What To Expect From An Na Meeting
Its natural to be a little intimidated before going to a meeting, but just remember that everyone was once where you are. In fact, Narcotics Anonymous members are all recovering addicts who want to help others recover. You can rest assured that the group will provide a caring, welcoming, nonjudgmental environment.
Meetings are usually either discussion or speaker meetings. In discussion meetings, members share their personal stories of addiction and recovery as they relate to their lives. In speaker meetings, one or more members is asked to share for the majority of the meeting.
In discussion meetings, members may share as much or as little as they feel comfortable with, keeping in mind and being courteous of time constraints. New attendees arent required to share, though they are usually welcome to if they so choose. Sharing is done one at a time, and members are asked to only share their own experience and not comment on othersconversations can be had during breaks or after the meeting.
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
What Is An Na Meeting
NA meetings are one of the major parts of the Narcotics Anonymous recovery program. Members meet regularly at these meetings where they are able to talk about their problems and share their stories with others facing similar experiences. The meetings also allow people in recovery to give and receive support and encouragement from their peers.;
In addition to talking about the challenges of drug recovery, NA meetings are also a place for members to offer advice to others, share their success stories, and celebrate their recovery milestones.
No part of NA is compulsory or required. Meetings are either “open,” for members and non-members, or “closed” . Support people and loved ones who are not in recovery themselves are typically welcome to attend open meetings.
NA does not focus on any particular drug. Instead, the purpose of NA is to share the trials and triumphs that come with addiction and recovery.;
There are also no costs to attend a meeting, and non-members are asked not to contribute to the voluntary collection of money that keeps things running. This allows the organization to remain self-sustaining. Non-members can, however, purchase a “Basic Text” from the group.
The only requirement for becoming a member of Narcotics Anonymous is “the desire to stop using.”
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What To Expect At Meetings
Because all Narcotics Anonymous groups act autonomously, types of members at meetings may vary from group to group. Some 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 to 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.
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.
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Narcotics Anonymous Meetings Can Help Drug Addictions
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
Only You Can Answer This Question
This may not be an easy thing to do. All through our usage, we told ourselves, I can handle it. Even if this was true in the beginning, it is not so now. The drugs handled us. We lived to use and used to live. Very simply, an addict is a person whose life is controlled by drugs.
Perhaps you admit you have a problem with drugs, but you dont consider yourself an addict. All of us have preconceived ideas about what an addict is. There is nothing shameful about being an addict once you begin to take positive action. If you can identify with our problems, you may be able to identify with our solution. The following questions were written by recovering addicts in Narcotics Anonymous. 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.
Recommended Reading: How Does Rehab Help Drug Addicts
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.
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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How Do The 12 Steps Work To Conquer Addiction
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous take you from the hopeless state of addiction to an empowered state of recovery. This happens through a process of honest admission, cleaning house, righting wrongs, engaging in spiritual practices, and being of service to others.
- The steps allow you to make an honest assessment of your addiction and come face-to face with the reality that you are powerless over your use of drugs. You come to see how your obsessive and compulsive use of drugs has caused your life to become unmanageable. You get out of denial and start living honestly.
- You are given the opportunity to perform an inventory of yourself and admit your shortcomings. You then ask the God of your understanding to remove your defects of character, which brings relief from things like insecurity and self-loathing. Quite often, these defects of character are what drove your addiction to begin with.
- You get to face the wreckage of your past. You right your wrongs and make amends to the people you have hurt. This helps to alleviate the guilt and shame you inevitably experience from things you did while you were using drugs. Quite often, people continue to use drugs because of shame and guilt.
- You stay clean through prayer and meditation and learn to be of service to others by carrying the message of recovery to other addicts just like the message was carried to you when you first got clean.
Find out more about the science behind the 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous.
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 “I’m 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. It’s also appropriate to turn off your phone and not have side conversations.
Read Also: How To Stop Addictive Behavior
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.
Related Reading:;Am I an addict
If You Can Identify With Our Problems You May Be Able To Identify With Our Solution The Following Questions Were Written By Recovering Addicts In Narcotics Anonymous
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?
14. Have you ever been in a jail, hospital, or drug rehabilitation center because of your using?
15. Does using interfere with your sleeping or eating?
16. Does the thought of running out of drugs terrify you?
17. Do you feel it is impossible for you to live without drugs?
18. Do you ever question your own sanity?
19. Is your drug use making life at home unhappy?
22. Do you think a lot about drugs?
Also Check: What Makes People Addicted To Drugs
Na World Service Office
The WSC through the World Board is responsible for the NA World Service Office located in the Chatsworth, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. This office handles the production of all approved literature, provides resources for projects approved by the WSC, and also provides limited services to the fellowship as a whole. The office also administers the legal responsibilities of the fellowship concerning copyrights, intellectual property, and accounting. The office employs many people who carry out these functions.
What Is An Na Program
NA is an anonymous 12-step system. It offers a safe space where members do not have to give their name or any other identifying information. The program is open to people of all ages, races, sexual orientations, and religions.2,3
NA has no fees, dues, or pledges. The only requirement for participation is the desire to quit using drugs. The organization is not affiliated with any other organizations or political, religious, or law enforcement groups.2,3
General Na Meeting Rules
Regardless of the group type, here is what you can expect at an NA meeting:
- Every attendee should be treated with respect.
- Personal sharing is voluntary.
- Some meetings may include speakers who can share their own insights.
- Only first names are used, and attendance is kept private within the meeting.
- Meetings are free to attend; money is accepted by voluntary donation only.
- Meeting location does not necessarily indicate affiliation; meetings may be held in public spaces or religious buildings.
The 12 Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous
In addition to the NA 12 steps, NA operates on a set of guidelines meant to facilitate healthier relationships with other individuals and with society. These guidelines developed from the AA movement and are described as 12 Traditions that NA members adhere to and respect. Understanding these traditions may help you better learn how the NA support group works.
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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.
