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Q. How and when did N.A. start?
A. Narcotics Anonymous, as we know it today, was started
by a group of addicts seeking recovery. They made a decision to follow
the example of those who had gone before them. It began in July 1953 in
Southern California. It has since grown into a worldwide fellowship with
many thousands of meetings.
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Q. Who are the members of Narcotics Anonymous?
A. Our members come from all walks of life. Anyone with
the desire to stop using may join our Fellowship. We seem to have many
differences. The drugs we used, the circumstances of our lives and the
degree to which our disease had progressed may have been different. We
do share two important things in common: the disease of our addiction
and the desire to stop using drugs.
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Q. Is N.A. only for narcotics addicts?
A. No. When our Fellowship was named in the 1950's the
understanding of the words narcotic and addict was different than today.
The influence of the drug culture in the 1960's and the 1970's changed
that understanding. A greater variety of drugs are in use today. Only
a few are known commonly as narcotics.Over the same period of time the
program of Narcotics Anonymous has remained the same. We believe our problem
is not the use of any specific drug or group of drugs. Our problem is
the disease of addiction, and our program is one of abstinence from all
drugs
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Q. Does an addict have to be clean to attend an N.A. meeting?
A. Newcomers don't have to be clean when they get here
but after the first meeting we suggest that they keep coming back and
come back clean.We want the place where we recover to be a safe place.
For that reason we ask that no drugs or paraphernalia be brought to any
meeting.
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Q. Can non-addicts become N.A. members?
A. Non-addicts are very important to N.A., but not as
members. Many professionals who work with addicts attend our open meetings
to find out for themselves how N.A. works. Family and friends of addicts
often attend our social functions and open meetings. Membership, however,
is restricted to addicts. We need to preserve the atmosphere of trust
and identification so necessary to our recovery. The highest priority
at our meetings is the maintenance of an atmosphere where a suffering
addict may find hope and recovery.
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Q. What about dual addiction?
A. The term dual addiction has no application for us.
We believe there is one disease, regardless of drugs used. All addicts
are welcome in N.A. We make no distinction among them.
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Q. How do addicts of such diverse backgrounds relate?
A. By using a vocabulary that is common with our recovery,
we do not set any addict or drug apart from others. We use the term addict
when describing ourselves, regardless of drugs used. We use the terms "clean,""clean time," and "recovery" to
refer to the recovery process, rather than terms that apply to specific
drugs. This way we carry one consistent, clear message that applies to
us all.
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Q. Where are N.A. meetings held?
A. There is no certain kind of facility in which N.A.
meetings are held. Regardless of where our meetings are located, they
are in no way affiliated with any facility.
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Q. How can addicts find N.A. meetings?
A. If an addict has never heard of us, he/she cannot
seek us out. If those who work with addicts are unaware of our existence,
they cannot refer them to us. Most cities have N.A. phone lines listed
in their directories. Locally our number is 1-866-288-6262. The people
answering them will be happy to give you the location of the N.A. meeting
nearest you, or send a meeting list upon request. If no phone line is
listed in your area, feel free to contact our World Service Office at
P.O. Box 999, Van Nuys, Ca. 91409, or call them at (818) 773-9999 ext. 771.
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Q. What are N.A. meetings like?
A. Since N.A. meetings are self governing, there are
many different kinds of meetings. Some are topic discussion meetings,
some are speaker meetings, some are literature discussion meetings and
some are part of or combinations of these. Many are open to the public
and others are for addicts only. There are few common threads running
through them all. The primary purpose of every N.A. meeting is to carry
the message to the addict who still suffers. There are no counselors or
professional people present. N.A. meetings are run by addicts for addicts.
We have found that the therapeutic value of one addict helping another
is without parallel. Regardless of format, N.A. meetings usually start
with readings from our literature and move into the portion mentioned
above. There is time for announcements and perhaps more reading at the
end. They usually close with a prayer.
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Q. What is the difference between "open" and Closed
N.A. Meetings?
A. An "open" meeting is one which non-addicts
may attend to see how N.A. functions. A "closed" meeting is
only for those who are there because of their own addiction problem.
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Q. Is N.A. a religious organization?
A. No. Narcotics Anonymous is not affiliated with any
religious group and espouses no religious beliefs. Our program is a set
of principles, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions which are spiritual
in nature. While these principles mention God, each member is free to
developed their own concept of a higher power. What is important to us
is that our recovery is based on these principles and they work.
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Q. Is there any formal organization to N.A.?
A. N.A. is made up of thousands of self governing groups.
These groups are held together by common principles: the Twelve Steps
and Twelve Traditions of N.A. We have learned that for our Fellowship,
leadership by example of selfless service works, and that direction and
manipulation fail. We choose not to have presidents, masters or directors.
Instead we have secretaries, treasurers and representatives.These titles
imply service rather than control.There is a network of service committees
whose function is to unify and strengthen the N.A. groups. These committees
exist to help groups carry the N.A. message. Some committees provide services
to help increase the number of addicts who know about N.A. so they may
attend meetings. Others provide services to groups such as literature
development, phone line operation, guidance in applying our principles,
etc. These services are provided by recovering addicts, all members of
the N.A. Fellowship. There is no governing body in N.A. No part of N.A.
has authority over any part of the Fellowship.
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Q. What about meetings held in hospitals and institutions?
A. N.A Service committees sponsor presentations of N.A.
recovery in jails, treatment centers and recovery houses. If a facility
wishes to have one of these meetings held regularly, they may call the
local phone line 1-866-288-6262 or write the World Service Office P.O.
Box 9999 Van Nuys, CA. 91409, Attn: H&I Coordinator.
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Q. What does it cost to participate in N.A.
A. Nothing. There are no initiation fees or dues. N.A.
is not professional. We are all addicts here for our own recovery. We
take a collection at every meeting from members who wish to contribute.
This money pays the groups expenses: rent, coffee and literature. The
balance is sent to other levels of service to help carry the N.A. message
to the addict who still suffers. In this way we remain free of outside
control, and self-supporting through our own contributions.
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Q. How are N.A. groups funded?
A. Solely through the contributions of their members.
N.A. accepts no grants, gifts or contributions from any outside sources.
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Q. What are N.A. service offices?
A. They are primary distribution centers for our literature.
At times Regional Service Offices serve as meeting places for our service
committees. Our N.A. phone lines are often located there. These service
centers may employ management, clerical and shipping personnel as special
workers to get the work done. Some offices are funded wholly by the sale
of N.A. literature. Others are funded by member and group contributions.
The World Service Office, located in Van Nuys, California is the Fellowship's
World Service Center.
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Q. Does N.A. operate detox or treatment facilities?
A. No. N.A. is not a professional organization and we
are not affiliated with any professional agencies or facilities. We employ
no counselors or treatment staff. Many treatment centers introduce their
patients to N.A. before they release them. We are grateful for their cooperation,
but cannot allow this to influence us in any way. We remain, simply, a
Fellowship of recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other
to stay clean. Our program is a set of principles written so simply we
can follow them in our daily lives.
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Q. Why is it anonymous?
A. The principle of anonymity protects the membership
and reputation of the Fellowship and provides a safe setting for each
and every member to seek recovery on an equal basis. No individual inside
or outside the Fellowship represents Narcotics Anonymous.
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Q. How can I find out more about N.A.?
A. Call the phone line in your community, or contact
our World Service Office (818) 773-9999 ext. 131. In Central Broward County 1-866-288-6262.
