Information For Newer Members
Format And Focus Of Meetings
Narcotics Anonymous meetings formats, or focus, can vary from meeting to meeting and group to group. Some groups even choose to have various types of formats at their weekly meetings. However, there are certain commonalities.
The meetings are always in a group setting in which the primary focus is to come together and share the NA message of recovery, and to help each other stay clean from all mood altering or mind changing substances which is referred to as being “clean”.
NA is not designed to pressure attendees into a specific religious or political view. They do not work with any law enforcement group but will often verify an attendee was present at the meeting by signing court or other attendance verification documents. (Although this varies from group to group or meeting to meeting).
NA meetings can be attended by anyone seeking recovery from addiction regardless of an individual’s age, race, sexual identity, creed, ability, socioeconomic status, religion, or lack of religion.
Narcotics Anonymous is not interested in what types of drugs, or how much you used, but only in what you want to about your addiction, and how we can help you achieve this.
Some Of The Common Myths About Narcotics Anonymous
Due to inaccurate portrayals in the media, there are a lot of misconceptions about the Narcotics Anonymous program. These misconceptions have the possibility to deter those individuals who are seeking help to avoid meetings that have the potential to save their lives.
NA is only for those individuals who have only used “hard” substances such as crack, heroin, fentanyl or methamphetamines.
According to a survey of members , alcohol and cannabis are the most used substances among its members.
Everyone in attendance must talk or give a speech.
While most meetings may make time for attendees to talk, there are no requirements that anyone who attends must talk or say anything at all. Speaking at meetings is strictly on a voluntary basis. However, most members use the sharing portion of the meeting to allow other members to get to know them. Most members usually use this time to offer them some of their own individual experiences about their recovery process. Many newer members may find that speaking to someone on an individual “one on one” basis before or after the meeting easier and very therapeutic.
Narcotics Anonymous is a religious organization or is only for those of a certain faith.
Depending on the meeting, there may be direct reference to “God” or a more general reference to a “Higher Power”. However, these references are kept general and do not reflect any specific religion. Some members may utilize a specific religious practice or philosophy to supplement their recovery process, but that is considered an outside issue in which NA does not take a stance on. NA encourages members to seek a spiritual practice, philosophy, or belief that is comfortable for them individually; the spiritual aspect or conception of a higher power of the program is totally and undeniably up to the individual member.
Meetings are clinical in nature.
On television and movies meetings are often depicted as having a therapist or other healthcare professionals leading the group discussion. In real life, meetings are led by other recovering members, and as stated in NA Traditions “…must always remain nonprofessional…” Meeting leaders are just other recovering addicts who are in the NA recovery process as well.
It costs money to attend NA meetings.
In accordance with our Seventh Tradition, NA is fully self-supporting and declines any outside contributions. Most members contribute to NA in meetings when a basket is passed around during the meeting. However, a member is never forced to contribute f
The Different Types Of NA Meetings
Narcotics Anonymous meetings vary in format based on a particular groups needs or desires. Usually, attendees can find out what types of meetings are available to them by looking on the local meeting schedule. Additionally, not all meetings are open to all individuals. Listed below are some of the different types of meetings that may be found in your local area:
Closed Meetings:
These meetings are for those who identify as addicts, or those individuals who may think they have problem with drugs, beyond this there are no restrictions. Closed meetings are meant to give attendees greater comfort and security, allowing them to share openly without fear of judgement or repercussions from those in attendance.
Open Meetings:
Open meetings are those that allow anyone to attend. At these meetings family, friends, loved ones, and even just concerned members of the community are welcome to sit in on the meeting, but as a rule, only those who identify as addicts are allowed to share or actively participate in the meeting. Open meetings are offered so that individuals outside of NA can gain a better understanding of Narcotics Anonymous, and for those individuals who are possibly struggling to admit addiction and can find the courage to seek help for themselves.
Specific Group Meetings:
Specific group meetings are generally closed meetings that may be further restricted based on certain other criteria. Although that meetings are meant to be attended by certain demographics, any addict can attend any NA meeting if no other meetings are unavailable. For example, there may be women’s meetings that so that females, or those who identify as female, can speak openly about issues they might want to address without men in the room. Conversely, there are men’s meetings that allow for the same sense of protection for men, or those who may identify as male.
Some meetings are geared towards the LBTGQ+ community that allow members to address how the stigma regarding sexuality can impact their recovery process.
