What Is Narcotics Anonymous?
What’s Narcotics Anonymous? Narcotics Anonymous provides support for those attempting to recover from drugs other than just alcohol. NA was officially founded in Los Angeles in 1953 and has spread to thousands of locations in 129 countries. The only requirement to become a member of NA is a desire to overcome your addiction. NA groups don’t make a distinction between any drug, including alcohol. They also recognize that polysubstance dependence is common.
Therefore, any addict who wants to recover is welcome. [1]NA offers addicts a way to live drug-free but if you are not sure you’re an addict, don’t worry about it; just keep coming to the meetings. Regular meetings, hosted by NA groups, are the basic unit of the NA fellowship. Meetings are held in a variety of places such as church meeting rooms, libraries, hospitals, community centers, parks, or any other place that can accommodate a meeting.
Expectation From An NA Meeting
The primary purpose of NA world services is communication, coordination, information, and guidance. We provide these services so that our groups and members can more successfully carry the message of recovery. Our program of recovery can be made more available to addicts everywhere.
Narcotics Anonymous And Religion
This refers to a higher power without defining it, as it can be different for everyone. Parts of the NA meeting usually include references to “God” and a prayer at the closing of the meeting. However, some people replace “God” with “higher power” or “good orderly direction.” The higher power aspect is meant to guide morality and strength and is not based on any religion.
Narcotics Anonymous Program
Skip To:
- What Is Narcotics Anonymous?
- Expectation From An NA Meeting
- Narcotics Anonymous And Religion
- Narcotics Anonymous Program
- Narcotics Anonymous Statistics
- Does NA Work?
- Terminology For Your First Meeting
- “Closed” vs. “Open” Meetings
- The 12 Steps
- Most Popular Narcotics Anonymous FAQs
- Strength And Accountability In Numbers
- Finding A Narcotics Anonymous Group
Learn More:
NA is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a significant problem. These people are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only one requirement for membership, the desire to stop using. They suggest that you keep an open mind and give yourself a break. The program is a set of principles written so simply that you can follow them in your daily lives. The most important thing about them is that they work. There are no strings attached to NA. They are not affiliated with any other organizations.
NA has no initiation fees or dues, no pledges to sign, and no promises to make to anyone. They are not connected with any political, religious, or law enforcement groups and are under no surveillance at any time. Anyone may join regardless of age, race, sexual identity, creed, religion, or lack of faith.
Narcotics Anonymous Statistics
Meetings for Narcotics Anonymous originally appeared in the Los Angeles region of California, USA, in the early 1950s, after the Alcoholics Anonymous Program of the late 1940s. One of the oldest and biggest organizations of its kind in the world, the NA program began as a modest US movement.
3 out of 4
In 2020, it was discovered that 3 out of 4 addicts eventually get clean.
Source: CDC
53 million
53 million people, or 19.4% of those aged 12 and over, used illegal substances or mistreated prescribed medications in the previous 12 months.
Source: NIMH
Between 40% and 60%
Unavoidably, between 40% and 60% of addicts relapse.
Source: NIMH
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(844) 597-1011NA members are not interested in what or how much you used or who your connections were, what you have done in the past, or how much or how little you have, but only in what you want to do about your problem and how the meetings can help.
12 Steps Of Narcotics Anonymous PDF
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Hotline(844) 597-1011Does NA Work?
For many members of NA, the program is the only thing they’ve found that did work. Anyone who has dealt with addiction knows that it is a struggle that can seem hopeless at times. Treatment centers and rehab, therapy and counseling, and going at it alone does not work for everyone. For some, NA is a continuance of recovery in everyday life. The community support and 12 steps found at NA meetings seem to be the missing link for many people addicted to substances who wish to stay sober. Of course, there is never a guarantee that you will never use again. However, as they say in NA, “We can do together what we could not do alone.”
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Terminology For Your First Meeting
Here’s a quick glossary of terms used in NA meetings, as listed in the NA official “Intro to NA” material.
- Addict: The term we use to refer to ourselves because we see addiction as the problem rather than using a specific drug.
- Basic Text: The book that contains our core ideas, is titled Narcotics Anonymous.
- Group: Members who hold one or more regularly scheduled NA meetings.
- Higher Power: Any loving force that helps a member stay clean and seek recovery.
- IPs: Information pamphlets about NA.
- Newcomers: New NA members.
