“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol and/or drug addiction in or around Bellingham, you may not know that there are many recovery resources available. From local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to emergency resources we detail various entities where you or your loved one can go for help with their addiction.
Home › Drug Information › Bellingham Resources InformationAlcoholics Anonymous has been around since the mid 1930s. It was founded by two men who had a vision to help alcoholics recover. They realized that there was no solid way for them to connect with others who desired to get sober. As a result, AA was born.
Since its inception, there have been millions of people who have found strength, support and encouragement through AA. They began in the United States, but the organization has grown to become a worldwide operation.
Everyday, people all over the United States attend AA meetings. While they’re there, they get to meet and talk with others who understand their situations. It’s a place where they can feel safe and not judged. Alcoholics Anonymous will continue to benefit people who have a desire to stop drinking.
One of the reasons AA is so popular is because it doesn’t cost anything to attend. You’ll never be asked to pay any fees or membership dues. In fact, the only requirement for attending is that you have a desire to stop drinking.
When you go to your first meeting, you may feel a bit nervous, and that’s OK. It’s perfectly normal. If it’s an open meeting you’re attending, you may even want to bring a friend along with you. The other attenders will be very happy to see you, and they will welcome you. You may be surprised at how friendly they are, and that will you at ease quickly.
Don’t worry that you’re going to be asked a lot of questions your first time. They will understand how you feel because everyone there will have been through it before. No one will put you on the spot unless you’re willing to share with the group. There’s nothing wrong with sitting and listening for as long as you need to.
Attending an AA meeting in Bellingham is a great way to get the support you need for your recovery. There are several meetings for you to choose from.
Northwest Group
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 6:30 AM
Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday at 8:00 AM
Daily at 7:30 PM
Haskell Business Center
Building C, Unit C-5
1305 Fraser St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Southside Group
7:00 AM
Additional Meeting on Sundays at 8:30 AM
Southside Hall
1113 11th St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Dry Dock Group
Daily at 8:10 AM and 12:00 PM
Unit 105
1113 11th St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Facebook
Our Primary Purpose Group
Sundays at 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:30 PM
Monday through Friday at 6:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:30 PM
1939 Grant St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Bellingham Group
12:00 PM and 7:00 PM
1311 – ½ Railroad Ave.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Grupo Noroeste
2:00 PM
Haskell Business Center
Building C, Unit C-5
1305 Fraser St.
Map
There is a Solution Group
7:00 PM
Roosevelt Neighborhood Resource Center
2303 Moore St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Facebook
Salish Group
7:00 PM
Lummi Tribal Court
Building 12
2616 Kwina Rd.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Fairhaven Group
7:30 PM
St. James Presbyterian Church
910 14th St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Salish Group
12:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Lummi Tribal Court
Building 12
2616 Kwina Rd.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Grateful Hearts Group
5:30 PM
Garden Street Methodist Church
1326 N. Garden St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Facebook
Third Legacy Group
7:00 PM
Unity Church of Bellingham
1095 Telegraph Rd.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Night Crawlers Group
9:00 PM
Unit 105
100 Pine St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Salish Group
12:00 PM
Lummi Tribal Court
Building 12
2616 Kwina Rd.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Women in the Solution Group
6:30 PM
St. John’s Lutheran Church
2530 Cornwall Ave.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Into Action Group
7:30 PM
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
1720 Harris Ave.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Gladstone Book Study Group
12:00 PM
Oikos Fellowship
206 Prospect St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Salish Group
5:00 PM
Lummi Tribal Court
Building 12
2616 Kwina Rd.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Women on Wednesdays Group
7:00 PM
Southside Hall
1113 11th St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
SOS Men’s Group
7:00 PM
St. James Presbyterian Church, Upstairs
910 14th St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Fairhaven Group
7:30 PM
St. James’ Presbyterian Church
910 14th St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
York Group
6:30 PM
Oikos Fellowship
206 Prospect St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Salish Group
9:00 PM
Lummi Tribal Court
Building 12
2616 Kwina Rd.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Barkley Village Breakfast Group
7:00 AM
Bob’s Burger & Brew
Barkley Village, Suite #101
2955 Newmarket Pl.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Into Action Group
7:30 PM
Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
2600 Lakeway Dr.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Night Crawlers Group
9:00 PM
Unit 105
100 Pine St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
In many ways, Narcotics Anonymous is a lot like AA, but there are some differences between them as well. NA meetings are for people who are battling some type of drug addiction. They do allow and welcome alcoholics to come to their meetings as well. In fact, many people with alcoholism prefer to attend NA meetings.
