Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a fellowship of people who work together to support one another in their desire to stop using drugs. The program was started in 1953 due to the success that Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was having in helping alcoholics get and stay sober. Like AA, NA focuses on the complete abstinence from drugs and alcohol as the way to recover from addiction. The program now reaches more addicts than ever, with over 61,000 meetings each week in over 130 countries worldwide.
There are no dues or fees required to attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and the program doesn’t focus on a specific drug of choice. Rather, anyone with a substance abuse problem (including alcohol) can attend NA meetings.
What Is a Narcotics Anonymous Meeting Like?
Meetings in NA follow specific formats and last one hour. They may be discussion meetings, where the meeting is open for members to share on a particular topic, or they can discuss any issues they are having regarding addiction. Another format is speaker meetings, where members share their story – what life was like, what happened, and what it’s like now. This is a huge benefit to the support group members because hearing personal stories from people who are in recovery, and successfully maintaining abstinence from drugs and alcohol, helps other members realize that they are not alone, and that recovery is possible.
No one in an NA meeting is required to share, it’s completely voluntary. The meeting is facilitated by a chairperson who is a member and volunteer. There is typically coffee and sometimes snacks available at meetings.
How Does the NA Program Work?
The NA program follows the disease model of addiction, which treats addiction as a condition that is incurable, but manageable. Recovery from addiction is a lifelong process rather than a one-time thing that addicts can “graduate” from.
While there are no requirements to remain a member of NA, except the desire to stop using drugs or alcohol, there are suggestions about how to work the program. Members are encouraged to work with a sponsor, someone with longer sober time who will help them work through the 12 steps of the program. The sponsor also acts as a support who is available to help when someone feels tempted to use drugs to help prevent relapse. The relationship between the sponsor and the sponsee is beneficial to both parties. By helping others, NA sponsors strengthen their own sobriety and recovery. That’s one of the guiding principles of NA – one addict helping another to learn how to live a new, drug-free life.
Finding NA Meetings in the Fresno Area
In Fresno, there are many NA meetings in different locations, at all times of the day and evening. Meeting schedules are available online, a simple Google search for “NA meetings in Fresno,” will tell you when and where to go. The important thing to remember is that there is help and support at NA meetings, and many people have successfully worked the 12 steps and gone on to have long-lasting sobriety and fulfilling drug-free life.
