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MusiCares' Nationwide Support Groups Offer Refuge For Musicians
Sobriety is a challenge for anyone in recovery. But for musicians who work in arenas where substances seem to be part of the lifeblood of the scene, there's no good way to avoid temptation — music professionals rely on these events to make a living. Enter MusiCares.
Along with a slate of other life-saving addiction recovery services, MusiCares offers free recovery groups designed to support the unique challenges for sober musicians. MusiCares facilitates groups in seven cities, including Los Angeles, Nashville, Tenn., Austin, Texas, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, and Fort Collins, Colo.
Open to anyone working in the music industry, these free groups provide a weekly space for industry professionals to discuss their challenges, successes and strategies around sobriety. Drugs and alcohol are everywhere in the music industry, and professionals can't always opt out of these scenes because that's how they make a living. Those who attend MusiCares' groups get these unique challenges.
The Los Angeles MusiCares recovery meeting, for example, is the nation's largest, with a regular attendance of 20–40 people each week. This builds a sober network that can even begin as soon as someone enters treatment. When going to rehab thanks to MusiCares, often the organization arranges to transport those newly in recovery to the Los Angeles meeting each week, giving them a ready-made community of support.
While these free groups are currently only available in seven cities, MusiCares does have plans to expand the program as they grow. In addition, for those who live in other areas, MusiCares has other ways to support recovery, including connecting people with local resources through their partners and other sober professionals.
So if you're a music industry professional looking for an extra boost in your recovery, visit MusiCares' addiction recovery programs page, and don't hesitate to reach out if you need help. We're always here for you.