“It’s easy to embrace hopelessness when things seem insurmountable, and yet it’s actually just a matter of time until all of the elements come together for things to be alright. I believe that most difficult situations will resolve themselves if you are persistent and if you don’t give up entirely. And that’s what I never did, I never gave up. It’s not that difficult to overcome these seemingly ghastly problems. . . What’s hard is to decide. Most difficult situations will resolve themselves if you are persistent and if you don’t give up entirely.”
A ghastly problem is just one way to describe an addiction. Addictions can also be obstacles to success, attacks on happiness and relationships, and breaking points.
Robert Downey Jr. knows all about addiction, and he also knows that the hardest part is deciding to get help. If you’re suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction, help is available and people are waiting to help you heal.
Addiction and alcoholism are problems worldwide. These diseases destroy lives if they are left unchecked. And addiction and alcoholism aren’t unique to those living in broken families or struggling with money. People of all classes, religions, and situations can be stricken with addiction or alcoholism, and every single one of them needs to fight against it and reclaim their lives.
This means that if you’re living on Mercer Island, Washington, you’re just as likely to struggle with addiction or alcoholism as anyone else. Maybe you think it isn’t so bad yet, because no one has noticed or you’re still functioning. But like it or not, your addiction is affecting and will affect your life and those you love.
If you want to stop your addiction in its tracks, there are all sorts of addiction resources in and around Mercer Island, Washington. Here, we cover some of your best options, including:
Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, is a longstanding program designed to help alcoholics get and remain sober. It is designed for men and women alike, and allows for participants to share their experiences and make amends for their actions as they heal and become accustomed to life without alcohol.
AA makes use of sponsors and a 12 step program. Sponsors are participants who are farther along in the recovery process than someone else, who is responsible for an individual mentorship to the newer member as they start out their journey. The eventual goal is that this newer member will sponsor another member once they themselves are farther along in recovery.
The 12 steps are steps that participants work through as they seek to recover from alcoholism. These steps walk recovering alcoholics through the process of coming to terms with their addiction, seeking help, and healing both themselves and their relationships with others.
Think AA is a good step for you? There are many regularly-scheduled AA meetings in and around Mercer Island. With so many options, you’re sure to find one that fits your schedule and interests. While there are only a few AA meetings actually on Mercer Island, many others meet in nearby Bellevue. Below are many of the AA meetings in and near Mercer Island, Washington.
Wake Up
Daily at 6:00 AM
Eastside Alano Club (Clubhouse)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA 98005
Fresh Start
Daily at 7:00 AM
Eastside Alano Club (Clubhouse)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA 98005
Meditation in Recovery
7:00 PM
Bellevue Christian Reformed Church
1221 148th Ave NE
Bellevue WA 98007
Nameless Bunch of Drunks
Daily at 7:00 AM
Bellevue Christian Reformed Church
1221 148th Ave NE
Bellevue WA 98007
Eastside Breakfast
9:30 AM
Eastside Alano Club (Annex)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA 98005
Eastside Nooners
Sundays and Saturdays at 12:30 PM, Monday-Friday at 12:10 PM
Eastside Alano Club (Annex)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA 98005
Destinos Felices
Sundays at 1:30 PM, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 PM
Eastside Alano Club (Clubhouse)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA 98005
Grapevine Group
Sundays and Saturdays at 2:00 PM
Eastside Alano Club (Annex)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA 98005
Serenity Sunday
Sundays at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM
12 & 12 Fellowship Hall (Country Village)
23732 Bothell Everett Hwy
Living Sober
Sundays, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays at 5:30 PM
Eastside Alano Club (Annex)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA 98005
Steppin' Up
Sundays at 7:00 PM
Grace Lutheran Church
9625 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA 98004
Happy Destinies
Sundays at 7:00 PM
Eastside Alano Club (Annex)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA 98005
Essentials
Daily at 9:30 PM
Eastside Alano Club (Annex)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA 98005
Architects of Adversity
Mondays at 6:30 AM
12 & 12 Fellowship Hall
23732 Bothell-Everett Hwy
Bothell WA 98011
Morning Buzz
Mondays at 6:30 AM
300 NE Gilman Blvd. Suite 200
Issaquah WA 98027
Serenity Break (Men’s Group)
Sunday-Friday at 12:00 PM, Saturday at 9:00 AM
Bellevue Christian Reformed Church
1221 148th Ave NE
Bellevue WA
Happy, Joyous & Free
12:00 PM
Azteca
150 112th Ave
Bellevue WA 98004
The Afternooners
Monday-Friday, 2:00 PM
Eastside Alano Club (Annex)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA
Reflections
Mondays at 6:00 PM
Bellevue Christian Reformed Church Room 108
1221 148th Ave NE
Bellevue WA
Heretics' Haven Secular
Mondays at 7:00 PM
East Shore Unitarian Church
12700 SE 32nd St
Bellevue WA 98005
Coal Creek Step Study
Mondays at 7:30 PM
Newport Covenant Church @ Factoria Blvd SE (in back)
12800 SE Coal Creek Pkwy
Bellevue WA
Eastside Stag
Mondays at 7:30 PM
Overlake Park Presbyterian Church
1836 156th Ave NE
Bellevue WA
Bellevue Group
Mondays at 8:30 PM
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
8398 NE 12th St
Bellevue WA 98039
Last Call Hoot Owl Meeting
Mondays, 11:59 PM
Eastside Alano Club (Annex)
