More About NA

The core of the Narcotics Anonymous recovery program is the Twelve Steps, which include admitting there is a problem, seeking help, engaging in a thorough self-examination, confidential self-disclosure, making amends for harm done, and helping drug addicts who want to recover.

We suggest that you attend one of the many meetings available as soon as possible and let someone there know that you are new and seeking help.

Meetings usually start with readings from our literature. Members share their successes and challenges in overcoming active addiction and living drug-free productive lives through the application of principles contained within the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of NA.

There are no dues or fees for NA membership. An NA group will usually have a collection during the meeting to cover expenses, such as rent, coffee, etc. Members are free to contribute as much or as little as they choose to.

All our meetings are considered open meetings except for the women’s meeting. Anyone may attend an open NA meeting regardless of whether they have a problem or not. This includes family members, professionals, students, etc.

Only those who identify as a woman may attend the women’s meeting.

Remember, you are an NA member if you say so. Those who are actively using drugs may also attend if they choose to. The only requirement for NA membership is a simple desire to stop using.

No. Although it may be the experience of some of our members to have attended one or both types of facilities. NA remains simply a fellowship of men and women helping one another recover from the disease of addiction.

Only you can decide to attend a facility. NA neither deters nor recommends that one attend facilities of these types.

NA offers a variety of literature in the form of Informational pamphlets, booklets, and group readings. Visit the “Literature Downloads” section or ask a member at a meeting how to purchase a physical copy.

The following information is both for people who may have a problem and for those in contact with people who have, or might have a problem. Most of this information is available in more detail in literature published by NA World Services.

View “What is addiction?” on the NA World Services site.

You are the only person who can answer this question. There is nothing shameful about being an addict. Addiction is a disease and addicts are sick people who need help. There is an informational pamphlet called “Am I An Addict?” that might be helpful if you are questioning if you are an addict. We found, if we think we might have a problem, we most likely do.

We, in NA, know what it is like to be addicted to drugs. We were unable to keep promises made to others and ourselves, that we will stop using drugs. We are not professional therapists. Our qualification for helping others to recover from drug addiction is that we have stopped using drugs ourselves.

Various places. There is no certain kind of facility in which NA meetings are held. Regardless of where our meetings are located, they are in no way affiliated with any facility.

No. NA does not keep membership files or attendance records. No one will bother you if you don’t wish to continue. But we wish that you keep an open mind and understand how NA could help. You do not have to reveal anything about yourself. You do not have to speak, read or sign anything. We usually introduce ourselves before we speak, but even that’s not mandatory. We use only first names in meetings.

The important thing is to be there, late or not. While it is preferable to be on time for a meeting, no one should feel uneasy about coming to a meeting before it ends. Enter the room with as little disturbance as possible, and find a place to sit or stand. Many in recovery find great benefit by showing up early before the meeting and staying after the meeting, to strengthen and further their connections to other NA members.

For obvious reasons, they will be there for the same reason you are. At NA you retain anonymity. That is one of the reasons we call ourselves Narcotics Anonymous.

Nothing. There are no initiation fees or dues. We take a collection at every meeting from members (only) who wish to contribute. NA members can donate as much, or as little as they want, or nothing at all. This money pays the group’s expenses: rent, coffee, and literature. The balance is sent to other levels of service to help carry the NA message to the addict who still suffers. In this way we remain free of outside control and self-supporting through our own contributions. NA accepts no grants, gifts, or contributions from any outside sources. NA is fully self-supporting.

No. When our Fellowship was named in the 1950s the understanding of the words Narcotic and Addict was different than today. The influence of the drug culture in the 1960s and the 1970s 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.

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. We concentrate on our similarities, not our differences.

You are an NA Member if and when you say so. Membership, however, is restricted to addicts or people who have a desire to stop using drugs.

“Clean” is a term that refers to being abstinent or free of any type of mind or mood-altering chemicals.

The term dual addiction has no application for us. We believe there is one disease, regardless of the drugs used and we do not differentiate between drugs. All addicts are welcome in NA.

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. If you can’t stop using for now, don’t stop attending meetings. We do not turn people away from meetings because they are not yet clean or because they relapsed.

An “open” meeting is one which non-addicts may attend to see how NA functions. A “closed” meeting is only for those who are there because of their own addiction problem.

No. NA is not associated, affiliated, nor endorses any religious organizations and adopts 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 develop their own concept of a higher power. What is important to us is that our recovery is based on these principles, and they work.

The principle of anonymity protects the membership and reputation of the fellowship and provides a safe setting for each member to seek recovery on an equal basis. We do not disclose what you share with anyone.

We in NA believe there is no such thing as a cure for addiction. Our disease can be arrested but we can never return to normal using and our ability to stay away from drugs depends on maintaining our physical, mental, and spiritual health. We can achieve this by going to meetings regularly and putting into practice what we learn there. In addition, we find it helps us to stay clean if we help other addicts.

A sponsor is another member of NA who has experience in working the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions. Someone who is willing to build a supportive, one-on-one relationship with a newcomer in order to help that person understand and work the Twelve Steps. Someone in who we can confide and share things we may not feel comfortable sharing in a meeting.

We suggest you go to meetings with an open mind and listen to others and to what they are sharing. When you hear someone’s story that you can relate to or find they have the sort of program and recovery you want, ask for that person’s phone number and tell them you are looking for a sponsor. Generally, we suggest women get women sponsors and men get men sponsors but there are no set rules. It’s an honor to be asked to sponsor someone but there are times we might have to say no for various reasons. If this happens, you can ask if they could recommend someone and/or keep asking around. The right sponsor will come at the right time for you.

It is our experience that there is not much we can do other than suggest that person go to an NA Meeting. It is up to that person whether or not they wish to admit they have a problem and are willing to seek help. The addict who wants help needs to reach out and get help. We, as a fellowship, do not have any affiliation with any in-patient or out-patient care programs.

Yes, there are a number of 12-step programs for family members and loved ones of addicts. We do not have any affiliation with these programs.

Yes, we have open meetings that anyone can attend. Also please note that closed-door meetings are only for NA members.

An Area Service Committee (ASC) is a service body that meets the needs of the groups in an area. It is comprised of Group Service Representatives (GSRs), an executive committee (chair, vice-chair, secretary, treasurer, and their alternates), and sub-committee chairs. The sub-committees offer specialized services that in one way or another help the groups.

We have found that an area service body not only prevents duplication of services but also centralizes the common services that all groups might need. For example, literature, meeting lists, and a phone line are all common services that each group benefits directly from.

NA is made up of thousands of self-governing groups. These groups are held together by common principles: The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of NA. 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 NA groups. These committees exist to help groups carry the NA message. Some committees provide services to help increase the number of addicts who know about NA 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 NA Fellowship. There is no governing body in NA nor a part of NA has authority over any part of the Fellowship.