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Plan-It S.A.F.E.R.
Sobriety Support
About 20% of UNC students and about 34% of U.S. adults choose not to drink alcohol. People may choose to abstain from alcohol & other substances for a variety of reasons. The first portion of this page lays out ways to support sober friends and the second portion focuses on supporting friends who are recovering from high-risk substance use or addiction.
Supporting a Sober Friend
Support your sober friends by:
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Offering non-alcoholic & fun drink options, like mocktails.
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Engaging in non-alcohol related activities.
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Hosting events during the daytime instead of at night.
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Utilizing a communication system like our Sober Start Bracelet.
Supporting a Friend in Recovery
Be mindful of their feelings. Refrain from talking about their past days of addiction, even the “good parts.” While you may have had fond memories of the parties you went to with them, they certainly do not, and it’s important to acknowledge that.
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Find new ways to socialize without alcohol or other drugs. Pick new places with sober drinking options such as mocktails. Consider switching from nighttime activities to daytime ones.
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Conversely, it’s likely that you’ll meet a friend who has been sober for a long time and may not need the same kind of support as those who are still in their early stages. In that case, just ask them what their boundaries are around social activities.
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Be sensitive to potential triggers. Ask what your friend needs during their recovery and let them lead. Triggers can include certain words, places, or people. This part may be difficult, but your friend’s sobriety should be a priority.
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It’s also important to remember that your friend’s sobriety shouldn’t be your sole responsibility. Be sure not to hover or “check in” too much while at a party; they know the consequences of engaging in alcohol consumption and it should be up to them to uphold that. Make sure that you aren’t their only support system and that they seek professional guidance during this process.
Learn More:
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How to Support Someone Trying to Get Sober:
Sober STARt Bracelet
In conjunction with our Plan-It S.A.F.E.R. packs, our office has launched the Sober STARt program to normalize sobriety among college students.
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People may choose to abstain from any substance for any reason at any time. We understand this is more difficult in a college environment, so we have included a symbol of being sober without verbalizing it, the Start Bracelet! Here's how to use it:
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Wear the bracelet when you plan to abstain from alcohol and substance use.
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When appropriate, provide the meaning of the bracelet to folks who aren't sure. If they need more info, send them here!
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Have fun & be safe! This tool is an addition to the resources in our Plan-It S.A.F.E.R. pack to destigmatize recovery & support harm reduction.
Sober Support Organizations
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
is one of the largest support groups in the world, with over 2 million members worldwide. AA is "a fellowship of people who come together to solve their drinking problem."
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Self-Management and Recovery Training, or SMART, is a secular and research-based program focused on empowering individuals. It entails a 4-step program that addresses the different phases of addiction recovery. SMART has meetings online and in-person in Greeley, which can be found on their website.
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his group is tailored specifically for women recovering from alcohol addiction. This is another secular and self-empowering program that focuses heavily on community and compassion. Although most in-person meetings for WFS take place in Denver and Boulder, they offer online meetings as well.
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This is another program that offers meetings in Denver but is also very online-friendly. MM focuses on peer-supported harm reduction as opposed to complete sobriety. This may not be a program for everybody, but for those who are hesitant to go into total abstinence for any number of reasons, this may be a group worth looking into.
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LifeRing’s approach to sobriety is to separate the Sober Self from the Addict Self. It takes into account genetic and environmental factors for addiction and focuses heavily on its secular aspect. Meetings are offered in downtown Greeley and can be found on their website.