How is SMART different from traditional Twelve Step programs?
SMART has a scientific foundation, not a spiritual one. SMART teaches increasing self-reliance, rather than powerlessness. SMART views addictive behavior as a maladaptive bad habit, rather than as a disease. SMART Recovery meetings are discussion meetings in which individuals talk with one another, rather than to one another. SMART encourages attendance for months to years, but probably not a lifetime. There are no sponsors in SMART. SMART discourages use of labels such as “alcoholic” or “addict”.
