Pills Anonymous

Pills Anonymous (PA) was founded as a response to the growing issue of prescription pill addiction, including opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and other medications. Modeled closely after Alcoholics Anonymous, PA provides a structured program for those struggling with pill addiction. The fellowship offers a supportive community where members share their experiences, strength, and hope to help one another achieve and maintain sobriety. PA is not affiliated with any religious or political organizations and operates independently from AA, despite similarities in their recovery approaches. 

 www.pillsanonymous.org  

 Prescription Medications  

Theistic (non-specific)

As prescription drug misuse became more recognized in the U.S. during the 1970s and 1980s, some people in AA and NA noticed that pill addiction carried unique challenges, such as social stigma, easy access through doctors, and the mistaken belief that “prescribed” meant “safe.” Small, informal groups calling themselves “Pills Anonymous” began meeting in parts of California, Arizona, and Texas in the 1990s. Many of these were offshoots of Narcotics Anonymous or AA meetings where pill-focused addicts felt their stories were better understood. In the 2000s the U.S. opioid crisis, coupled with widespread stimulant (e.g., ADHD meds) and benzodiazepine misuse, led to more demand for pill-specific recovery groups. PA groups spread more widely in the Southwest U.S. and then to other regions.

In 2008 Pills Anonymous World Service (PAWS) was formally created, establishing a central office and publishing literature. The fellowship released Pills Anonymous: The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, its main guiding text (inspired by AA’s literature, but specific to pill addiction) in 2012. The fellowship adopted the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions model with language adapted to pill addiction. For example, members introduce themselves as “pill addicts” rather than alcoholics.

Meetings spread to major U.S. cities and some international locations during the 2010s. Groups began offering both in-person and phone/online meetings. PA was especially appealing to those who didn’t fully identify with NA (too broad, focused on “all drugs”) or AA (alcohol-specific), but who wanted a 12-step recovery path tailored to their struggle with prescription medication.

Today Pills Anonymous remains a smaller fellowship compared to NA or AA, but continues to operate worldwide. PA meetings may be in-person, by phone, or online (Zoom, conference call, etc.). The focus is strictly on pill addiction, though many members also struggled with alcohol or other substances.

There is a Solution by Pills Anonymous   

Pills Anonymous uses the same twelve steps as Alcoholics Anonymous.

Members commit to sobriety from all mind-altering prescription and non-prescription drugs.

New members are encouraged to seek guidance from a more experienced member who has worked through the Twelve Steps.

PA maintains privacy and confidentiality to create a safe and judgment-free environment.

Helping others in recovery strengthens one’s own sobriety.

In-person and virtual gatherings where members share their experiences and support one another.

In-person: www.pillsanonymous.org/find-a-meeting

Online: www.pillsanonymous.org/find-a-virtual-meeting