Narcotics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a global, community-based organization with a multilingual and multicultural membership. NA was founded in 1953 and offers a recovery process and peer support network aimed at helping individuals abstain from drug addiction and achieve a lifestyle free of substance abuse. NA members follow a set of principles outlined in the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), focusing on personal growth and recovery.

An NA meeting in progress.

History

Narcotics Anonymous was established in 1953 in California as a response to the need for a support group specifically for drug addiction. Since then, NA has grown to be one of the world's largest organizations of its type, with more than 70,000 weekly meetings in 144 countries.

Principles

The foundation of the NA program is the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, which offer a framework for recovery and group operation. These steps encourage members to admit their powerlessness over addiction, seek a higher power's help in recovery, make amends for harm caused, and help other addicts.

Meeting Formats

NA meetings can vary in format, including:

• Speaker meetings: Where one or more members share their experience, strength, and hope with others.
• Discussion meetings: Members discuss their struggles and achievements in recovery.
• Open meetings: Non-addicts may attend, often as observers.
• Closed meetings: Only those who consider themselves addicts may attend.

Recovery Process

The recovery process in NA emphasizes that addiction is a chronic, progressive disease that can be arrested but not cured. Members are encouraged to maintain complete abstinence from all drugs, including alcohol. The program suggests regular meeting attendance, obtaining a sponsor, and working the Twelve Steps.

Global Presence

NA's growth has been supported by the publication of its Basic Text in 1983, now available in numerous languages, facilitating the spread of NA meetings worldwide. NA services are provided for free, funded through donations from members and sales of NA literature.

See Also

• Twelve-step program
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Substance abuse
• Recovery model

References

• Narcotics Anonymous World Services. "Narcotics Anonymous: Basic Text, Sixth Edition."
• Narcotics Anonymous World Services. "A Brief History of the Narcotics Anonymous Program."

External Links

• Narcotics Anonymous Official Website
• NA Meeting Search

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