During the Covid-19 pandemic
You will want to contact meeting facilitators in your area about whether their meetings are being held or whether they have moved online. We are adding some online meeting resources, not all specific to psychiatric drug withdrawal, but are places where you may continue to find support on your journey of recovery.
Benzo Warrior Community – Zoom Meetings
Please join the Benzo Warrior Community on Facebook to find out how to attend ONLINE peer support meetings. All those in varying stages of benzodiazepine withdrawal and recovery are welcome.
The purpose is threefold:
COACHING * CONNECTION * COPING
Inner Compass Conversations Facebook group is a closed online space where our community can support each other – engaging together in discussion and dialogue about questions we’re facing, along with topics explored in our weekly video conversations and online posts. A a space to talk about the immediate and longer-term concerns, challenges, and questions facing our community when it comes to psychiatric drugs and associated diagnoses.
Contact person: Laura Delano
In The Rooms is a free online recovery tool that offers 130 weekly online meetings for those recovering from addiction and related issues. We embrace multiple pathways to recovery, including all 12 Step, Non-12 Step, Wellness and Mental Health modalities.
Daily online Native American Wellbriety 12 Step Meetings
Meeting schedule is as follows:
MONDAY – FRIDAY at 11:00 AM PT/12:00 PM MDT/ 1:00 PM CT/ 2:00 PM ET
Meeting ID: 548-538-0164
PW:488-123
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/5485380164…
During this meeting, you will have the opportunity to listen to others from around the world and share your experience, strength and hope. This unique meeting is held online at zoom.us and welcomes ALL recovery groups.
CANADA
TORONTO
*GAM – Gaining Autonomy Self-Management of Medication
When: Every Monday – 1 to 2 PM
Where: Sound Times East 280 Parliament St, Toronto, Access Sound Times on Poulette Street (the back of our building)
Tel 416.979.1700
Description: Learning and understanding psychiatric medication and its effects on all aspects of a person’s life. Creating spaces of open dialogue around one’s needs and preferences with respect to medication. It’s about making decisions, self-advocacy, engaging external supports, limiting risks and taking charge. GAM bypasses the debate ‘for or against’ medication and shifts the focus instead on the subjective quality of life of the person who is taking the medication.
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
VANCOUVER BC
*Coming off of Benzodiazepines & Sleeping Meds Support Group
When: First Wednesday of every month.
Organized by: Allison P.
Description: Our sole purpose is to provide a support group for each other by sharing our experiences of benzodiazepine or sleeping medication (z-drug) withdrawal and listening to others do the same. This group is founded on a fierce belief in the human spirit, and our innate capacity as human beings to heal from trauma and to regenerate.
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
NEW ZEALAND
AUCKLAND
*Getting Off Psychiatric Drugs
Starting Thursday the 28th of March – Continuing Every Thursday
7 – 8 PM at the Mount Roskill War Memorial Hall
This group is for shared experience and educational purposes only! If you are considering, or in the process of getting off psychiatric drugs, please seek professional advice.
Website: https://www.themindtribe.org/safetaperingsupportnz
Contact person: rachel@themindtribe.org
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
UK
NORTH WALES
Prescribed Medication Withdrawal Peer Support Group at Nant Hall Church (small hall)
When: Every other Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 PM ON HIATUS
Where: Nant Hall Road in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, LL19 9LR
Description: A new peer group to help people coming off prescribed drugs. Please join us, with your successes or problems, to support each other in a friendly group. All are welcome.
Website: https://prescribedmedicationwithdrawalpeersupportprestatyn.org/
Contact Mary Hennessey and Shane Cooke for support during the pandemic- please call or text: 07563353307
SOUTH WALES
*Prescription Awareness Support Team (PAST)
Who – We began as a small group of concerned individuals with personal experience – realising there was no support or independent information to patients and users of prescription pharmaceutical drugs.
What – PAST is raising awareness and providing support for anyone wishing for help, information and assistance.
Where – We began in Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan.
Contact – message the PAST team: https://past.wales/contact
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
*Prescription Support Team (PST) Meeting
When: Every Thursday 6:00 to 7:30 PM
Where: Ty Canna 40 Market Rd, CF5 1RZ Cardiff
Description: Our team members have had personal experience of long-term use, dependency and withdrawal of prescribed medication. Come along for a chat and a cuppa!
Contact: facebook page https://goo.gl/AQoT9y
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
*Prescription Support Team (PST) Meeting
When: every Monday 1:00 to 2:30 pm
Where: New Link Wales, Meridian Court, North Rd, Cardiff CF14 3BE
Description: Peer led support. We offer support to individuals who are on short or long term prescription medication and want to manage their condition through discussions on mental health, physical health, self love, CBT, DBT, ACT, etc.