There are meetings that are more for the younger members of NA. These meetings are a place for young members to identify with other individuals in their age group and share the experiences of the recovery process at a younger age.
Newcomer meetings are designed to help those who may be new to recovery a place to establish a firm footing in the recovery process. It also allows newer members a place to share the struggles that are seemingly inherent to those in early recovery.
Meditation meetings usually have a period of meditation at some point during the meeting. Although these meetings may utilize meditation as part of their formats, there are no specific meditation practices endorsed, or mandated for attendees to follow, or practice, in order to attend and participate in these types of meetings.
Topic Discussion Meetings:
Topic discussion meetings can be either open or closed. These meetings have a specific topic or recovery type theme that attendees discuss. There aren’t any firm rules in place where an attendee must discuss the topic presented and they may share anything that is affecting their recovery. The topics selected are generally based on their relevance to recovery and are not centered around any specific substances.
Speaker Meetings:
Like topic discussion meetings, these meetings can alco be open or closed meetings. At this type of meeting, a member is invited to talk and share their individual experiences in the recovery process. Sometimes after the speaker finishes speaking there is time for attendees to share their individual experiences.
Steps, Traditions, or Concepts Study Meetings:
At these meetings members generally read and discuss a specific Step, Tradition or Concept based on Narcotics Anonymous literature. The discussion centers around members experiences in regard to these topics and is a great way for members to educate themselves in these areas of the recovery process. But like at all NA meetings, individuals may share about anything affecting their recovery.
Literature Studies:
These meetings are like Step, Tradition or Concept study meetings. But at literature study meetings the group leader chooses some other specific piece of Narcotics Anonymous literature as a topic of discussion.
Online Meetings:
Some meetings are designated as “hybrid meetings”. These meetings offer an “in person” meeting as well as an “online meeting” at the same time. There are also meetings available strictly online that usually utilize the Zoom platform. A link to these meetings can be found by clicking here.
For some members, online meetings offer a way to attend meetings in which they could not otherwise attend due to being homebound, or newcomers who may feel intimidated in attending a regular “in person” meetings when trying to get started in the recovery process.
Also, online meetings offer members the chance to attend a meeting at their personal leisure when a regular meeting may not be available due to their schedule.
Online meetings also allow members to attend meetings around the world and can offer members the opportunity to experience NA in their own language or culture.
Basic Meeting Etiquette
Attendees should try to arrive before the start of the meeting as this is a time when other members are socializing. This gives the new members the chance to start making connections, trade contact information, and to feel better about their attendance. Also, there is generally NA literature, or information pamphlets available as well, and it is a good idea to take advantage of early arrival to read through these.
If a member arrives late, they are still welcome to enter and attend the meeting and participate. However, it is expected that they will enter quietly and not disrupt the meeting.
While in attendance members should restrict their phone usage, and to place them on silent mode so as not to disrupt the meeting. Also, while others are speaking, it is expected that attendees do not participate in conversations with others or to be otherwise disruptive. Experience has shown that usage of phones while in attendance can be a form of disassociation and the information being shared may be missed. Members are asked to be open and honest when speaking, but to also be considerate in their tone or language.
Throughout the meeting, it is expected that all attendees will only acknowledge the feelings and struggles of others in a quiet validating manner. Also, members are encouraged to only share about their own individual struggles, and not “crosstalk” by sharing directly at another member, try to give advice to other attendees, or excessively use the word “you” while speaking. This ensures no other members feels singled out, or being “preached” to, which may make the member feel uncomfortable. Clapping after someone shares is also disruptive and undermines the principle of equality in which all members shares are as equally important as another.
Most meetings are held in churches, treatment centers, or other facilities and all attendees should be conscientious and to clean up their area after the meeting is concluded.
Those in attendance at a Narcotics Anonymous meetings are encouraged to introduce themselves only as “addicts” and to only talk about being “clean” or “in recovery”. These simple gestures help to ensure that a clear Narcotics Anonymous message is being shared. If attendees talk about being “clean and sober” or “sobriety” it reflects an indirect endorsement to another fellowship, and as such, is a lack of compliance of Twelve Traditions of NA. Narcotics Anonymous does not make any distinction between any types of drugs, instead we focus on the addiction process.
