What About God And Prayers
When you’re new to NA, the talk about God and the inclusion of prayers at some meetings can be surprising and even uncomfortable, particularly if you are not religious. NA is not specifically a Christian organization and it is not affiliated with any religion, government, or other organization, even if the meeting is held in a church or other religious space.
Within the 12 steps of NA, members are asked to admit they are powerless over their addiction and that their recovery relies on a “higher power.” This phrase can mean a variety of things and up to personal interpretation. Some people choose God as theirs, and others do not. NA says that “ours is a spiritual, not a religious program.”
Try not to let this aspect deter you from meetings. If you have questions, consider asking a member about it personally, and they can explain further.
What Is The Narcotics Anonymous Program
Rather than elaborate on our understanding of the N.A. program, we decided it would be best to let Narcotics Anonymous speak for itself. Here is an excerpt taken from the N.A. Basic Text, which is a book written by addicts for addicts:
N.A. is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We 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. We suggest that you keep an open mind and give yourself a break. Our program is a set of principles written so simply that we can follow them in our daily lives. The most important thing about them is that they work.
There are no strings attached to N.A. We are not affiliated with any other organizations, we have no initiation fees or dues, no pledges to sign, no promises to make to anyone. We are not connected with any political, religious, or law enforcement groups, and are under no surveillance at any time. Anyone may join us, regardless of age, race, sexual identity, creed, religion, or lack of religion.
How To Find Narcotics Anonymous Recovery Programs Or Drug And Alcohol Meetings Near Me
The 12 Steps of NA have positively impacted people around the world by applying the same principles and traditions universally . If you or a loved one is ready to start down the path to sobriety and you are wondering, where can I find Narcotics Anonymous meetings near me?, find a Narcotics Anonymous meeting or organization in your area by visiting the NA Meeting search page. Meeting schedules may change, so its best to verify the information through the local chapters website or helpline.
Members of these chapters are making the same journey to sobriety that you are and youll benefit from continued support throughout your recovery with the 12 Steps of NA.
American Addiction Centers maintains a strong partnership with a large group of insurance companies at our addiction treatment facilities. You can contact us to speak to one of our admissions navigators for free about treatment options at . Start the journey to recovery and find out instantly if your insurance provider may be able to cover all or part of the cost of rehab and associated therapies. There are also free alcohol and drug abuse hotline numbers you can call.
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Emerging Trends In Substance Misuse:
- MethamphetamineIn 2019, NSDUH data show that approximately 2 million people used methamphetamine in the past year. Approximately 1 million people had a methamphetamine use disorder, which was higher than the percentage in 2016, but similar to the percentages in 2015 and 2018. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that overdose death rates involving methamphetamine have quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Frequent meth use is associated with mood disturbances, hallucinations, and paranoia.
- CocaineIn 2019, NSDUH data show an estimated 5.5 million people aged 12 or older were past users of cocaine, including about 778,000 users of crack. The CDC reports that overdose deaths involving have increased by one-third from 2016 to 2017. In the short term, cocaine use can result in increased blood pressure, restlessness, and irritability. In the long term, severe medical complications of cocaine use include heart attacks, seizures, and abdominal pain.
- KratomIn 2019, NSDUH data show that about 825,000 people had used Kratom in the past month. Kratom is a tropical plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia with leaves that can have psychotropic effects by affecting opioid brain receptors. It is currently unregulated and has risk of abuse and dependence. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that health effects of Kratom can include nausea, itching, seizures, and hallucinations.
Resources:
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Do 12 Step Programs Work
Research shows both inpatient and outpatient treatment are beneficial but vary based on individual circumstances.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, effective treatment programs acknowledge, among other things, the fact that individual needs vary and that successful programs blend behavioral and pharmaceutical methods of treatment. NA does not do these things.
Some criticize 12-step programs for failing to recognize emerging science-based approaches and, instead, offer a one-size-fits-all approach to a complex problem. There is also criticism of NAs approach of focusing on spirituality and requiring members to identify as addicts.
Narcotics Anonymous and other 12-step programs are based on the belief that the individuals life is unmanageable. And that unmanageability arose because of a lack of choice or determination within the mind of the addict concerning whether to use the substance again.