12302 NE 8th St.
Bellevue WA 98005
Eastside Women
Tuesdays at 10:00 AM
Church of the Resurrection
15220 Main St. (cabana in back)
Bellevue WA 98007
Lunch Bunch
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:00 PM
Angelos Restaurant
1830 130th Ave NE
Bellevue WA 98005
Bel East Lunch
Tuesdays 12:00 PM
Azteca Restaurant
150 112th Ave NE
Bellevue WA
The Shack
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
14230 SE Newport Way
Bellevue WA
Tuesday Night Solutions
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM
Bellevue Christian Reformed Church
1221 148th Ave NE
Bellevue WA
Downtown Stag
Tuesdays at 7:30 PM
First United Methodist Church
1934 108th Ave NE
Bellevue WA
From the Hat
Tuesdays at 8:30 PM
United Methodist Church
14230 SE Newport Way
Bellevue WA
Spanish Language Step Study
Tuesdays and Fridays at 9:15 PM
Eastside Alano Club (Clubhouse)
12302 NE 8th St.
Bellevue WA 98005
Newport Daytimers
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 9:30 AM
United Methodist Church
14230 SE Newport Way
Bellevue WA
Angelo's Wednesday Lunch Meeting
Wednesdays at 12:00 PM
Angelo's Restaurant
1830 130th Ave NE
Bellevue WA 98005
Enough is Enough
Wednesdays at 7:30 PM
Eastside Alano Club (Annex)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA
Newport Hills Study
Wednesdays at 8:00 PM
St Margaret’s Church
4228 Factoria Blvd SE
Bellevue WA
In to Order
Thursdays at 12:00 PM
Grace Lutheran
9625 NE 8th St.
Bellevue WA 98004
Angelo's Thursday Lunch Meeting
Thursdays at 12:00 PM
Angelo's Restaurant
1830 130th Ave NE
Bellevue WA 98005
Women of Worth (Women's Group)
Thursdays at 5:30 PM
Eastside Alano Club (Clubhouse)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA
New Hope Group
Thursdays at 7:00 PM
Eastside Alano Club
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA 98005
Sober Sisters East (Women's Group)
Thursdays at 7:00 PM
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church
3030 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue WA
Eastside Beginners
Thursdays at 7:30 PM
St. Andrews Church
2650 148th Ave SE
Bellevue WA
Mercer Island Thursday Night
Thursdays at 7:30 PM
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
4400 86th Ave SE
Mercer Island WA 98040
Ladies Step Study
Fridays at 10:00 AM
Church of the Resurrection
15220 Main St
Bellevue WA
Friday Lunch Bunch
Fridays at 12:00 PM
Azteca Restaurant
150 112th Ave NE
Bellevue WA 98004
Highland Happy Hour
Fridays at 6:00 PM
Highland Covenant Church
15022 NE Bel Red Rd
Bellevue WA 98007
Beyond Sobriety
Fridays at 7:00 PM
Grace Lutheran Church
9625 NE 8th St.
Bellevue WA 98004
Sermon on the Mount
Fridays at 7:00 PM
Eastside Alano Club (Annex)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA
A Way Up
Fridays at 7:30 PM
Grace Lutheran Church
9625 NE 8th St.
Bellevue WA
Overlake
Fridays at 8:00 PM
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
8398 NE 12th St
Bellevue WA 98039
Rough Around the Edges
Fridays at 8:15 PM
Eastside Alano Club (Annex)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA
Breakfast Bunch
Saturdays at 7:00 AM
Bellevue Grille
100 112th Ave NE
Bellevue WA 98004
Bel-Kirk Breakfast
Saturdays at 7:30 AM
Overlake Dennys
2233 148th Ave
Bellevue WA 98007
Eastside Men's Group
Saturdays, 8:30 AM
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
14230 SE Newport Way
Bellevue WA
Sober Saturdays
Saturdays at 8:30 AM
Eastside Alano Club (Annex)
12302 NE 8th St
Bellevue WA 98005
Women's Saturday Steps
Saturdays at 8:30 AM
Eastgate Congregational Church
15318 SE Newport Way
Bellevue WA
Main Street Saturday Night
Saturdays at 7:00 PM
Church of the Resurrection (in back)
15220 Main St.
Bellevue WA 98007
AA Speakers Meeting East
Saturdays at 8:00 PM
Bellevue Christian Reformed Church
1221 148th Ave NE
Bellevue WA 98005
Narcotics Anonymous, or NA, is a 12-step program with sponsors and accountability, just like Alcoholics Anonymous. The main difference is that Narcotics Anonymous isn’t specific to alcoholics - NA is for anyone wanting to kick an addiction to any substance.
