LEWISTON — The Center for Wisdom’s Women is hosting the “New Life” program from Women for Sobriety (WFS). WFS is a 13-statement abstinence-based program of recovery that encourages emotional and spiritual growth. It is dedicated to helping women overcome addiction, maintain sobriety and embrace a new, positive life-style.

The local group meets weekly from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and is being led by licensed addiction counselors Lise Pelletier and Denise Mailhot. After the group meets consistently for a period of time, the members will take on the leadership role. The program can stand alone or be used along with other programs such as AA.

As stated in WFS literature, “it was assumed that any program for recovery from alcoholism (or other addictions) would work equally well for women as for men. When it became obvious that recovery rates for male alcoholics were higher than for females, it was then declared that women were harder to treat and were less cooperative than male alcoholics.”

WFS was founded in 1975 on the belief that women could benefit from a different kind of program and it has shown that the emotional needs for women are usually different in recovery from those of the male population.

There are hundreds of WFS groups across the country. This is the first one to be organized in the Lewiston/Auburn area.

In addition to sponsoring local self-help groups, WFS offers a 24/7 connection on the internet through chat meetings and message boards. It also produces and distributes booklets and literature addressed to the needs of women and offers a free electronic newsletter, “Sobering Thoughts.”

FMI: www.womenforsobriety.org.

The WFS group joins other self help groups at the women’s center, including Trauma Recover and Empowerment. Advance registration is required for TREM, which meets at 2:30 p.m. Mondays. An Al-Anon Group meets at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays. There is no registration needed for Al-Anon or WFS. All groups are free, though donations are invited for Al-Anon and WFS to cover costs of literature. All meetings are at the women’s center, 97 Blake St.