When it comes to NA meetings, researchers struggle to accurately assess the rates of success and failure because the hosting organizations strive to protect the anonymity of their members. However, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 38% of those who participate in self-help recovery opportunities still attend the gatherings two years after completing treatment. The overwhelming 81% of active members also stay clean for at least 6 months, compared to 26% among those who do not participate in the NA program. NA meetings aim to gather people who are determined to recover from their addiction.
- While you might feel like the outsider or the newbie at first, give yourself time to get comfortable.
- The group’s facilitator will ask at the beginning of the meeting if there are any new members in attendance.
- If you want to continue with the program, NA recommends that new members go to a meeting every day for at least 90 days.
- When you are ready to attend your first meeting, visit the Narcotics Anonymous website to find a local meeting.
- In some meetings, members may hold hands to recite a spiritual share or reading, and/or hug each other at the end of the meeting.
Non-members can, however, purchase a “Basic Text” from the group. A sponsor is a member who traditionally has been sober for longer and feels comfortable helping other members work the 12 steps. Your NA group might operate similarly in structure, but it will differ from meetings in other cities, states, and worldwide. Regardless ketamine detox of where it’s held, gaining new members is the most important part of each meeting. In the early 1970s, NA became an international organization when it opened in Australia and expanded into other countries soon after. By the end of 1983, NA had expanded into more than a dozen countries, offering almost 3,000 meetings worldwide.
This might be a good time to attend if you’re new so that you can introduce yourself before it gets busy. Anonymity is the primary concern of organizations that offer Narcotics Anonymous meetings. At the gatherings, people are never required to fill sign-in sheets, use their real names, or disclose their identities in any other way. The organizations also pledge not to convey the information revealed during the meetings to law enforcement, employers, and families of the attendees. Some people in remote areas may struggle to find a Narcotics Anonymous group nearby.
How Effective is Narcotics Anonymous (NA) for Drug Addiction?
Some Zonal Forums actively participate in “Fellowship Development” to help NA fellowships grow in new countries and geographic areas where NA is still forming. Zonal Forums help NA groups, areas, or regions to work together to translate literature, inform the local community about NA and create new service committees. This is achieved through annual or biannual Zonal Forum meetings together with development visits to NA groups and members in other countries. Experienced NA members hold workshops, and meetings and present material to help the newer communities.
There are round-robin meetings where individuals take turns speaking in a circle; tag meetings where one speaker picks the next person to speak, and even stick meetings where individuals draw a topic to speak on. All NA meetings have some element of discussion, the amount of which can vary. Some have a looser, open-sharing format where anyone can speak.
What happens at an NA Meeting
This step is about living with intention and continuing to check in to ensure that the individual stays focused on their values and the demands of reality. “We continued to take personal inventory and when were wrong promptly admitted it.” During this step, people offer apologies, try to fix https://sober-home.org/ the harm they caused, or ask for forgiveness. It is important to note that this is only if it will not cause further harm to the other person and with the understanding that being forgiven is not guaranteed. This step encourages those in recovery to talk about their mistakes and weaknesses.
Treatment Options for Drug Addiction
These meetings are not exclusionary, as any addict is welcome at any NA meeting. NA communities will often make an effort to have a separate meeting run at the same time for members who do not identify with the common-needs meeting. If you are not an addict, look for an open meeting, which welcomes non-addicts. If you’re an addict or think you might have a drug problem, we suggest a meeting every day for at least 90 days to get to know NA members and our program….”
Open NA Meetings
The primary goal of such a gathering is to help the participants remain motivated to stop using and stay clean through communication and support. This was the first organization of its type, one that offered a peer-based support group for users of often illegal drugs who before, had few other places to turn. This quick guide to the Narcotics Anonymous meeting format will tell you what to expect.