In fact, the 12 steps of NA are almost identical to those of AA, except they don’t specify alcohol as the abused substance.
Many people find healing and recovery through the accountability and structure of NA.
If you think that NA could help you in your journey to sobriety, find a meeting near Mercer Island here. These meetings can be a helpful reminder that you aren’t alone, and a helpful step in getting clean.
Often, those who love addicts and alcoholics are also harmed by their loved one’s addiction or alcoholism. They fall victim to watching their loved ones harm themselves, and are often harmed as a result of their loved one’s use.
These individuals often suffer in silence and feel guilty for their friend or family. Most feel very alone and very helpless.
For this reason, there are also groups for those who love a drug addict or alcoholic.
Al Anon is a group for those who know and love someone with a drinking problem. The group unites those who share similar experiences and gives them resources with which to cope. Participants in this group learn more about alcoholism and how they can love an alcoholic without harming themself or the one they love.
To find Al Anon meetings near Mercer Island, check here.
In many cases, those hurt by a loved one’s alcoholism are children or teens. While children and teenagers are welcome at Al Anon meetings, it can be nice for them to have a group of their own. This is where Alateen comes in.
The Alateen program works similarly to the Al Anon program, but is geared towards a younger audience. Within this group, young people can learn what addiction is, be reassured that a loved one’s alcoholism or addiction is not their fault, and learn coping mechanisms that can help them to break generational cycles that would often lead them to begin abusing substances also.
If you know a child or teen who’s a good fit for an Alateen program, check out these Alateen groups near Mercer Island.
If your addiction or alcoholism is such that you think rehab is best to help you truly kick the habit, it’s important to know what rehab options are available to you. Not everyone’s recovery is the same, so it’s best to find the right treatment plan that’s unique to you.
Outpatient treatment is the less structured of the two addiction recovery options. In outpatient treatment, the patient (the recovering addict) continues to live in their own home, but comes to regularly scheduled therapy and other appointments.
Many prefer outpatient treatment because they can continue to work and go to school while living amongst their support system. Outpatient treatment is also cheaper than inpatient treatment.
Unfortunately, outpatient treatment has drawbacks as well. It’s much easier to miss appointments, and missed appointments can lead very quickly to a relapse. Additionally, any time spent away from the treatment facility is time in which you could be tempted to use your drug of choice again. Remaining around those who also drink or use drugs can be dangerous.
That said, outpatient is the right choice for many. If you’re considering entering outpatient treatment, it’s important to know what options you have for treatment approaches. There are a number of different kinds of therapies that treat addiction, and it’s important to know which is best for you.
Inpatient treatment is what most people think of when they think of rehab. In inpatient treatment, the recovering alcoholic or addict lives within a treatment facility for some time as they heal.
Often, inpatient facilities are best for those who have been addicted for a long time or to particularly potent substances. This is because the withdrawal and recovery process can be incredibly intense, and inpatient facilities ensure that the patient has access to trained medical professionals.
Of course, the constant availability of trained staff can benefit anyone in rehab. Their presence alone can make the process safer, and their knowledge can make it less painful.
Because inpatient treatment includes room and board, food, and other living costs, it’s usually significantly more expensive than outpatient treatment. Additionally, most inpatient treatment facilities do not allow patients to leave the facility during the recovery process, meaning you cannot continue to attend work or school once you are admitted.
However, there are many benefits to inpatient treatment as well. For one thing, inpatient treatment keeps you from being around the substance you’ve been abusing. However tempted you are to relapse, you can’t do so when none of the substance is around. It also removes you from all situations in which you used to use alcohol or your drug of choice. By the time you return to your normal life, you will have learned coping strategies that make you less likely to use in these situations.
Overall, inpatient treatment has the highest success rate of any addiction treatment type. This means that those who complete a full inpatient addiction treatment program are least likely to relapse to drug or alcohol use.
That said, though, different approaches work for different people. Only you know yourself well enough to choose what treatment option is right for you.
Many times, upon finishing a rehab program, recovering alcoholics or drug addicts don’t feel ready to return to normal life. They don’t want to fall in with the same crowd or into the same situations that led them to use before. They want to be clean and sober, but aren’t sure they can say “no” when it comes down to it.
