When can I join meetings again?
UPDATE DUE TO COVID-19
THE SATURDAY MEETING WILL CONTINUE AS USUAL. CHECK THE MEETING PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION .http://www.crystalmethanonymous.nl/meetings/
There is ONE weekly CMA meeting!
For more information: Send a mail to cma.amsterdam@gmail.com
Am I addicted to crystal meth?
Only you can answer this question. No one at Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) can tell you if you are addicted.
Some of us knew that we were addicted when we came to CMA, others were not sure. Without any exception we all wanted to stop using.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Have I tried to reduce or stop my crystal meth or drug use without success?
- Do I have the idea that I am in a hopeless situation because of my use? Does it make me feel depressed?
- Am I using more and more often ?
- Do I call in sick at work or cancel (social) events after using crystal meth?
- Do I spend more money on meth than I would like?
- Do I regret the things I have done whilst I was using? Do I regret my behaviour?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you could be addicted. If you are not sure, just come to a meeting. Anyone who would like to stop using crystal meth is welcome.
What is crystal meth?
Crystal methamphetamine is a synthetic, highly addictive, chemical product that greatly affects the central nervous system. Meth is made in illegal laboratories in a pure form. Simpel ingredients such as battery acid, drain cleaner, lamp oil and antifreeze are used to make meth.
Is use of crystal meth dangerous?
Absolutely! Crystal meth is highly addictive and very dangerous!
Many of us have experienced serious consequences from the use of crystal meth. There can be psychological effects such as hearing voices, paranoia, hallucinations. Crystal meth is often accompanied by high risk sexual behavior. The chances of getting STIs (HIV , syphilis, HepC and others) increases enormously since needles are shared and no condoms are used.
Other consequences include:
Is use of crystal meth dangerous?
Absolutely! Crystal meth is highly addictive and very dangerous!
Many of us have experienced serious consequences from the use of crystal meth. There can be psychological effects such as hearing voices, paranoia, hallucinations. Crystal meth is often accompanied by high risk sexual behavior. The chances of getting STIs (HIV , syphilis, HepC and others) increases enormously since needles are shared and no condoms are used.
Other consequences include:
- (Extreme) fatigue
- Insomnia
- (Extreme) weight loss
- Heart problems
- Lung problems
- Heart attacks / stokes
- Meningitis
- Skin abscesses
- Hypothermia
- Anxiety attacks
- Hallucinations
- Amnesia
- Suicidal thoughts
- Depression
- Psychoses
What is CMA?
Crystal Meth Anonymous is a support group who share their experiences, strengths and hopes. We help each other stay clean. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. There are no membership costs, we fund ourselves through voluntary contributions. CMA is non-religious. We are not connected to any church. We do not maintain contacts with sects, political groups or any organization or institution. Our goal is to lead a clean and sober life and to convey this to the addict who is still struggling with their addiction.
What happens at a CMA meeting?
All CMA meetings (worldwide) have one thing in common. We are people who want to stop using crystal meth and/or other drugs. We talk about what crystal meth has done to our lives, physically, mentally, socially and spiritualy. Most importantly, we talk about how we manage to stay clean and how life is without using crystal meth. Each meeting can be different in structure. There may be a speaker who talks about recovery. Different topics can be presented and talked about or we read experience stories. Always in a safe and anonymous environment.
How can CMA help me with my problem?
We are not doctors, therapists or psychiatrists. We are not addiction counselors. We understand and know what it is like to be addicted. We know what it is to make empty promises to stop using, break them and continue using. We know what it is like to suffer – financially, socially, at work, physically and mentally.
By joining CMA and maintaining contact with other recovering addicts, we manage to rebuild our lives and we learn to live without the use of crystal meth.
How can I join CMA?
The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop using. You are a member of CMA if you express it yourself. It’s that simple!
How much does it really cost to become a member?
drugs. We talk about what crystal meth has done to our lives, physically, mentally, socially and spiritualy. Most importantly, we talk about how we manage to stay clean and how life is without using crystal meth. Each meeting can be different in structure. There may be a speaker who talks about recovery. Different topics can be presented and talked about or we read experience stories. Always in a safe and anonymous environment.
How can CMA help me with my problem?
We are not doctors, therapists or psychiatrists. We are not addiction counselors. We understand and know what it is like to be addicted. We know what it is to make empty promises to stop using, break them and continue using. We know what it is like to suffer – financially, socially, at work, physically and mentally.
By joining CMA and maintaining contact with other recovering addicts, we manage to rebuild our lives and we learn to live without the use of crystal meth.
How can I join CMA?
The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop using. You are a member of CMA if you express it yourself. It’s that simple!
How much does it really cost to become a member?
Nothing! At the end of each meeting, however, a collection will be held to raise money to cover expenses (rent, coffee/tea, folders or books). You are free and welcome to give a donation, it is not an obligation.
Is CMA a religious group?
Absolutely not. We are not connected to any religion or church.
We have learned, however, that will-power alone was not enough to help us fight our addiction. We have found a strength greater than ourselves – as indicated in the Twelfe Step Minnesota programme.
Some call it God, others call it the CMA group, the universe, the laws of nature. Still others are not thinking at all about it and recover just by attending CMA meetings. What you believe or not believe is not important. What counts is that you are here! You are not alone. You are always WELCOME!
What advice would you give to new members?
Here are a few suggestions that most of us have followed at the start of our recovery:
- We broke all ties with people, places and things that were linked to our use of crystal meth. We do not socialise or connect with users anymore . Eventhough we thought they were friends.
- We blocked numbers and profiles from dealers and fellow users. Some of us even changed our phone number.
- We removed our profiles from websites and apps.
- We visited CMA meetings as often as possible. At these meetings we found support from other fellows. At these meetings we found the support and friendship of others who had to deal with the same problem . We could talk freely about what we were up against, without judgement. We felt heard and understood.
- We exchanged phone numbers with people we met at meetings. Even though it felt strange, we called those people when we were afraid that we would start using again. We found understanding and support.
- We went looking for a sponsor. A sponsor is someone who is in the program, and has not used any drugs for a longer period of time. With our sponsor we had one-to-one contact sometimes every day. They were our lifeline in that first difficult time of recovery. We could always turn towards them.
These are just suggestions. Experience has taught us that they work. We pass them on to you, so that you too can start recovering from your addiction, and thus start building a new life.
We are here for you!