- Relapse: When a lapse in recovery results in a brief.
- Sharing: Offering personal experience with addiction and recovery.
- Sponsor: Experienced member who offers guidance and support through the 12 Steps.
- Trusted Servants: Members who have service positions in NA.
“Closed” vs. “Open” Meetings
As in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Narcotics Anonymous meetings can be either “open” or “closed.” In open meetings, anyone may attend, including those interested in the group and how it works or who want to listen to support a loved one. Closed meetings are only for recovering addicts.
The 12 Steps
Narcotic Anonymous meetings bases its treatment on the AA-established 12 steps. The only difference is that the NA terminology replaces references to “alcohol” with simply “addiction,” as NA doesn’t distinguish between addictions.
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Most Popular Narcotics Anonymous FAQs
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What are the Narcotics Anonymous symbols?
The Circle, which serves as NA’s emblem, represents the organization’s comprehensive, all-inclusive program that accommodates all forms of addiction recovery and recovery itself. The four sides represent God, Self, Society, and Service, while the square base represents goodwill. They converge at the place that represents freedom as they rise as a pyramid.
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What is the Narcotics Anonymous meaning?
People who are addicted to drugs can find help in recovery via Narcotics Anonymous, sometimes known as NA. People who are in recovery from drug addiction can support one another in making good decisions in this group. It is a program “for addicts who aspire to pursue and maintain a drug-free existence,” according to NA literature.
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What are Narcotics Anonymous medallions?
An affordable and simple-to-use item for addiction treatment is the Narcotics Anonymous coins. It serves as a symbol of optimism and a reminder that healing is possible. The Na Medallion is available for purchase online and at the majority of drug and alcohol treatment facilities.
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What are the Narcotics Anonymous world services?
The services that NA provides to its members, its groups, and society as a whole—those that address the needs of NA as a whole—are known as NA World Services (NAWS). Our globe services’ primary goals are to facilitate communication, coordination, information sharing, and guidance. We offer these services to make our recovery program more accessible to addicts all around the world and to help our groups and members spread the message of recovery more effectively.
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What is the difference between Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) have very different recovery-related mottos, mindsets, customers, and cultures. However, with the recent expansion of Alcoholics Anonymous to embrace those struggling with all kinds of addictions, the distinctions are beginning to merge.
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What is the 3rd Step prayer Narcotics Anonymous?
The Narcotics Anonymous 3rd step prayer is, “Take my will and my life, guide me in my recovery, show me how to live.”.
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What is the 4th Step Narcotics Anonymous?
We must be inquisitive and fearless in Step Four. We are challenged to take a close look at ourselves and look past the lies we have told ourselves in the past to keep the truth from us. As if entering a dark house with only a single candle to light the way, we look within.
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What is the history of Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) was established in Los Angeles, California, in 1953 by James Patrick Kinnon, also known as “Jimmy K,” with the intention of aiding its members in quitting using addictive narcotics.
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Is Narcotics Anonymous for family members as well?
The 12-step self-help program Nar-Anon Family Groups has a worldwide fellowship that includes Narateen. Young people whose lives have been impacted by a family member or friend’s drug usage can find assistance and hope at Narateen. Meetings for Narateen are organized and supervised by knowledgeable Nar-Anon members.
Strength And Accountability In Numbers
One of the most potent aspects of NA is the community. Once a new attendee is familiar with the structure of NA and has established a relationship with the group, they can start looking for a sponsor. A sponsor is already established in NA and well-versed in the Narcotics Anonymous 12 Steps who can act as a mentor. It is usually advised to find a sponsor who also has a sponsor, so there are multiple layers of accountability.
Finding A Narcotics Anonymous Group
Most drug addiction treatment programs encourage clients to participate in a self-help group during and after formal treatment. [2]
Are you ready to find a Narcotics Anonymous group to help you overcome your addiction? With more than 61,000 meetings held every week worldwide, many options can fit your needs and lifestyle. You can search for meetings on the Narcotics Anonymous website. Make this your opportunity to reclaim your life. Call today to speak with one of our treatment specialists. Our specialists know what you are going through and will answer any of your questions.
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Sources
[1] Narcotics Anonymous – https://www.na.org/?ID=aboutus
[2] NIDA – If Your Adult Friend or Loved One Has a Problem with Drugs: Support Groups | NIDA (drugabuse.gov)
