million, I am not alone. But even when I amongst the masses I still feel lonely; like I don’t belong, like I have no reason for even being here. What is the solution?

I long to be in a relationship but, as the above states, this does not always alleviate the loneliness. Plus, I have a little over seven months clean & sober - It is suggested that one should not get into any emotional entanglements within the first year in recovery. I am not pursuing anyone and, to my knowledge, there are no callers at my door. Nevertheless, the loneliness, this matter of the heart, still, I suffer from.

This feeling, in the past, I would have used over. What I mean by use is that I would have self-medicated with my drug of choice; crystal meth. Today, I have to sit with these feelings. And that is OK. As well it should be, because this is what it means to be human.

I really need to put more of an effort into staying connected with people that I have met in sobriety/recovery. With them, I am not alone. We share a common bond. The sense of community helps to combat the loneliness. The social media way is not enough. It is lacking in appreciation of the human condition. Where as, one can luxuriate in the senses when he/she is with a friend, in person.

Please, Higher Power, give me the strength to be there for my friends, family, and fellows for the loneliness subsides when I am present for them.