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SLIGO CREEK PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

1420 Woodman Avenue

Silver Spring, Maryland 20902

Dear CDA Members,

I am very pleased that the Chemically Dependent Anonymous (CDA) meetings are now available to younger teenage clients and other young-adult residents of Montgomery County, Maryland, and that they are encouraged, confronted and supported by others of this peer group in their efforts to become free of chemicals. I know that the therapists of this and other private practices, as well as public services for adolescent day treatment, family therapy and adult addictions, have been deeply inspired by the supportive work of CDA. The attendance of voluntary and mandatory clients and the high volume of participation at these meetings speak very well for the dedication and sincerity of involvement by their leaders. The resulting changes in attitude, lifestyle and school grades of CDA adolescents and young adults have been very encouraging.

Thank you for your continued efforts in the collaborative support of private and public programs here in Montgomery County. I wish continued success to your Fellowship in its endeavors to provide a program for those who seek recovery from drug and alcohol dependence. I strongly endorse your twelve-step method as a viable process for achieving recovery from substance abuse.

Sincerely,

Thomas W. Summers, Ph.D. Psychologist, Clinical Director

To Whom It May Concern:

Years ago, my life was utterly hopeless because of a drinking problem. Then I got “trapped” into attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and gradually started working the Program. That saved my life and showed me a way to personal freedom. Indeed, I have seen the miracle of A.A. work for countless others in our country and around the world.

Along with A.A.'s success has come a profound change in the public's attitude. People now recognize alcoholism, once thought to be a moral deficiency, as a health problem. This conversion is having a beneficial effect on the prospects for still-suffering alcoholics.

Alcoholics can help other alcoholics because they understand each other and are unified by their common problem. This wholeness however has suffered in recent years because of changes in society and the way drugs are used today. Many newcomers to A.A. now have other drug problems along with their alcoholism and a small number are not alcoholics at all.

This inconsistency has been lessened in our area of the country because of the influence of Chemically Dependent Anonymous, an organization that began in Annapolis, Maryland in 1980. CDA is open to anyone who is dependent on mind-altering chemicals of any sort. Although not allied with A.A., CDA closely follows the model provided by Alcoholics Anonymous. Having both programs available, newcomers can decide whether they properly belong in CDA, A.A. or both. And, as a result, both fellowships have become healthier and more complete.

I was initially attracted to CDA because a family member had recovered from cocaine addiction by participating in that program. I started attending CDA meetings too and I now consider myself eligible for membership because of my chemical dependency to alcohol.

I believe that in working together (though still independently), CDA and A.A. will strengthen both fellowships and offer greater hope and opportunity for recovery to those enslaved by drugs. Eventually, the myths and hysteria about drug addiction will slip away and the public will become more understanding and supportive. And I think that in the 21st Century, Chemically Dependent Anonymous will do for the drug addict what A.A. has done for the alcoholic in the 20th Century.

Bob R. (an active member of A.A. for over 30 years)

To Whom It May Concern:

In 1981, I had the good fortune of meeting a young man who was a member of CDA. After many conversations and interviews, and being fully aware of his background as a chemical dependent, I offered him a contract as a New York Life Sales Representative. To this day, I am very glad that I made that decision. Not only has this employee become a strong force and successful sales representative in my office, but he is also one of the top agents in the entire company.

In the years I have known him, I have had the opportunity to become acquainted with many others who are also part of the CDA Program. Some of these people we have hired and some we’ve rejected from a job application standpoint. However, I have been very impressed with the personal programs each one of these individuals has established. Although some of them were unable to become successful as sales representatives with New York Life, I think that everyone who departed the company left with a better understanding of sales and went on to be successful in other fields.

Through CDA, these people have been able to establish new lives for themselves with a commitment not often found in others. Until seven years ago, I had no idea of the impact CDA had on its members, but I can assure you I am most impressed. Today, I do not hesitate to talk to any members of CDA who have established programs of their own.

