Cocaine Anonymous is an offshoot of Alcoholics Anonymous, that was started by an AA meeting in California.  This is why CA uses the BIg Book of AA as the basis for our 12 step programme.  CA is basically AA for drug addicts, but of course we welcome alcoholics, because alcohol is a drug in liquid form.  In CA we practice abstinence from all mind altering substances.  We don’t care what your drug of choice is, if you have a problem stopping, we can help.

A sponsor is a member of CA who has been through the 12 steps of recovery, and as part of their ongoing 12 step recovery, they help newcomers to go through the steps.

The Twelve Steps of Cocaine Anonymous

These are the twelve steps, which are suggested as a programme of recovery.

1 We admitted we were powerless over cocaine and all other mind-altering substances — that our lives had become unmanageable.
2 Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3 Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4 Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5 Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6 Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7 Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8 Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9 Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10 Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11 Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12 Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

At the Cheltenham meeting, we read from the Big Book of AA then share our thoughts on the reading as it relates to our own pesonal experience.  Other meetings will be share meetings where a member will do a main share when they tell their story, then other people in attendance can speak in relation to that shafre, and their issues with their addiction.  You do not need to speak if you do not wish to, but its good to get involved.

There is a social stigma in relation to addiciton.  Anonymity protects the individual and encourages newcomers to join, it also protects the reputation of CA.

We make voulntary contributions to cover our overheads, which are room hire, zoom hire, tea and coffee, biscuits, literature, web hosting, etc.  We are part of CA UK which is a registered charity.  If you are struggling for cash it is free.  Contribute wht you can afford, when you can afford it.