What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous is a worldwide support group for people addicted to drugs. NA, established in the 1950s, uses a 12-step program, just like AA, and offers a safe, anonymous place where people affected by addiction can share experiences and support one another. NA boasts more than 70,000 weekly meetings worldwide, including multiple venues across the United States, and offers free programs for all those who desire recovery from drug addiction. The major emphasis is on persuading members to abstain from drugs by establishing healthy coping skills through support and accountability. To find local meetings, you can refer to the methadone clinics list for comprehensive information about available support groups in your area.
Narcotics Anonymous Meetings in the US
Narcotics Anonymous meetings are held regularly in most cities in the United States. These meetings provide a venue for people with addictions to find understanding, guidance, and encouragement. They are open to all people who describe themselves as having a drug problem, regardless of the kind of addiction or the severity of addiction. Below are some locations in the US where NA meetings are regularly scheduled.
New York City, NY
Address: 123 Recovery St, New York, NY 10001
Meetings Time:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Meeting Methods/Details:
- Open meetings for newcomers and people in recovery
- Discussion format: Share experiences with addiction and recovery
- Closed meeting: Only those that desire to stop using drugs can attend
- Meditation is included at the end of every meeting
Los Angeles, CA
Address: 456 Healing Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90001
Meetings Time:
- Tuesday, Thursday: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Sunday: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Meeting Methods/Details:
- Speaker meetings with guest speakers from the recovery community
- Discussion sessions where members can share their personal experiences and struggles
- Closed meetings, focusing on addiction recovery
- Family members and friends of addicts can attend open meetings for support
- Step-work workshops available to guide through the 12-step process
Chicago, IL
Address: 789 Hope Ave, Chicago, IL 60601
Meetings Time:
- Monday, Friday: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Meeting Methods/Details:
- Literature-based meetings; using NA-approved materials, guided in discussion
- Every meeting keeps the focus on the 12 steps and 12 traditions.
- Open/closed formats available
- Meditation/mindfulness sessions to aid in emotional regulation
- Member-led sharing circles concerning individual recovery process
NA Program Structure and Support
Narcotics Anonymous meetings are filled with a structured program of activities to help individuals break out of the addiction cycle. NA’s approach is based on the principle of anonymity, allowing individuals to feel safe in discussing their experiences without fear of judgment or disclosure. Meetings are typically conducted in a group setting, with each person encouraged to share their personal journey and listen to others. There is no cost for participation, and attendance is open to all who wish to begin their path to recovery.
Through regular attendance and participation, individuals gain better strength, build accountability, and develop meaningful connections with people who understand their struggles. NA provides a supportive, recovering community that nurtures personal growth and instills hope into those who are committed to overcoming drug addiction.
The 12 Steps of NA
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous serve as a program of recovery in which the member is encouraged to assume responsibility for his or her actions and seek support and make lifestyle changes. These steps will enable an individual to be guided through the process of recovering from addiction and setting up a healthy, drug-free style of living. Following are the 12 steps with brief explanations of their purpose.
- We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable.
The first step toward recovery is recognizing the loss of control over drug use. - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
This step opens the member to the possibility of external help from a higher power, community, or other support systems. - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Members make a conscious choice to trust in their recovery process and surrender their struggles. - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
This involves deep self-reflection in order to realize one’s personal flaws, behaviors, and triggers that link to addiction. - Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Honesty and openness are the keys to recovery, in which members let go of guilt and shame. - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
This step focuses on readiness to change and let go of past negative behaviors. - Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Members try to uplift themselves by working on their weaknesses and flaws. - Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
This step consists of acknowledgment of how one’s addiction has affected those around them and being in a position to right that wrong. - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Taking action to repair relationships and make restitution where appropriate is key in this step. - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Ongoing self-awareness and accountability are essential for long-term recovery. - 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.
Spiritual growth and being mindful of oneself support the continued process of healing and clarity. - Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
This last step now deals with giving back to the community by reaching out to others about their recovery process.
Getting Started with NA in the USA
If you are ready to get started with Narcotics Anonymous, your first step will be to locate a local meeting. Our meeting search tool on Methadone.org can help you locate in-person and online NA meetings. NA meetings are very frequent in the United States, so it is easy to get the support you need almost anywhere. The meeting search tool will give you information on the time, location, and format of each session to help you find a group that will work for you.
In-Person Meetings: In most cities and towns in the country.
Online/Virtual Meetings: Very common and offer the ability to attend for those who cannot make it to a meeting in person.
How to Attend Your First Local NA Meeting
When you go to your first Narcotics Anonymous meeting, the format of meetings may be different. You should know the difference between open and closed meetings because each meeting serves a different purpose.
| Type of Meeting | Description | Who May Attend |
|---|---|---|
| Open Meeting | A meeting open to the public, including family members, friends, and other individuals interested in finding out more about NA. | Anyone interested, including newcomers and supporters. |
| Closed Meeting | A meeting limited to anyone who has a desire to stop using drugs and wishes to share their disease with others in recovery. | Only those who have a desire to stop using drugs. |
Key Points for Your First Meeting
- Arrive Early: It’s a good idea to arrive a little before the meeting starts to get used to the location and get settled.
- Introduce yourself as a newcomer: if you feel comfortable, though this isn’t compulsory since you don’t need to speak before you’ve settled in with the process—often just to listen means something. You may elect to share with the group something of your story about addiction and recovery. Empowerment occurs through these processes for many members.
- Welcome Keychain Tag: You will be given a welcome keychain tag at your first meeting, which shows your commitment to the recovery process.
Keychain Tags for Milestones
As you remain consistent with the meetings and go through the 12 Steps, NA has milestone keychain tags to commemorate the time you have spent in the process. This tag will remind you of your recovery and keep you going in a positive direction.
- 30 Days Tag
- 60 Days Tag
- 90 Days Tag
- 1 Year Tag
- Multi-Year Milestones – 2 years, 5 years, etc.
This is commemorated in meetings with a lot of members sharing their own story of their journey.