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What Are The 12 Steps Of Na
Many people wonder, Is NA a 12-Step program?, and the answer is yes. You might have heard about the spiritual element of NA, and you may be wondering, what are the 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous really about?
Similar to AA, NA helps participants recover by walking them through a process of 12 Steps. Followers of 12-Step Narcotics Anonymous programs complete Step work and must work all the elements of their programs to maintain sobriety. Although the 12 Steps of NA are meant to be explored in order, many people who are struggling with alcohol and drug addictions will visit and revisit various NA Steps over time:
Terminology For Your First Meeting
Heres 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 itself as the problem, rather than the use of a specific drug.
- Basic Text. The book that contains our core ideas, 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 or extended return to drug use.
- 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.
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Find A Recovery Program
The 12 steps of NA have positively impacted people around the world by applying the same principles and traditions universally. If you or a loved one is ready to start down the path to sobriety, find a Narcotics Anonymous meeting or organization in your area by visiting the NA Meeting search page. Meeting schedules may change, so its best to verify the information through the local chapters website or helpline.
Members of these chapters are making the same journey to sobriety that you are, and youll benefit from continued support throughout your recovery with the 12 steps of NA.
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Additional Resources on Drug and Alcohol Treatment
How Does An Na Meeting Work
Meetings typically follow one of two formats: speakers or open discussion. In a speaker meeting, one individual is allowed to speak to share their personal story. An open discussion is like a round table where anyone can share their own experiences in a limited amount of time. Often, a specific topic or a reading from the Basic Text serves as the foundation for discussion.
As a newcomer, you may be asked to introduce yourself. When introducing yourself, you will use your first name only as part of the commitment to privacy and anonymity. Also, you do not have to say Im an addict unless you feel comfortable doing so.
The only rules in a meeting are that drugs and drug paraphernalia are not allowed. Also, cross-talk is discouraged, and membersparticularly new attendeesare encouraged to listen while others speak openly. Its also appropriate to turn off your phone and not have side conversations.
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Why Are We Here
Before coming to the Fellowship of NA, we could not manage our own lives. We could not live and enjoy life as other people do. We had to have something different and we thought we had found it in drugs. We placed their use ahead of the welfare of our families, our wives, husbands, and our children. We had to have drugs at all costs. We did many people great harm, but most of all we harmed ourselves. Through our inability to accept personal responsibilities we were actually creating our own problems. We seemed to be incapable of facing life on its own terms.
Most of us realized that in our addiction we were slowly committing suicide, but addiction is such a cunning enemy of life that we had lost the power to do anything about it. Many of us ended up in jail, or sought help through medicine, religion, and psychiatry. None of these methods was sufficient for us. Our disease always resurfaced or continued to progress until, in desperation, we sought help from each other in Narcotics Anonymous.
After coming to NA we realized we were sick people. We suffered from a disease from which there is no known cure. It can, however, be arrested at some point, and recovery is then possible.
What Happens In A Narcotics Anonymous Meeting
An Introduction to NA Meetings: An introduction, that explains practices unfamiliar to those at their first meetings, and provides tips for groups to preserve an atmosphere of recovery.
Welcome to NA: This pamphlet was written to answer some of your questions concerning the program of NA. Our message is very simple: We have found a way to live without using drugs, and we are happy to share it with anyone for whom drugs are a problem.
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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.
Excerpt from IP#7 Am I an Addict?
If you have doubts about whether or not youre an addict, take a few moments to read the questions below and answer them as honestly as you can.
1. Do you ever use alone?
2. Have you ever substituted one drug for another, thinking that one particular drug was the problem?
3. Have you ever manipulated or lied to a doctor to obtain prescription drugs?
4. Have you ever stolen drugs or stolen to obtain drugs?
5. Do you regularly use a drug when you wake up or when you go to bed?
6. Have you ever taken one drug to overcome the effects of another?
7. Do you avoid people or places that do not approve of you using drugs?
8. Have you ever used a drug without knowing what it was or what it would do to you?
9. Has your job or school performance ever suffered from the effects of your drug use?
10. Have you ever been arrested as a result of using drugs?
11. Have you ever lied about what or how much you use?
12. Do you put the purchase of drugs ahead of your financial responsibilities?
13. Have you ever tried to stop or control your using?
15. Does using interfere with your sleeping or eating?
22. Do you think a lot about drugs?
Narcotics Anonymous And Religion
NA meetings are not based in any religion, but are rather grounded in spirituality. This refers to a higher power without defining what that is, 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 be a set of guiding morality and strength and is not based on any religion.
