Narcotics Anonymous

:Narcotics Anonymous is not to be confused with Narconon, an unrelated organisation.

Meetings

Meetings are held regularly, and can be either open (where anyone is welcome) or closed (where only addicts or those who think they may have a problem with drugs are welcome). NA meetings are held in a variety of places such as parks, church meeting rooms, community centers, or any place that can accommodate a meeting. Meetings have trusted servants who are members of the fellowship of NA such as a secretary, a GSR (group service representative, who carries the group conscience to area service), a coffee maker, and a treasurer. Some meetings have a "greeter" who greets other members as they come into the meeting.

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A leader (also called a "chair" in some areas) is chosen to lead the meeting, which often begins with a moment of silence for the addict that still suffers followed by the Serenity Prayer. Most meetings have readings such as "Who is an addict", "Why are we here", "What is the NA Program", "How it Works", and "The Twelve Traditions". These readings offer the essentials that have worked for many addicts and are believed to be necessary for recovery. They can be found in "The White Booklet", the original text of Narcotics Anonymous. The "Basic Text" of Narcotics Anonymous, originally published in 1982, is currently in its 5th edition, published in 1988 under the title Narcotics Anonymous (ISBN 0912075023). Many meetings celebrate periods of "clean time" such as 30, 60, and 90 days, 6, 9, and 18 months, and 1 year and multiples thereof with a token, usually called a "chip" or "keytag." In some areas, recovery anniversaries are celebrated with a cake, a token, and a song. Meetings can vary greatly in format and how they celebrate "clean time" from region to region. There are also many types of meetings such as topic discussion, basic text study, step study, speaker, just for today, et cetera. When the sharing begins, members introduce themselves by first name only and refer to themselves simply as addicts (e.g. "Hi, my name is ____ and I'm an addict"). They share their experience, strength, and hope so that other NA members, such as newcomers (often thought of as those with less than 30 days clean) can stay "clean" another day. Members share about how Narcotics Anonymous has changed their lives and how the 12 steps have worked in their lives. They say that you have to "work" the steps with a sponsor, whose purpose is to guide you through the 12 steps. Sharing differs from member to member but the bottom line is that they share the message. The message is "that any addict seeking recovery can stop using drugs, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live". Those exact words do not have to be shared, but that is the NA message frequently carried.

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It doesn't cost anything to be a member of Narcotics Anonymous, there are no dues or fees. The Seventh Tradition states that "every NA group ought to be fully self supporting declining outside contributions". During or after the meeting, a Seventh Tradition basket is passed around. Voluntary monetary contributions may be made by members and the money is used to pay rent on the meeting place, buy keytags (tokens) and literature, coffee and supplies and any money left over is donated to the area to help carry the message of recovery.

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At the end of the meeting the secretary asks for any NA announcements. Narcotics Anonymous areas often have special events such as picnics, dances, et cetera. A particular area may have many different functions and is basically set up to promote "unity" within the fellowship. Other internal meeting announcements are typically made such as the treasurer's report and a GSR ("group service representative") report. Anniversaries of clean time are also often announced. Once announcements are done, the group typically circles up and embrace each other arm to arm to connect the circle. Some meetings end with a reading called "Just for Today" and most are finally closed with a closing prayer such as "The Serenity Prayer" or the "Third Step Prayer". In the reading "What is the NA Program", the last line states "We have learned from our group experience that those who keep coming to our meetings regularly stay clean".

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After the closing members help clean up the room, put chairs away, etc. and then typically members talk one on one or in small groups after the meeting. Members often go to coffee or dinner after the meetings, and get to know one another on a personal level and help one another stay clean another day.

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