About 20 years after AA began, Narcotics Anonymous was founded. There was a significant need for the same type of support group for people with drug addictions. These individuals also needed a place where they could go and feel safe while confiding in others about their struggles. NA seemed to be the perfect solution to this problem.
NA meetings are very informal, and like AA, there are no fees or dues required. The meetings are led by other recovering drug addicts, and they offer peer support. They follow their own 12 Steps of Recovery, and every meeting is different. Some involve special speakers and others are book studies or sharing meetings.
Again, please know that it’s normal to be nervous the first time you attend an NA meeting. The people there will understand that you’re stepping out in faith, hoping that NA will help you. Several of the other attendees will probably introduce themselves to you and help to make you feel comfortable.
You’ll be able to share about your situation as soon as you feel comfortable. Most people want to sit back and listen for a while, and that’s OK too. There may be a time after the meeting is over where you can get to know the other participants personally. You’ll be amazed at the new friendships that can be formed at NA meetings. This is your opportunity to get to know people who are recovery-minded, which is very important.
There are several NA meetings in Bellingham, Washington. You have a lot to choose from, so don’t be afraid to try a few of them before you make your decision. You can even attend more than one meeting regularly if it will help you.
Saint Joseph’s Hospital, south campus
12:00 PM and 7:00 PM
809 E. Chestnut St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Rose Street Meeting Hall
5:00 PM
309 Rose St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Broadway Youth Center
7:00 PM
1415 Dupont St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Facebook
Rose Street Meeting Hall
7:30 AM, 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM
309 Rose St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Oikos Fellowship Church
7:00 PM
310 Gladstone St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Rose Street Meeting Hall
7:30 AM, 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM
309 Rose St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Faith Lutheran Church
7:00 PM
2750 Mcleod Rd.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Rose Street Meeting Hall
7:30 AM, 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM
309 Rose St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Saint Joseph’s Hospital, south campus
7:00 PM
809 E. Chestnut St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
YMCA
7:15 PM
1256 North State St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Rose Street Meeting Hall
7:30 AM, 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM
309 Rose St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Oikos Fellowship Church
7:00 PM
310 Gladstone St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Rose Street Meeting Hall
7:30 AM, 12:00 PM and 10:30 PM
309 Rose St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
YMCA
7:15 PM
1256 N. State St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
St. Luke’s Health Education Center
7:30 PM
3333 Squalicum Parkway
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Rose Street Meeting Hall
10:30 AM and 7:00 PM
309 Rose St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
YWCA
5:00 PM
1026 N. Forest St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Bellingham Food Co-Op
5:30 PM
315 Westerly Rd.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Saint Joseph’s Hospital, south campus
7:30 PM
809 E. Chestnut St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
1720 Harris Ave.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Read great recovery stories, learn about the latest treatments, and find out how addiction affects yourself and your loved ones in our blog.
Read Our BlogIt’s so difficult to live with someone who has a drinking problem or a drug addiction. The families of addicts often suffer so much, and they need a place to turn for help. That is exactly what Al-Anon provides for them.
Al-Anon got its start in 1935, right around the same time Alcoholics Anonymous began. It was a slow beginning, but the movement to support the families of addicts slowly gained speed.
Just like addicts go to their own meetings, Al-Anon offers meetings for loved ones who have been impacted by addiction. This is a place for them to get together and talk about their struggles. The members all support one another, and they offer encouragement and acceptance. It feels good to be in a place where others understand your challenges without judging you for them.
You can easily find a Bellingham Al-Anon meeting near you that fits in with your schedule. There are several for you to choose from.
Touchstone Men’s AFG
9:00 AM
Co-op Bakery Café
405 E. Holly St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Peaceful Waters AFG
5:30 PM
Dry Dock
100 E. Pine St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Facebook
Evergreen AFG
10:00 AM
Garden St. Methodist Church
1326 N. Garden St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Facebook
Happy Hour AFG
5:30 PM
St. James Presbyterian Church
910 14th St.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Midday AFG
10:30 AM and 12:00 PM
First Congregational Church
2401 Cornwall Ave.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Care Deeply AFG
5:30 PM
First Congregational Church
2401 Cornwall Ave.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Sea of Serenity AFG
10:30 AM
St. John’s Lutheran Church
2530 Cornwall Ave.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Alateen is a part of Al-Anon, only it was designed to provide support to teens and older children. Some meetings allow participants that are as young as 9 years old to join in on them.
For young people, it’s not easy to cope when someone you love is an alcoholic or addict. They can often end up feeling isolated, and battling addictions or mental health issues themselves. Alateen provides them with a safe place where they can talk with other teens who are in similar situations.