Narcotics Anonymous, often referred to as NA, is a 12-step program where people with drug addictions can find support in recovery. It is a group where people recovering from drug addiction can help each other pursue healthy choices. The NA literature describes it as a program for addicts who wish to pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle.
There are local NA meetings available every day throughout the United States and hundreds of countries around the world. Members often find the support they need to recover from addiction. Many people say it is a safe place to turn to when you need help getting and staying sober.
This article discusses how Narcotics Anonymous works and what to expect during NA meetings. It also covers the 12 steps of the recovery program
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What To Expect At Na Meetings
Because all Narcotics Anonymous groups act autonomously, types of members at meetings may vary from group to group. Some 12-Step NA meetings are closed, accepting only recovering addicts. Other meetings may be open or welcoming of non-addicts who wish to attend in support of a loved one or gain knowledge and understanding.
If you are seeking recovery only from alcohol addiction, you may find greater understanding in NA groups with larger numbers of recovering alcoholics alternatively, Alcoholics Anonymous is also open to you and may provide some more specific help for your needs.
What To Expect During An Na Meeting
NA groups consider themselves autonomous, despite all being guided by the same 12-steps. This means that each meeting is different. Meetings take place in different locations and are attended by different people.
Your NA group might look similar from meeting to meeting, but it will differ from meetings in other cities, states, and worldwide. Gaining new members is also the most important part of each meeting.
There are general NA meeting rules that help keep order and focus on everyone in attendance.
Rules include:
- Showing respect to fellow attendees
- Sharing only if you are comfortable doing so
- Using only first names in meetings and keeping attendance private
- Meetings are held in various public or religious locations, which do not necessarily indicate affiliation
Meetings might include educational speakers or allow attendees to share their stories if they choose. Meetings must be free to attend, but groups accept unsolicited donations.
Like other 12-step programs, Narcotics Anonymous operates on a set of Twelve guidelines called the Twelve Traditions of NA. The goal is to help members build healthier relationships and live drug-free lives.
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Don’t Know Where To Start
Get confidential help 24/7. A specialist can help:
- Answer questions about treatment
In general, 12-step programs are based on the following principles:
- Admitting loss of control over an addiction
- Turning to a higher power for strength
- Self-examination of mistakes with the assistance of a sponsor
- Accepting those mistakes and making amends
- Learning to live by a new code of behavior based on the 12-steps
- Committing to helping others with similar addictions
How To Find Na Meetings
When you are ready to attend your first meeting, visit the Narcotics Anonymous website to find a local meeting. Meetings occur throughout the day almost every day of the week. Depending on where you live, there should be many options to choose from. Some may even occur virtually.
There are also apps available that can help you find a local meeting or attend a virtual one. The NA Meeting Search app is available for both iOS and Android. Another app you might find useful include the NA Recovery Companion.
If you attend one meeting and are not too sure about it, go to another one. Every meeting has its own atmosphere, and you might find yourself more comfortable in one group than another.
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The Family Of An Addict
Narcotics Anonymous does not directly provide services for the family of an addict in recovery.
On this page we list resources for those family members wishing to receive assistance and support for themselves or for their loved one.
Narcotics Anonymous does not endorse or is affiliated with any of the organizations listed below. We provide these resources in the spirit of cooperation and goodwill within the community:
Na World Service Conference
The NA World Service Conference is a bi-annual service meeting made up of the Regional Delegates of the seated Regions of the world and the members of the NA World Board. This service conference has the executive right to make decisions for the entire NA Fellowship. This includes electing members to serve on the World Board, approving all new NA Literature, service material, and making policy decisions that affect the fellowship including the organizational structure. This responsibility has been executed as recently as the late 1990s when the World Service Conference voted to re-structure the NA Service structure including the removal of the Board of Trustees, Board of Directors, and several other World Service level committees replacing them with a single board elected by the conference.
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