We also offer support to individuals who are tapering off a prescription, online, or over the counter medication and wish to have the support that is so needed!
Please call 07707 957001 or email info@pstcardiff.co.uk
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
WORCHESTER, UK
Worcester Withdrawal Group
United States
CONNECTICUT
*Preparing to come off psych drugs: a 10 week workshop to help you get ready for withdrawal from anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, and other psychiatric medications
WHEN
Tuesdays from 5:30-7PM, beginning March 26th and ending with our final gathering on Jun 4th, 2019.
WHERE
Essential Health
74 Park Road
West Hartford, CT 06119
https://essentialhealthct.com
WHO
This workshop will be led by Laura Delano, Executive Director of Inner Compass Initiative and ICI’s The Withdrawal Project, with assistance from Cari Nadeau, ICI’s Community Coordinator.
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
ILLINOIS
*Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Chicago
Organized by: Jim Thompson
A support group for people trying to use the Ashton Manual to taper off of benzodiazepines. We offer support during your taper and afterwards.
Web: https://www.meetup.com/benzo-withdrawal-chicago/
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
INDIANA
*You’re Not Alone – Jonathan Wagner Benzodiazepine Awareness Foundation
A support group for people affected by Benzodiazepine and Suicide
We are here to Provide support for individuals and families living with the Benzodiazepine nightmare and Suicide of our loved ones
When: Meetings are held every 2nd Tuesday of the month
Where: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
3711 Ridge Road
Highland, IN 46322
6:30-8:30pm
Please visit our website for updates and any new information: https://www.yourenotalonejw44.org/support-meetings
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
MASSACHUSETTS
*Peer Support Group on Psychiatric Drugs
When: Wed, May 16 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Where: 187 High St, Holyoke, MA 01040 USA (Suite 302) (map)
Description: Please join us for a new support group where we will support each other in discussing our unique experiences with psychiatric medications. This will be a space to talk about our beliefs, what informs our choices, and to share resources around the effects of medication, tapering and/or withdrawing.
Contact: email zoe@westernmassrlc.org
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
MISSOURI
*Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Meetup
Organized by: Angela Peacock
More info at: https://www.meetup.com/Psychiatric-Drug-Withdrawal-Meetup/
Description: We are like minded people who have come off psychiatric drugs or are thinking about it or discussing it with our doctors. Some of us have come off SSRI’s, SNRI’s, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers with little to no support of the mental health care system. We are here to support each other during that process without giving medical advice. There are no medical professionals here we are strictly peer support. Some of us have come off of medications after being on them for decades, others are just thinking about getting on them but want informed consent first. Together we are healing.
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Benzos – a Dance with the Devil Support Group Meetup
When: Thursdays 7:00 pm
Where: Concord, New Hampshire
Description: This group is for anyone who is struggling as a result of taking benzodiazepines. Whether you’re currently taking one as prescribed, in the process of tapering or experiencing withdrawal after coming off, all are welcome.
For those in this situation, it is imperative to be surrounded by compassion and support in these difficult times. My hopes in creating this Meetup group is to find others like me in the local area who want to get together offering comfort, understanding and company to our fellow warriors.
Web: https://www.meetup.com/Benzodiazepine-Support-Group-Meetup/
Organized by: Katherine L.
*This group is listed as a courtesy and is not officially affiliated with WARM.
OHIO
Holistic Mental Health Network of the Greater Cincinnati Area
Web: https://www.facebook.com/Holistic-Mental-Health-Network-Greater-Cincinnati-815754445203919/
Contact: Call or text (513) 328-8178
Taking Back Control – Self-management of Psychiatric Medication (GAM Guide)
Web: https://www.recoverycenterhc.org
Prescribed Medication Withdrawal and Recovery Group
When: Every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:00 PM ON HIATUS
Where: Community Friends Meeting House, 3960 Winding Way, Cincinnati, OH 45229
Description: Confidential support group for people who are tapering and recovering from the effects of psychiatric and other medications. While we recognize that drugs have their place, our focus here is on the awareness of risks, on reducing dosages, and on utilizing various alternatives.
TEXAS
Austin Benzo Withdrawal Support Group
Communities for Recovery Building
Saturdays at 4 pm.
Wellbriety Circles in North America
Through White Bison, it’s Founder and President Don Coyhis, Mohican Nation, has offered healing resources to Native America since 1988. White Bison offers sobriety, recovery, addictions prevention, and wellness/Wellbriety learning resources to the Native American/Alaska Native community nationwide. Many non-Native people also use White Bison’s healing resource products, attend its learning circles, and volunteer their services.