Alateen meetings are held once a week, and there are no membership fees required to join. Also, keep in mind that people of any age are welcome to come to Al-Anon meetings. It’s not required to go to Alateen if you’re younger, but many teenagers prefer it.
You can also find several Bellingham Alateen meetings, as well as others in surrounding cities.
Absolutely Awesome Alateen
6:30 PM
Faith Community Fellowship
1427 Monte Vista Drive
Mount Vernon, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Abbotsford Alateen
7:15 PM
HOME Society Building
31581 South Fraser Way
Abbotsford, BC
Map
Online
Facebook
Let it be Anonymity Alateen
5:30 PM
First Congregational Church
2401 Cornwall Ave.
Bellingham, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
Between the Beaches Alateen
4:00 PM
Orcas Community Resource Center
374 A North Beach Rd.
Eastsound, WA
Map
Online
Facebook
All of the above meetings spend a great deal of time studying the 12 Steps of Recovery. Whether you’re an addict, alcoholic or a family member of someone who is addicted, you probably will as well. You may find it helpful to understand what the 12 Steps are, and they are as follows:
These are the 12 Steps for AA. There are some differences in the wording of the 12 Steps used for NA, but the basic idea is the same.
Working through the 12 Steps can be eye opening, to say the least. It has helped many people recover successfully from their addictions.
Take one of our addiction quizzes to find out if you or someone you care about needs help today.
Anyone who is a drug addict could be at risk for overdosing. The same is true for alcoholics and alcohol poisoning.
For drug addicts, overdoses are much more likely when they attempt to quit using and then relapse. In these types of cases, people aren’t aware of how quickly their tolerance levels can change. When they go back to using, they use the same amount that they did previously because it’s what they’re used to. Their bodies aren’t able to handle that amount anymore, and the result can be a fatal overdose.
Alcoholics can easily drink too much and end up with alcohol poisoning. This is a dangerous condition that can be fatal. It’s important for them to get treatment right away.
It’s important to know how to identify the symptoms of both a drug overdose and alcohol poisoning. Otherwise, you may not be prepared to help a loved one who needs you.
If you have a loved one who has overdosed, you should notice at least some of the following signs:
It’s possible to slip into a coma after someone has overdosed. They may also develop seizures.
It can be easy to miss the signs of alcohol poisoning because they often mimic drunkenness. If your loved one has any of the following, you should suspect that the problem is much more severe.
Every day, at least six people die from alcohol poisoning. These are deaths that could have been avoided if prompt action could have been taken.
If you believe it’s possible that a loved one has overdosed or has alcohol poisoning, take action quickly. You should call 911 right away to get help. The paramedics will come to the scene quickly, and they may even be able to provide some treatment there.
The worst thing you could do would be to allow your friend or family member to sleep it off. Their situation could be potentially fatal, but getting medical help might just save their life.
Sometimes support groups, counseling or other forms of treatment aren’t enough on their own. Experts agree that the best way to recover from an addiction or alcoholism is to go to rehab. The right substance abuse treatment program treats all aspects of the problem with multiple forms of therapy. This tends to be the most effective approach.
For many people, drug and alcohol detox is their first step in recovery. Quitting the use of any substance is very difficult, and most people can’t do it on their own. They need the help of professional treatment to be successful. Unless the physical aspect of the addiction is addressed first, recovery is very unlikely. That’s what happens when you go through the detoxification process.
Depending on the type of addiction you have, you may be required to detox first. Your doctor will talk with you about your options for withdrawal treatments. They usually involve a combination of medication and medical approaches and a holistic approach. This tends to be the best method that gets good results.
Detoxing is beneficial to you in many ways. You’ll find that your withdrawal symptoms may be minimized. You could also avoid many of the more dangerous symptoms of withdrawal that could put you in danger.
Once you’ve gone through the detox process, you’ll be ready for drug and alcohol rehab. This means that you will start addressing the reason for your substance abuse.
People begin using alcohol and drugs for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes they use because they’re stressed and it helps them feel better. There are people who use because they feel it helps them cope with a difficult situation they’re facing. Others may do it because they have a mental illness and drugs or alcohol relieve their symptoms. This is called having a co-occurring disorder.
During rehab, the reason for your addiction will be treated. Your therapist will offer you the best type of therapy to meet your unique needs. You’ll also have support groups and other forms of treatment as well.
The worst thing you could do would be to ignore your addiction or alcoholism. Pretending like it isn’t happening will only make the situation worse. It’s not going to go away on its own, and the help you need to quit is available to you.
We’re also here for you if you’d like to learn more about additional resources in Bellingham. It’s OK if you’re not ready to commit to a professional treatment program just yet. We can talk with you about the different options that might be a better fit for you at this time.
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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