Traditions Index | Tradition 1

A Statement of our Traditions and Founding Vision

Preamble: What It Says with short explanations in blue.

"DRA is an independent, non profit, self-help organization. Our goal is to help men and women who experience a dual illness: We are chemically dependent and we are also affected by an emotional or psychiatric illness. Both illnesses affect us in all areas of our lives: physically, psychologically, socially and spiritually."

Explanation:

• DRA is a program established by people in dual recovery for people who experience a specific dual disorder of both chemical dependency and emotional or psychiatric illness.

• Each illness has an impact on many areas of a person's life.

• DRA is independent, therefore there are no outside organizations or institutions that direct or impose themselves on the Fellowship and its principles.

"The primary purpose of DRA is to help one another achieve dual recovery, to prevent relapse and to carry the message of recovery to others who experience dual disorders."

Explanation:

• DRA has only one single purpose - dual recovery members help one another in dual recovery. We need to prevent relapse from both illnesses. We carry the message of recovery to help others recover from dual disorders.

"DRA has two requirements for membership; A desire to stop using alcohol and other intoxicating drugs and a desire to manage our emotional or psychiatric illness in a healthy and constructive way."

Explanation:

• DRA is a membership organization with two simple requirements, a desire to manage both illnesses.

• DRA membership does not require a diagnosis or referral from a provider, there are no fees or dues.

• DRA does not define how a person should manage their emotional or psychiatric illness because there are many appropriate approaches.

"DRA is a nonprofessional self-help program. There must always be a clear boundary separating the work of DRA from the work of chemical dependency and mental health professionals. The DRA Fellowship has no opinion on matters of diagnosis, treatment, medications or other issues related to the healthcare professions."

Explanation:

• DRA maintains its focus on its primary purpose, providing a Twelve Step program for dual recovery and carrying the message through the service work of the fellowship.

• DRA maintains the focus on the primary purpose by remaining outside of the arena of engaging in advocacy and public education or providing professional services.

• By maintaining the primary purpose, DRA avoids being drawn into controversial issues associated with the political or financial matters related to providing professional services.

"The DRA fellowship is not affiliated with any other self-help organization or Twelve Step program. DRA has no opinion on the way other groups address the problems of dual disorders and dual recovery. We do not criticize the efforts of others."

Explanation:

• While DRA is a Twelve Step Anonymous fellowship, it is free of any direct or indirect relationship with other fellowships, or self-help organizations.

• DRA recognizes there are other fellowships that address dual disorders, addictions or emotional or psychiatric illness and that people who want support for their recovery can benefit from a diversity of approaches.