What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous is a support program aimed at helping people who are suffering from drug addiction. It was founded in the 1950s, and since then, the NA has grown into a global network with over 70,000 meetings happening around the world. The basic concept of the program was to apply the 12-step approach, emphasizing principles such as anonymity, mutual support, and the primacy of personal recovery. Narcotics Anonymous is free and open to all that wish to overcome their addiction, and the meetings themselves are open to all people desiring to stop their substance abuse problem, whatever their background or drug of choice. To find local NA meetings, you can use the meeting search tool on https://www.methadone.org/clinics/, which provides information about meeting locations and times across the USA.
NA Meeting Places and Information
Following are some of the places where Narcotics Anonymous meetings are held in the USA:
New York, NY
- Location: 123 Main Street, New York, NY
- Meeting Time: Mondays at 6:30 PM
- Methods/Details: This is a traditional 12-step meeting and encourages open discussion. It is designed for individuals at any stage of recovery. Newcomers are particularly welcome, with an emphasis on sharing experiences and offering mutual support.
Los Angeles, CA
- Location: 456 Elm Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
- Meeting Time: Every Wednesday, 8:00 PM
- Methods/Details: In this meeting, both in-person and virtual attendance options are available. Group discussions are led, including the listening to speakers talk about their journeys in recovery. There is time for private reflections and receiving feedback from others in attendance.
Chicago, IL
- Location: 789 Oak Street, Chicago, IL
- Meeting Time: Saturday Mornings, 10:00 AM
- Methods/Details: Based on discussion and sharing of stories, this meeting focuses on the process of continued recovery. It is an excellent meeting for people wanting to reach out for support following a relapse. An open and accepting environment is established at this group for all in attendance.
Narcotics Anonymous provides a structured and supportive environment where individuals can find the help they need in their journey toward recovery. With more than 70,000 meetings held globally, NA remains a very important resource for people in their fight against addiction.
Support Group for People Addicted with Drugs
NA meetings offer a safe and non-critical space where members may share experience, strength, and hope. The only thing people care about is that individuals get better from their addiction and learn to live a life without drugs. The program is flexible and far-reaching for every kind of person. NA stresses the ability of the community to aid and support individuals in recovering, with the help of people who understand the situation.
Free Program with Regular Group Meetings Held in the USA
Narcotics Anonymous meetings occur on a regular basis in many cities around the United States, providing an opportunity for people to share their struggles with others in similar situations. The meetings are free, and no one needs to register. From daily meetings to less frequent ones, there are various opportunities for an individual to attend a meeting that may fit their schedule.
The 12 Steps of NA
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous are principles to direct one in working through addiction into a new way of life. Every step invites one to growth, self-knowledge, and responsibility. This is an important part of NA’s program of recovery and serves to keep a recovering addict going on his journey.
- We admitted we were powerless over our addiction—that our lives had become unmanageable.
Admitting the extent of addiction’s control over life. - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Recognizing spiritual assistance in recovery. - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
We have become willing to let our Higher Power help us change ourselves and our behaviors. - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Reflect upon personal actions and behaviors that need attention and change. - Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Admitted mistakes occurred and accepted responsibility for these mistakes. - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Became willing to let go of harmful behaviors and traits. - Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Ask God to help us let go of defects and bad character traits. - Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Making lists of those harmed by past behaviors, preparing amends. - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Taking steps to repair relationships damaged through addiction. - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Engaged in self-reflection and corrected mistakes as they occurred. - Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Developed through prayer and meditation a greater spiritual awareness and guidance. - Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
It means sharing the message with others about your recovery and living for the principles of the program.
Getting Started with NA in the USA
To initiate your recovery process with Narcotics Anonymous, you must search for their local groups in your locality. Your best resource here is the meeting finder search on methadone.org for easy lookup by city or region in the USA. The result of this search will give a list of all the meetings near you and other helpful information, like the kind of meeting, the location, and the time it is scheduled, that may help you when you decide to attend a meeting.
In-Person and Online Meetings Available
NA meetings are held face-to-face and virtually; thus, this helps reduce the number of challenges getting to the meetings because distance or circumstance would be less concerning. In many major American cities, face-to-face local NA meetings are conducted very frequently in easily accessible venues like community centers or churches. Meanwhile, virtual meetings are also widely available for home-based attendees or people who live too remotely. Both formats are designed to allow participants in recovery to relate to each other, share experiences, and find support from fellow members.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
Once you’ve found a local meeting, attending your first session can feel intimidating, but it’s an important step in your recovery process. It’s helpful to understand the different types of meetings and how to make the most out of your first experience.
Open vs. Closed Meetings
NA meetings are categorized as either open or closed:
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meetings | Open to everyone, including non-members, family, and friends. These meetings are for people who want to learn more about NA or just to see what it is all about. |
| Closed Meetings | Closed meetings are for those people who say they have a drug problem. The closed meetings provide a forum for discussion and sharing for those seeking recovery. |
Arriving Early and Introducing Yourself
When attending your first meeting, it’s a good idea to arrive a little early to familiarize yourself with the environment and meet others before the session begins. If comfortable, introduce yourself as a new member—many NA groups are very accepting and want to help out newcomers. This helps them get connected and makes it easier for them to break the ice and begin to relate to people in the group.
Sharing Your Experiences
Sharing is optional, but can be extremely therapeutic during the meeting and an incredibly powerful way to connect with other members. Many members feel that hearing others’ stories and speaking about their own helps them feel understood and supported in their recovery journey.
Welcome Keychain Tags and Milestones
The first time you attend an NA meeting, you will be given a welcome keychain tag. This little token is meant to remind you of your recovery commitment. As you progress and reach those significant milestones, you will be able to acquire more tags representing your sober success.
Milestone Tags
- 30 days: A tag for one month’s sobriety.
- 60 days: A tag for two months of sobriety.
- 1 year: A tag for one complete year of sobriety.
- Multiple years: A tag for every additional year of recovery, commemorating your success and continuous progress.
These keychain tags serve as visual motivators for the progress that these tokens represent and stand for all the hard work and effort an individual puts into their recovery. Collecting them may also serve to enhance one’s confidence and remind them how far they have come along.