- Narcotics Anonymous sprang from the Alcoholics Anonymous Program of the late 1940s, with NA meetings first emerging in the Los Angeles area of California, USA, in the early 1950s. The NA program started as a small US organization that has grown into one of the world’s oldest and largest international organizations of its type. For many years, NA grew very slowly, spreading from Los Angeles to other major North American cities and Australia in the early 1970s. Within a few years, groups had formed in Brazil, Colombia, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, and Great Britain. In 1983, Narcotics Anonymous published its self-titled Basic Text book, which contributed to NA’s tremendous growth; by year’s end, NA had grown to have a presence in more than a dozen countries and had 2,966 meetings worldwide. Today, Narcotics Anonymous is well established throughout much of North and South America, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, New Zealand, and Russia. Groups and NA communities continue to grow and evolve throughout the Indian subcontinent, Africa, and Asia. Today the organization is truly a worldwide multilingual multicultural fellowship with over 70,000 weekly meetings in 144 countries. Narcotics Anonymous books and information pamphlets are currently available in 55 languages, with translations in process for 16 languages.
How Do I Find A Narcotics Anonymous Meeting?
- To find meetings within the state of Tennessee, visit www.natennessee.org or call 901-350-5030
- To find meetings within Murfreesboro and the surrounding counties, visit www.hotareana.org or call 901-350-5030
What Are the Different Types of Meetings?
- Discussion meetings – These meetings usually are focused on a particular topic or two or three topics which can be chosen by the chairperson of the meeting or the group itself. Group members take turns talking one at a time about the topic that is chosen.
- Speaker meetings – These meetings have a speaker who is a member of NA. The speaker tells their story of addiction and how they found recovery. These meetings can be very inspiring because you can learn that you are not alone and recovery is possible.
- Beginner meetings – These meetings are for people who are new to NA and want to learn more about the program.
- 12 Step and 12 Tradition study – These meetings help you to learn more about the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions. Members usually read a chapter from the book and then discuss it.
- Basic Text meetings – These meetings are about studying the Basic Text, which is the main book of NA.
- Men’s and women’s meetings – These meetings are specifically designed for either men or women. These are great meetings to meet more members of your own gender, which is important for finding a sponsor.
- Candlelight meetings – These meetings often take place in the evening and are lit by candles. It can be a different and fun change from regular meetings.
- Open meetings – These meetings are open to anyone. Family and friends of addicts can attend as well as addiction professionals who want to learn more about the program of NA.
- Closed meetings – These meetings are only for people who have a drug problem.
- This is not a comprehensive list. All groups are autonomous and types of meetings can vary greatly
Some Tips for Meetings
- The meeting will usually begin exactly on time.
- Cross talk is not acceptable. Crosstalk is generally perceived as sharing directly at another individual during the meeting, or giving advice
- You can be asked to leave if you disrupt the meeting with cross talk, cell phones, inappropriate behavior, etc.
- Please turn your cell phone off during the meeting.
- It is acceptable to bring children to most meetings but you may need to bring something for them to do. If they are not quiet, you may want to remove them from the meeting so as to not disrupt the meeting. Some meetings have child care available during the meeting so ask around if you need to bring your children. You may be able to find a group member who will watch them so you can get the most out of the meeting.
- NA members will approach you to hug as a greeting or farewell.
- Most meetings are non-smoking but may have a section for smokers.
- Try to come early and stay late to meetings when you can. What happens before and after the meeting can be as important as the meeting itself. This is a time to socialize, get support, help others, get phone numbers or find a sponsor.
NA Recovery – Our Group Purpose
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) provides a recovery process and support network inextricably linked together. One of the keys to NA’s success is the therapeutic value of addicts working with other addicts. Members share their successes and challenges in overcoming active addiction and living drug-free productive lives through the application of the principles contained within the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of NA. These principles are the core of the Narcotics Anonymous recovery program. Principles incorporated within the steps include:
- admitting there is a problem;
- seeking help;
- engaging in a thorough self-examination;
- confidential self-disclosure;
- making amends for harm done; and
- helping other drug addicts who want to recover.
Central to the Narcotics Anonymous (NA) program is its emphasis on practicing spiritual principles. Narcotics Anonymous itself is non-religious, and each member is encouraged to cultivate an individual understanding-religious or not-of this “spiritual awakening.”
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is not affiliated with other organizations, including other twelve step programs, treatment centers, or correctional facilities. As an organization, NA does not employ professional counselors or therapists nor does it provide residential facilities or clinics. Additionally, the fellowship does not provide vocational, legal, financial, psychiatric, or medical services. NA has only one mission: to provide an environment in which addicts can help one another stop using drugs and find a new way to live.
In Narcotics Anonymous (NA), members are encouraged to comply with complete abstinence from all drugs including alcohol. It has been the experience of NA members that complete and continuous abstinence provides the best foundation for recovery and personal growth. NA as a whole has no opinion on outside issues, including prescribed medications. Use of psychiatric medication and other medically indicated drugs prescribed by a physician and taken under medical supervision is not seen as compromising a person’s recovery in NA, but we realize that we must exercise caution as our bodies are unable to discriminate between those drugs prescribed by a doctor and those that we used to obtain on the street