Narcotics Anonymous (NA) describes itself as a “nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem.” Narcotics Anonymous uses a traditional 12-step model that has been expanded and developed for people with varied substance abuse issues, and it is the second-largest 12-step organization. As of May 2010, there were more than 61,800 NA meetings in 131 countries.
Narcotics Anonymous is a service that helps people to forget about their drug-related problems and aims to support them in giving up their addiction. Here, one can assist others and receive care and support from fellow persons, including addicts themselves and health care professionals.
You can easily enter and visit NA Meetings in nearly any location, or attend virtual meetings and proceed to recreate your own self with other encouraged people around you. Be ready to face a fetching and well-wishing community that will improve your mental state very shortly.
NA Membership and Organization
The third tradition of NA states that the only requirement for membership is “a desire to stop using.” NA says its meetings are where members can “meet regularly to help each other stay clean,” where “clean” is defined as complete abstinence from all mood and mind-altering substances unless taken as prescribed by a doctor. There is a matter of controversy whether a member taking Suboxone or methadone is “clean”; however, this is decided between a member who is taking these medications, their sponsor, and the “clean” network if their use is beneficial to recovery or being used as a replacement for drugs. Membership in NA is free, and there are no dues or fees. Moreover, all the meetings are confidential, meaning your identity will not be advertised in order to guarantee your own safety.
The foundation of the Narcotics Anonymous program is the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, which both are a method of eliminating addictions.
Treatment-Focused NA Meetings
Narcotics Anonymous “has no opinion on outside issues,” including those of politics, science, or medicine, and does not endorse any outside organization or institution. The fellowship does not promote itself but rather attracts new members through public information and outreach. NA groups and areas supply outside organizations with factual information regarding the NA program, and individual members may carry the NA message to hospitals and institutions, such as treatment centers and jails. Such facilities encourage recovery and also develop other treatment options and methods so the process is fast and hurtless. By spreading the way NA treats its members, you increase the impact that it brings to addicts with even greater strength.
The Nature of Addiction
NA describes addiction as a progressive disease with no known cure, which affects every area of an addict’s life: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. NA suggests that the disease of addiction can be arrested, and recovery is possible through the NA twelve-step program. It is a unique treatment that includes long-lasting support and conversations with professionals, which consist of various programs that are developed according to individual characteristics and cases. No matter if the addiction is focused on alcohol, drugs, or smoking, the person gets special treatment that makes them get happiness and satisfaction with life from other things but substance use.
The steps never mention drug use; rather, they refer only to addiction to indicate that addicts have a disease of which drug use is one symptom. Other symptoms include obsession, compulsion, denial, and self-centeredness. NA meetings provide prevention from these symptoms by developing helplines in their facilities and online.
101 on NA Meetings
Regular meetings hosted by NA groups are the basic unit of the NA Fellowship. Meetings are held in a variety of facilities such as church meeting rooms, libraries, hospitals, community centers, parks, or any other place that can accommodate a meeting. Nowadays, there are also many available virtual meetings where you can stay totally anonymous thanks to the confidential policy. Everyone can get access to such meetings regardless of their current location.
Members who attend the same meeting on a regular basis to establish a recovery network and reliable routine understand this to be their “Home Group.” Group members are able to participate in the group’s business. They play an essential role in deciding how the group’s meetings should be conducted, so one can select the facility and time at which the meeting will be held. It is also a technique that helps addicts to overcome their hesitancy and gets them more motivated to make decisions in routine life.
NA Meetings welcome former addicts
Ex-addicts themselves can become NA professionals and not only organize the meetings but also receive calls from those who want to enter the meeting. By doing this, NA communities provide addicts with real-world examples of how to communicate and help others. It is an easy way to return to normal life without addictions.
Hence, such day-to-day experience works as a part of treatment. The participants do not even recognize how they develop their recovery through routine activities. Do not be afraid to find a meeting nearby and start your new life as soon as possible.
NA Meetings Benefits
There is no need to doubt the usefulness of employed programs and the pace of treatment given at the NA meetings.
However, if you still only consider attending the meetings, here is a list of some points you need to know that can encourage you:
- You can enter any meeting even without registration and filling in your contact information in order to stay confidential;
- You will receive permanent support from other attendants who will not judge you;
- Even if you are not able to come to a meeting or there are no planned meetings on a particular day, you can contact your local center to talk about your problems;
- There are multiple routed helplines for all kinds of addictions and cases, be sure you will find the most comfortable for you;
- If you have moved to another state, you can join the local NA community effortlessly without mentioning your previous experience; just start it all over;
- Improve your mental state without making contributions or worrying about the ending of the session; you can attend NA meetings as long as you consider it helpful;
- Virtual meetings are also available with all the fetching features of offline meetings;
- A meeting can be held in various facilities, so you can visit treatment sessions whenever and wherever you like;
- The provided treatment is hurtless and will only improve your social connections and mental stability, even if you were affected by serious substances.
This list is really endless since there are many advantages of attending NA meetings, no matter how down in the dumps you may feel. But remember that no one can insist on your attendance as it is only your choice to find new paths in life and reduce substance and alcohol use. NA service can only support such motivation with its fetching programs and meetings.
Also, note that you can contact the NA community at any time and find a meeting nearby by exploring the list of available facilities on the website. Keep calm and create a life where you are happy without addictions!
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ
Is There an App to Find Narcotics Anonymous Meetings?
You can find NA Meetings with the help of search programs available on App Store and easily use it in order to find a meeting nearby. There, you will see a map of your city with the facilities where the meetings are usually held and the schedule of weekly meetings. Hence, you can always receive the required treatment at any moment and be up-to-date about new meetings.
What Is the Narcotics Anonymous Message?
NA is the community that helps addicts forget about their swirling addictions in a hurtless way with specially developed helplines and programs. A person will attend meetings every week or even day, if necessary, and pass the consultations on how to thwart the addiction faster.
How Do I Get into Narcotics Anonymous?
If you want to join the NA community, just call your local branch and ask the service provider where and when the next meeting will be held. Any person can attend the meeting easily with the notion that the desire to cure comes from their own heart.