Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous ( NA ) is an international, community-based, nonprofit organization of convalescent drug addicts with a twelve-step program based on Alcoholics Anonymous .
history
NA was founded in the United States in 1953 and is one of the oldest and largest movements of its kind, with over 20,000 groups organizing approximately 58,000 meetings per week in 131 countries and over 40 languages on every continent on earth.
anonymity
Participation is anonymous. NA is not affiliated with any law enforcement agency. This ensures that no one has to fear being prosecuted for attending meetings.
target group
Membership is open to any addict, regardless of the type of addiction and the type of addictive substance used. It does not matter which or how much drugs, medications or combinations of these were taken. The only condition for NA membership is a desire to stop using drugs. At NA there are both polytoxic drug users and alcoholics as well as drug and cannabis addicts or heroin addicts.
You do not clean (Word for clean - in context: free of drug use ) or sober, to go to NA meetings (meetings).
NA recommends that members abstain completely from all drugs, including alcohol, and from other substances such as medication used for intoxication purposes. Compliance with this recommendation is not a requirement for membership. However, there should be a desire on the part of the person concerned to stop using addictive substances.
Financing and social position
NA maintains itself through voluntary donations from members and does not accept outside donations in order to remain independent. NA does not take a position on events outside of the community in order not to endanger internal cohesion.
There are elected representatives who bring the group's goals to the public. In the media, member anonymity is preserved in accordance with the Twelve Traditions .
The group
NA can be attended by addicts in therapy facilities and prisons , as well as by employed, unemployed and welfare recipients. NA meetings are open to anyone interested in exploring their recovery.
Membership in Narcotics Anonymous is voluntary and free, there are no fees or membership fees.
There are no social, religious, economic, racial, ethnic, national, gender, or social position restrictions on membership.
NA believes that the key to success lies in the therapeutic value of addicts working with other addicts. In the meetings, each member shares his or her personal experience with other people seeking help. There are only those affected who have the same problems and many of whom have found a solution for themselves.
NA is a twelve-step organization that works on the problem of drug addiction. Many members feel that they have had great success in dealing with their own addiction problems; NA does not claim that the NA program is effective for all addicts in all circumstances, or that the therapeutic views should be universally adopted. NA simply tries to stand by and serve those addicts who wish to quit drugs.
The members live outside the community the way they want to. They attend the meetings at their own discretion.
The meetings (group meetings)
Every meeting is independent. The “format” according to which the meeting takes place is decided in so-called “work meetings”, in which every member can participate and is entitled to vote.
There are two different "basic formats", so-called open and closed meetings. Anyone can take part in open meetings, including non-addicts such as relatives, social workers or anyone with a general interest. Closed meetings are only open to addicts and people who want to find out whether they are addicted.
If necessary, there are separate women's and men's meetings or meetings for homosexuals, but anyone who has an acute need, for example because they are at risk of relapse, can go to the so-called “special interest meetings”, even if they are of a different gender.
At NA there are no superiors, only temporary entrusts. For example, there is a “chair” chosen at the work meetings, which leads through the meeting and ensures that the meeting times are adhered to, i.e. opens and closes the meeting. The chair has no elevated position or more “power” than other members, he always speaks on behalf of the group and then about what was decided in votes and not for himself. He does not make any unauthorized decisions. He cannot make any unauthorized changes to the meeting schedule if these changes have not been approved in advance by a vote.
At the regular group meetings, called meetings, some texts are read out at the beginning that explain NA so that newcomers also know what exactly NA is.
Everyone has the right to speak, it is customary to let others finish speaking and not to comment or criticize contributions. There are no right or wrong topics, everyone talks about what they feel like. This behavior ensures that the meetings do not escalate into arguing discussions and that no one is rated by others.
Nobody is given advice and wisdom against their will. NA is not there to explain life to others. Those seeking advice can turn to the other members before and after the meetings. There are no targeted consultations or the like. NA does not see itself as a "mission group". However, meetings are also held in addiction therapy facilities.
Alternatives
There are other self-help groups with other approaches, as well as with therapists who deal with the subject of addiction. Often groups are offered by institutions that deal with the subject of addiction.