9 Strategies for Staying Sober While Traveling

9 Strategies for Staying Sober While Traveling

Safeguarding your sobriety on the road.  For addicts and alcoholics in recovery, saying sober can be a matter of life and death.  To help people in recovery maintain their sobriety while traveling, addiction and recovery experts suggest these strategies:

1.  Plan ahead.  Before you leave, look up a schedule of support group meetins in the town or city you're heading to, and try to work meetings into your schedule.  With (USA) we can plan daily meetings and events to keep everyone on track. You will be traveling with your support group.

2.  Make local contacts.  Before you go on your trip or shortly after you arrive, make contact with fellow alcoholics or addicts in recovery in the place you are visitng.  With (USA) you could arrange a join meeting for travelers and locals.

3.  Bring recovery literature or recordings.  Whether you're flying or traveling by bus, train or automobile, bring recovery-related books such as AA's "The Big Book," which describes the support group's 12 step program.  With (USA) you can include a 12 step program in each day of the trip.  

4.  Remember your HALT.  Pay attention to HALT, and don't become too hungry, angry, lonely or tired.  

5.  Stay in contact with your home network.    It is important to maintain close contact with the people in your support network at home, including your AA or NA sponsor.  With (USA) your sponsor could be with you.

6.  Have the booze removed.  Minibars in hotels, call ahead and have it removed.  With (USA) we can set up standards that eliminate alcohol on all hotels or stops.

7.   Stay away from certain people and places.  (USA) will take you away from old spots or people that may trigger old habits.  It's a new sober adventure.
8.  Keep to your routine.  As much as possible, adhere to your usual regimen.  If you pray or meditate in the morning, keep doing so. 

9.  In a pinch, turn to technology.  People in recovery sometimes feel like they need to get to a meeting if they're under an unusual amount of stress or haven't been to one in a while.  With (USA) you bring your support team with you and you can have a meeting at any time, because your society is with you.