Rules of the Road
While accessing recovery resources online, there are several things you can do to enhance safety, privacy, and civility. In our reviews of multiple forums, these are some common recommendations:
Safety
Not everyone you meet online has the same good intentions as you. Some well-intentioned people give bad advice. Here are some ways you could protect yourself:
- Be careful when meeting people from the online world in the offline world. If you do choose to meet someone in person, meet in a public place with and with friends if possible.
- Avoid sending money to strangers. Watch out for potential scams and don't click on links from suspicious sources.
- Be cautious with medical advice that you get from people online. This includes getting advice about quickly cutting down or stopping regular use of alcohol or other drugs - as this can sometimes be life-threatening. Consult with a doctor about safe and effective ways to manage alcohol and drug detoxification.
Privacy
Even if you are not worried about remaining totally anonymous online, still be careful with how much information others can access.
- Many forums require you to register using an email address. When discussing sensitive topics, consider using a separate email address not connected with your name or personal accounts.
- Beware of using the same password as you do on other sites. If someone finds out your password, they could access multiple accounts.
- Avoid posting personal information such as full name, phone number, address, birthday, and so on. These details can be used to access your accounts and steal your identity.
- If using a shared or public computer, remember to log out after each session and avoid using "keep me logged in" options. This practice helps to prevent other people from using your accounts without your knowledge.
Civility
Be mindful of what you post online. Not all sites have an option to edit or delete what you share. Also, what you post could be taken out of context and shared off-site.
- Assume that "the Internet is forever" and that even deleted posts are permanently stored in an archive.
- If someone seems to be starting trouble on purpose, ignoring or reporting them may be something to consider.
- Ask for permission before posting photos of people online. Not everyone is comfortable with having their pictures shared.
- Read and follow rules that are specific to the forum. For example, some forums ask that participants post only while sober.
