Recovering Addict Advice
There is a world of recovery out there and people who are waiting for you and who want to help you get better. This page describes what Narcotics Anonymous is and how its meetings work, so that you can decide for yourself whether it is for you.
What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is an organization that has local groups in nearly every city. NA meetings can be found almost anywhere in the world. Meetings of a group often occur on a weekly basis. In many areas, there are enough meetings to go to one every day, or more than one. In these meetings, you will hear the message of recovery from people just like you. Members of NA identify themselves as addicts. They celebrate milestones in their time in recovery. They work the 12 steps of Narcotics Anonymous to recover from addiction.
How do you find a Narcotics Anonymous meeting?
NA is divided into areas around the US and around the world. These areas have names. For example, in Fort Lauderdale the local NA area is called the Gold Coast Area. The website for the area has up to date meeting information and more. The Gold Coast Area website lists its current meetings. You should be able to find your local area by searching Google for the name of your city and/or state and the words, Narcotics Anonymous area. When you find your area’s website, look for a phone number prominently displayed, called the Helpline phone number. Helpline is a service provided for free by NA members to answer your questions. An NA member will answer the phone or call you back. You can find out the current time and location of the nearest meeting. If you decide to go, calling the Helpline is the reliable way to confirm a meeting, because online meeting information is not always up to date.
What happens at an NA meeting?
If you go to a meeting, arriving early gives you a chance to talk with members before it starts. Members commonly exchange phone numbers with people of their own gender, and some people build a support network this way. Whether you take part in any of that is up to you.
You will also find literature at the meeting.
There are free pamphlets, and books that can be purchased at a low cost. One pamphlet explains what a sponsor is and how members find one. The NA Basic Text is the organization’s official book, and members treat it as their core reading.
What happens after a first NA meeting?
Amongst the literature, you will find a meeting list with the local meeting times and locations for that area, and the lists handed out at meetings are usually current. Many members suggest that a newcomer go to a meeting every day for the first 90 days, to find the meetings that suit them and to build a network of support. That is the fellowship’s advice, not a medical prescription. Meetings are not medical treatment, and Dr. Leeds does not require them as part of medical care for opioid dependence or addiction. Some people value them a great deal, and the choice is yours. Hearing someone else tell a story much like your own can be a relief, and many people find comfort in it. Physical dependence on a prescribed medication is a different condition from addiction, and it is treated with a medical taper, not a meeting. If you want medical help with opioid dependence or addiction, contact the office today.
