NA: A Resource in Your Community
Narcotics Anonymous is a nonprofit, international, community-based organization
for recovering addicts, which is active in over 131 countries. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) members learn from one another how to live drug-free and recover from the effects of addiction in their lives.
If you have considered recommending Narcotics Anonymous to someone who has a drug problem, you may have a few questions about our organization. This is designed to answer those questions.
Who are members of NA?
Anyone who wants to stop using drugs may become a member of Narcotics
Anonymous. Membership is not limited to addicts using any particular drug. Those
who feel they may have a problem with drugs, legal or illegal, including alcohol, are
welcome in NA. Recovery in NA focuses on the problem of addiction, not on any
particular drug.
Anonymity
The basic premise of anonymity allows addicts to attend meetings without fear of
legal or social repercussions. This is an important consideration for an addict thinking
about going to a meeting for the first time. Anonymity also supports an atmosphere of
equality in meetings. It helps insure that no individual’s personality or circumstance
will be considered more important than the message of recovery shared in NA.
NA meetings
NA’s primary approach to recovery is its belief in the therapeutic value of one
addict helping another. Members take part in NA meetings by talking about their
experiences and recovery from drug addiction. NA meetings are informally structured,
held in space rented by the group, and are led by members who take turns opening
and closing the meeting. NA meetings and other services are funded entirely by
member contributions and the sale of recovery literature. Financial contributions
from non-members are not accepted.
Most NA meetings are held regularly at the same time and place each week, usually
in a public facility. There are two basic types of meetings those that are open to the
general public and those closed to the public (for addicts only). Meetings vary widely
in format. Some formats are: participation, speaker, question and answer, topic
discussion, and some have a combination of these formats. The function of any
meeting is always the same: to provide a suitable and reliable environment for
personal recovery.
How does NA work?
Addicts helping each other recover are the foundation of NA. Members meet
regularly to talk about their experiences in recovery. More experienced members (known as sponsors) work individually with newer members.
The core of the NA program is the Twelve Steps. These “steps” are a set of
guidelines outlining a practical approach to recovery. By following these guidelines
and working closely with other members, addicts learn to stop using drugs and face
the challenges of daily living.
Narcotics Anonymous is not a religious organization and does not mandate any
particular belief system. It does teach basic spiritual principles such as honesty, openmindedness, faith, willingness, and humility that may be applied in everyday life. The
specific practical application of spiritual principles is determined by each individual.
Recovery in NA is not a miracle cure that happens within a given period of time. It is
a process, ongoing and personal. Members make an individual decision to join and
recover at their own pace.
Copyright © 1992,1993,2010 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
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