Sincerely,

James E. Adkins, CLU, ChFC General Manager

My Dear Friends,

By the grace of God and through His gift to me, the blessed Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, I am a grateful recovering alcoholic. At this writing, I have been sober in Alcoholics Anonymous for 13½ years (since November 17, 1973). A miracle - believe me!

I am a religious brother who has been a member of a Roman Catholic order for the past 37 years. Currently, I am the order's chief financial officer and its corporate treasurer.

On a daily basis, I am actively involved in Alcoholics Anonymous. I attend meetings, conduct twelve-step oriented retreats for members of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, sponsor or serve as spiritual advisor to approximately 40 men, do one-on-one counseling and serve part time on the staff of an alcoholic treatment facility in this geographical area of Maryland.

I acknowledge without reservation that my sobriety is a gift that I received from God, as I understand Him, bestowed upon me through the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous. I further acknowledge that my continued sobriety is contingent upon my fidelity to the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous' Twelve-Step Program, to my continuing to practice these principles in all my affairs and to my continued participation in A.A. meetings on a regular basis.

I have come to know that alcoholism and drug abuse are diseases - fatal diseases - and that the compulsive addiction to the substance abused is the overriding characteristic of these illnesses. Truly, diseases of addiction!

My first encounter with the Fellowship of Chemically Dependent Anonymous (CDA) was in 1980 in the Annapolis, Bowie and Rockville areas of Maryland. CDA publicly acknowledges in its literature its indebtedness and gratitude “… to the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous for the 'Twelve Steps' and 'Twelve Traditions' which are the basis of our program.” Many Chemically Dependent Anonymous members who are alcoholics attend A.A. meetings. It was in this setting that I first met members of CDA.

Immediately, I was deeply impressed by individual recovering addicts I met, and I agreed to share my experience, strength and hope at a Chemically Dependent Anonymous meeting. Later, I agreed to lead discussions on the Twelve Steps, especially the Third and Eleventh Steps. I was privileged to conduct the first CDA-oriented retreat. To demonstrate my support, great esteem and deep affection for the members of Chemically Dependent Anonymous, I attend CDA meetings where individuals are celebrating periods of being “clean and sober.”

Chemically Dependent Anonymous deals with the disease of addiction without making any distinction as to the substance being abused. CDA calls for total abstinence from any mood-changing chemical.

In my judgment, based upon personal association and experience with CDA members, that fellowship's program of recovery from the disease of addiction is viable. It works! “By their fruits you shall know them” (Luke 6, 44). Could it be otherwise? No! At least not when an individual unconditionally surrenders to the Twelve-Step Program of CDA. The Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous has fifty years of undeniable success of its members who have lived lives based upon that program's Twelve Steps. These approximately 200 words of inspired wisdom, wisdom that transcends human wisdom, are the keys to sanity and sanctity, to wholeness and holiness. The Twelve Steps are what Father Al G. once described as: “A master plan for living more accurately, the Master's plan for living.”

Chemically Dependent Anonymous is rapidly developing its own undeniable record of success! Men and women are coming to this program in increasing numbers and are recovering - becoming, and remaining, clean and sober. They are happy people living useful and productive lives, loving and serving God as each understands Him. They have learned to love and serve God in the person of His creatures, especially other suffering addicts (their “brothers” and “sisters”). Each enthusiastically carries the message of hope and the conviction which is based upon personal experience: “It can be done, with God's help!”

I have observed that the members of Chemically Dependent Anonymous are bonded together, merrily traveling the road to freedom. They do not limit their association with one another simply to “meeting times,” but have expanded their times of togetherness to include many other dimensions of life which enriches their fellowship and provides an even greater measure of support.

I am pleased and honored to humbly but enthusiastically endorse and recommend the goals of Chemically Dependent Anonymous and the means that fellowship recommends to achieve those goals.

To the newcomer: “Sursum corda!” – “Lift up your hearts!” God wills your recovery. You do what you can.

Study this book! Work the Twelve Steps! Go to meetings! Live the CDA Program as best you can! Then, God will do for you what you have not been able to do for yourself. Promise!

Friend, keep comin' back! B.A.N.