Most meetings have a limit on the length of time that attendees are allowed to speak. Most groups utilize a timer to signal when your time is up. When a member hears the timer, it is recommended that they wrap up their sharing and allow others a chance to speak. This simple gesture shows our consideration and respect to others in attendance. Also, it is not required that members speak for entire time that is allowed, or to speak at all.
What To Expect At An NA Meeting
There are no attendance monitors present so there are no sign-in sheets although some groups will sign attendance sheets that may be required by the individual members from probation officers, treatment centers or halfway houses. Also, no one prevents attendees from leaving the meeting, you may come and go as you like.
At the start of the meeting, the meeting facilitator will usually ask for a moment of silence, ask attendees to recite the Serenity Prayer, (in which members can either choose to participate or not), read an opening welcome statement, read some excerpts from Narcotics Anonymous literature, then move on to the discussion portion of the meeting.
Attendees can expect to find members in various stages of the recovery process, from newer members to those who have been in recovery for several years.
After the meeting is concluded, many attendees will stick around to talk or maybe even go to another location to fellowship with each other. For some members this can, at first, feel intimidating, but it is our experience that these gatherings offer newer members a chance to learn how to stop isolating, to feel welcome, and give members a sense of belonging.
Some may think that hanging around with others in recovery from drug addiction may lead them to relapse. While this is a possibility, most members recommend that newer members socialize with members who have been clean for longer lengths of time. This seems to help the new member guard against the possibility of a relapse. Also, it must be remembered that the entirety of the NA program is based on the premise of one addict helping another addict.
Spirituality vs Religion
It is important that members know that NA is not a religious organization, nor does it have any religious affiliations. While the Narcotics Anonymous literature and the Steps mentions the word God, or Higher Power, these terms are only used to convey the concept that NA is a spiritual program.
A member’s right to a Higher Power of their own choosing is free of any constraints. Some members may choose a specific deity or religion as a higher power and attend religious services to support their individual recovery process, but a belief in any specific conception of a God or, Higher Power, is not required for members to work the NA program.
Some members choose to follow and practice religions or philosophies that are not considered mainstream. Some members may also identify as either agnostic or atheist. We have found that most of these members often go on to achieve long term recovery utilizing whatever conception works for them.
It is usual practice when talking of these topics that members keep their references to either “God” or “Higher Power”. We do this to keep with the anonymity aspect of the program and to not possibly convey a message that a specific conception of a deity is required. Also, this reenforces the concept that the NA program is not biased on any specific religion or spiritual practice.
The Concept Of Anonymity
Narcotics Anonymous takes the commitment to anonymity of its members very seriously. NA meetings are set up to protect its members identity by never using full names, sign in sheets, tracking members, and nor requiring anyone to identify themselves in any way other than addicts. Nothing shared in meetings is ever recorded or meant to be reported back to law enforcement, prosecutors, family, friends, or colleagues.
All members are asked and encouraged not to identify other members by name, photos, social media, or any other types of interactions with anyone not a member of NA, It’s also asked and encouraged of members and attendees not to retell anything heard, or, discussed in a meeting by other members to anyone else. This is referred to as keeping a members anonymity.
However, the risk of someone sharing this information with someone else is always there. As such, it is best practice to speak generally of any problems or situations in meetings, and to relate any personal or private problems or issues you may be experiencing “one on one” privately with a sponsor or other trusted member.
The Narcotics Anonymous program, meetings, or its members have no control over the actions of other attendees. This risk is greater in open meetings, where members of the public might be in attendance. All individuals attending a meeting should be able to expect that the condition of anonymity will be observed and to practice a commitment to this principle for others.
Narcotics Anonymous has had great success in upholding the principle of anonymity. This principle helps members who seek recovery by attending meetings that what is shared at a meeting will be held in confidence.
Anonymity also allows each member to feel equal with every other member. The principle of equality in NA ensures that no one person is more important, or less important, than any other member.
Homegroup And Service Work
Many members find a “home” within in NA. then we find a home within that home. This is commonly referred to as a homegroup; a meeting that a member can attend regularly and become involved in service to other addicts.
By regular meeting attendance at a specific meeting or homegroup, we can start to learn how to become reliable to others and practice the principles of commitment and responsibility.
Service work involves a commitment to NA in which the premise of “one addict helping another addict” becomes apparent by members helping other members in their recovery process in various ways.
Everything in Narcotics Anonymous is done by its members. Service work comes in many forms, and anything that a member does freely, and without expectations of reward, can be considered service work.