In these cases, these individuals often opt to move to a sober living home for some time. These houses are home to several people recovering from alcoholism and addiction. All residents hold each other accountable, and adhere to rules decided upon by them all as a community. No alcohol or drugs are ever allowed on the premises, and other rules and checkups ensure that all residents are sticking with their recovery plan.
If you suspect that you or a loved one has overdosed on drugs or has alcohol poisoning, it’s best to get professional medical help as quickly as possible. In case of an emergency, always call 911.
Washington state has a Good Samaritan Law, so you cannot be prosecuted for drug use, possession of drugs, or underage drinking if you call 911 to seek emergency medical help for yourself or someone else experiencing an overdose or alcohol poisoning. Never let fear of the law keep you from seeking professional help for a drug overdose or alcohol poisoning.
It’s best to be prepared for the worst if you or a loved one is regularly using heroine or other opioids.
An overdose of heroin will lower the user’s heart rate and breathing until the user is dead unless medical action is taken quickly.
Both Narcan and Evzio are drugs approved by the U.S. FDA for the immediate treatment of heroin overdoses until emergency medical help can arrive.
If you or someone you know regularly uses heroin, it’s a good idea to make sure that a reliable friend or family member carries one of these treatment options and knows how to administer it correctly. Forms of these drugs are available as injections and nasal sprays.
It’s a good idea to review regularly the proper usage of these treatments so that the person administering it doesn’t panic under pressure.
Even if someone administers Narcan or Evzio, they should also call emergency medical personnel. These immediate treatments are not meant to be the only response in case of an overdose.
Cocaine overdoses can also kill a user quickly, so it’s important to think and act fast if you think you or a loved one has overdosed. First, call 911 immediately.
Once you have called 911, there are three things you can do while waiting for help to arrive:
Prescription drugs are different, so overdoses will look different depending on the drug. In an emergency, you should always dial 911 and seek medical help.
You can also call your local poison control center for more information on what to do during a prescription drug overdose on Mercer Island.
Washington Poison Center
Emergency Number: 800-222-1222
Addiction isn’t the same for everyone, so there’s no one solution to addiction recovery and treatment. However, perhaps Northpoint Washington is a good fit for you or someone you love.
The first step is determining whether you are an addict or your loved one is an addict. You can find out by taking our addiction quizzes, or find out if you’re enabling the addiction of someone you know.
You can also learn more about common addictions - such as alcoholism, opiates, amphetamines, or other prescription medications - and how they’re commonly treated.
If you decide that you or a loved one is an addict, and that you’re willing to do what it takes to beat your addiction, you can begin to search for the right treatment options for you around Mercer Island.
You may consider Northpoint Washington.
Northpoint Washington is an inpatient rehab facility near Mercer Island, Washington. With space for only 22 patients at a time, Northpoint can provide quality, around-the-clock medical care that could help you kick your addiction.
Sometimes, distance from everyday life can aid in a faster recovery. For this reason, you may be interested in our other locations even if they aren’t close to your home.
In this case, read what others had to say about our other locations:
“Today I celebrate 11 months of sobriety and I give all the credit to the staff of Northpoint Recovery. I struggled with addiction issues with both alcohol and cocaine for the better part of 25 years. I tried many times to quit on my own and went through programs offered through the Veterans Administration however nothing kept me clean and sober until I made the call to NPR . . . I am proud to say that I am a happier, healthier person. If you truly want a better life for you and your loved ones you owe it to yourself to walk through the doors of NPR and into a brand new you.” - Kevin D. Fletcher via Facebook
“When you recover at NPR it’s not just a place to recover you become a family member of NPR . . . The staff is ridiculous nice, you can tell they truly do love their job and care about you.
The counselors like to get down to the grit and find out exactly why you started using and how to cope with those situation . . . I am glad my dr recommended this place. And I would 100% recommend this place to anyone in the future.” - Richard Bajnoczy via Facebook
“Exceptional staff and program that I would recommend to anyone needing help with an addiction.” - Candy Lohr
“Ashwood is beyond amazing! . . . Ashwood makes sure to teach about the addiction model, helps you build a good peer support system and have counselors that genuinely care about you. The alumni activities are lit. The staff is lit. And I'm lit on recovery.” - Christian James Tovar via Facebook
Our inpatient treatment locations have helped many people reclaim their life from addiction or alcoholism. Remember, you are not alone in your journey to sobriety. Others have beat alcoholism and addiction, and you can too.
Our admissions coordinators are here to help you get started with treatment the right way. They'll verify your health insurance, help set up travel arrangements, and make sure your transition into treatment is smooth and hassle-free.
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