Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous Still Growing Addiction treatment centers are all over the country and ads for these facilities are everywhere. The many ads you read are probably for drug treatment centers, offering a variety of approaches to help addicts get through withdrawal into recovery and back to health. But the old saying “the best things in life are free” is more than appropriate when it comes to the recovery phase of addiction. Organizations like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) aren’t looking for dollars, just the desire to get healthy. There are no dues, no mandatory contributions to the cause, just support from people who know addiction and more importantly understand what the addict is experiencing. Narcotics Anonymous grew out of the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Narcotics Anonymous grew out of the Alcoholics Anonymous movement of the late 1930’s, offering a recovery process and support network. Instead of saying alcohol in its 12-Steps, Narcotics Anonymous used “addiction” to reflect its membership. Like AA, Narcotics Anonymous has its own book, published originally in 1983. The Narcotics Anonymous website says the book is published in 34 different languages, and 16 more are to be added in the future. I share this with you because I’ve met people who are all too quick to dismiss organizations like AA and NA, even though there has been documented success and continued expansion. Its literature states, "NA is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We meet regularly to help each other stay clean. We are not interested in what or how much you used, but only in what you want to do about your problem and how we can help." All local groups are autonomous and no membership fee is required. Like AA, the purity of the NA mission is uncontaminated by the need for constant fund raising, or the urge to ask members for money. Still, people will look for a sinister motive. They will claim a religious bias, or some other divisive force is at work. They confuse religion with the practice of spiritual principles. Members may examine their own spiritual beliefs and learn to gain a greater understanding of those beliefs, without pressure to adhere to any religious doctrine, practice or tradition. With no proclamation of specific beliefs among members, no requirement of cash, it is hardly a target to be called a “cult,” yet those accusations persist. The fact that it’s free may irritate those who believe that there is the necessity to pay your own way. Encouraged To Abstain Another popular target of criticism for NA and AA, is the encouragement for its members to abstain from drugs and alcohol. For some, the idea of treatment is limited to getting well enough to use again without getting sick. But the NA and AA approach is more holistic, regarding body, mind and spirit as being equally as important, and so drugs and alcohol get in the way. The organization is made up of people who have walked through the tunnel and who desire to help people overcome their addiction and lead a fulfilling life. It takes no stand on prescribed medications, so taking such medications under the care of a physician is not seen as a compromise to the goal of abstinence. NA and AA do not endorse or oppose the positions of other groups concerning their methodology or philosophy. They do not weigh in on other issues relating to addiction, such as the law, public health, political dialog on drug legalization, etc. They are concerned only for the support and well being of addicts. No Attendance is Taken Some will claim that NA is ineffective in helping members through the recovery process. Because no dues are needed, because attendance is not taken at meetings and because there is no strict control over membership, it is difficult to determine the exact number of people who have overcome through Narcotics Anonymous participation. Some may remain active for years, helping others and spreading the message. Others may just go back to living their lives. If freedom is the only goal and statistics are unnecessary; if money is not the object and membership rolls are immaterial; if the activities and practices of any other group is not their concern, then it is all too easy to merely dismiss and marginalize Narcotics Anonymous. If someone has walked through the tunnel and come out the other side alive and well, that says enough for Narcotics Anonymous. The 12-Step program is steeped in tradition and firmly supported by spiritual truth, give us all a model of humanity that points us to a better life, a stronger relationship with our neighbors, and an eternal loving relationship with the one who made us. As you look through this program, think of them as a process. Like a path you walk on to go from A to Z, only you must take all of the steps and go through each in order, otherwise the path does not lead to your final destination. You go at your own pace and move forward as you see fit. Along the way, remember that these steps were written by people just like you, who needed help and had the courage to accept the help. Regardless of your Alcoholism, 12-Step offers improvement for the human condition. Enjoy your reading. Maybe you like Rev. Buchman and Bill Wilson will go through a spiritual experience of your own. If you do, please share it with us. The 12-Step Program Please review each step and try to either begin following them yourself or enroll in a local program. Let’s take a look at the steps. You will see quickly that the process includes others and that we are not meant to go through this alone. We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understand Him. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in our affairs.
Questions about 12-Step RecoveryI am on Step 3 of the 12-Step program and I don’t know what to do? My drinking causes me to be depressed and I’m thinking of suicide! I tried 12-Step. It didn’t work. HOW TO USE THIS SITE:This site contains five MAIN pages that EVERYONE should read: RECOVERY… Yourself... Your Family... Your Friends... Your Community... The rest of the pages are there for your reference to explain important topics in more detail. You Can Be ADDICTION FREE FOREVER!Are you or your loved one struggling with alcoholism or addiction?YOU MUST TAKE ACTION NOW! Use this at-home guide to End Addiction Forever: Click here for details  "Getting Them Sober" the million-selling book---------Now for the first time as an E-BOOK and available for IMMEDIATE download anywhere in the world! PLUS: 24 additional chapters in 5 BONUS BOOKLETS : The 350 Secondary Diseases / Disorders from Alcoholism The Hidden Problems After Separating//Divorced from, an Alcoholic What Keeps us SO emotionally attached to alcoholics??!! Sex and Trust Issues When With an Alcoholic Your Child ------- Alcoholism ... ?? $60 VALUE Special $9.95First time as an e-BOOK and available for immediate download. Click Here for more information about e-book Click Here To Speak to a Counselor Right Now!Copyright 2012 by Mission Enabled All Rights Reserved |
