What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous is a multiblock, community-based organization that provides support and care for people addicted to drugs. Since the 1950s, the program was founded on the principle of addiction as a disease, with the best management achieved through support from people who understand the struggles involved. NA offers an absolutely free, anonymous program aimed at enabling those affected by substance abuse to rebuild their lives and remain sober. To find local Narcotics Anonymous meetings near you, visit https://www.methadone.org/clinics/ With more than 70,000 meetings in over 70 countries around the world, the organization has become a cornerstone in addiction recovery, providing support and companionship to people who want to live a better life without drugs. .
Narcotics Anonymous Support Across the US
NA meetings are held in cities across the United States and provide a safe and non-judgmental platform for members to share experiences and recovery stories. These self-help meetings are free, and any person who wants to cease using drugs may attend. The organization structure is based on the 12-step program that fosters personal growth, accountability, and a connection with others who have been through similar struggles.
The meetings are held regularly, and many cities offer multiple sessions each week, catering to the varying schedules of those in need. Here is a glimpse of several locations in the USA where Narcotics Anonymous meetings are held:
Denver, CO
- Address: 404 New Beginnings Ave, Denver, CO 80202
- Meeting Times: Monday, Thursday at 7:00 PM, Saturday at 9:00 AM
- Meeting Methods/Details: Step study and open discussion meetings. The meetings let the attendees go through the 12 steps with one another, highly emphasizing community support and shared experiences. The group creates an atmosphere of honesty, hope, and mutual understanding.
Seattle, WA
- Address: 505 Recovery Way, Seattle, WA 98101
- Meeting Times: Tuesday, Friday at 6:00 PM, Sunday at 12:00 PM
- Meeting Methods/Details: Speaker in and discussion. Members listen to speakers that have worked the 12 steps and can provide insight. The group allows an open atmosphere that is non-threatening to the newcomer as well as a person that has been in recovery for extended periods of time.
Phoenix, AZ
- Address: 606 Sobriety Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85001
- Meeting Times: Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 8:00 PM
- Meeting Methods/Details: This is a tradition-focused/discussion meeting. It offers a safe place for group members to share about many NA traditions and how these keep them clean and sober long term. Group members encourage, offer recovery tools, and communicate how to deal with challenges in life without picking up drugs.
Meeting Structure and Methods
NA meetings happen to be highly structured, usually centering around activities such as:
- The 12-Step Program: A set of guiding principles for personal recovery that emphasize acceptance, self-reflection, and making amends.
- Shared Experiences: Attendees share their personal stories and challenges, offering support to others in similar situations.
- Anonymity: All members’ identities are kept confidential, creating a safe space for individuals to open up and seek help without fear of judgment.
- Open and Closed Meetings: Open meetings are for anyone interested in NA, including family and friends. Closed meetings are reserved for those who identify as having a drug problem.
These meetings are a cornerstone of the NA program and provide an essential support system while seeking long-term recovery from addiction.
Narcotics Anonymous 12 Steps
NA 12 steps are engineered to assist people who are suffering from substance abuse or addiction find a way towards recovery. The steps introduce the sense of self-realization, accountability, and support from other people. Below is a précis of each of the steps:
- Admitting powerlessness: We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction and that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Belief in a higher power: Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Surrendering to a higher power: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Self-reflection: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Readiness for change: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Asking for help: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Making amends: Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Direct amends: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Ongoing self-reflection: Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
- Spiritual growth: 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.
- Helping others: 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.
These steps are designed to inspire members to change through humility, self-reflection, and a commitment to helping others in their road to recovery.
Finding Local NA Meetings
Attending an NA meeting near you is one of the first steps towards recovery. You can start the process using the meeting search tool on methadone.org. The website maintains a complete list of physical and virtual meetings, which makes it easier to select one that fits your schedule and preference.
In-Person Meetings
It is available in most cities and towns to offer an in-person support environment in which one connects with people in recovery.
Online/Virtual meetings
With the requirement for flexibility at an all-time high, many areas have online meetings accessible through things like Zoom, where someone can attend these from the comfort of their own homes.
You can search by using the search tool below to see meeting times, locations, and other details to find one that fits your needs. It’s recommended to attend regularly since this is where ongoing support and further strengthening of recovery occur.
Your First Local NA Meeting
Open vs Closed Meetings
When going to an NA meeting, there are open meetings versus closed meetings. Following is a breakdown of the two different meeting types:
| Meeting Type | Description | Who May Attend |
|---|---|---|
| Open Meeting | These meetings are open to anyone interested in NA including non-addicts such as family members and friends. | Anyone, including newcomers and their loved ones. |
| Closed Meeting | Closed meetings are for people who have a drug problem and desire to stop using drugs. Only addicts may attend. | Only addicts who desire to stop using drugs. |
First Meeting Tips
When going to your first NA meeting, it is a good idea to get there early and get used to the surroundings. Introduce yourself as a newcomer and share your story if you feel comfortable. NA is a friendly group, and the members are usually more than happy to help out the newcomers.
At your first meeting, you will be given a welcome keychain tag—a small token to start the process of recovery. Keychains are tokens of milestones in sobriety, and these can be obtained as additional tags are given for each important recovery milestone reached.
Milestones and Keychain Tags
- 30 days: This is the first key milestone in your recovery, representing one month of sobriety.
- 60 days: A reminder of your growing commitment and progress toward long-term recovery.
- 1 year: A significant achievement, representing one year of sobriety.
- Additional: Many members continue to receive keychains for each year of sobriety, often with larger or differently designed tags to signify long-term recovery.
These keychains not only mark your progress but also serve as a reminder of the support and strength you gain through the NA community.