Category: Narcotics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous was created in 1953 to serve those recovering from any and all types of addiction (as opposed to Alcoholics Anonymous, which had been around for 20 years already, but solely focused on getting over alcoholism). This was the first organization of its type, one that offered a peer-based support group for users of often illegal drugs who before, had few other places to turn. Considering attending an NA meeting for the first time? This quick guide to the Narcotics Anonymous meeting format will tell you what to expect.

The Narcotics Anonymous Meeting Format

Narcotics Anonymous allows its chapters to run almost completely autonomously. As a result, there is bound to be some variation in how meetings are conducted. Aside from following the basic principles, meeting groups are allowed to adapt and change as they wish and conduct themselves in various ways (more on that later). However, there are still plenty of things that these meetings have in common, namely how the beginning and end of meetings are conducted.

1. 1. Greeting

Once the meeting has begun, a person will open with a moment of silence as well as a recitation of the ‘we’ version of the Serenity Prayer. Afterward, the speaker will ask for first-timers and you may be asked to introduce yourself (you will not be forced to participate if you don’t wish to). 

2. Readings

Every meeting will call on volunteers to read five foundational texts: 

• Who is an addict
• What is the NA Program 
• Why are we here
• How it works 
• The Twelve Traditions of NA

3. Secretary Report

This includes announcements, events, updates, and anything else that pertains to a group’s operation. 

4.Discussion

There are various types of discussion formats in Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Some encourage participation from multiple attendees while others are limited to one primary speaker. This is usually determined by the chairperson of the group.

5. Key tags

Key tags are similar to that of AA chips. These are color-coded keyrings that indicate how long a person has been sober. During this portion of the meeting, one of the leaders will announce a certain duration of time (30 days, 9 months, etc.) and call for individuals who have been sober for that corresponding period to get a key tag. 

Key tag color meanings

• White: Less than 30 days sober
• Orange: More than 30 days sober
• Green: 60 days sober
• Red: 90 days sober
• Blue: 6 months sober
• Yellow: 9 months sober
• Glow in the dark: 1 year sober
• Gray: 18 months sober
• Black: Multiple years sober

6. Break

Members can talk with other members, step outside, etc.

7. Passing the basket

Narcotics Anonymous is a fully self-sufficient organization that only accepts donations from its members. First-time NA meeting participants are not expected to give any money, this is only for established members.

8. Reading of the 12th Tradition

 

9. Prayer (Optional)

For those who wish to participate, meetings will conclude with another reading of the Serenity Prayer along with ‘Just For Today’ and the third step prayer.                                                                                                                                               

Types of Narcotics Anonymous Meetings

Narcotics Anonymous is closely modeled after its predecessor and as such, NA meetings are centered around confidentiality and non-judgemental support. The literature that’s read, the types of discussions held, and even who’s allowed to attend the meeting, are all variables that can affect the format of the meeting. 

Discussion vs. Speaker Meetings 

All NA meetings have some element of discussion, the amount of which can vary. Some have a looser, open-sharing format where anyone can speak. This is considered a discussion meeting. Others might have a guided discussion based on certain topics or NA literature led by the chairperson (one of the more senior members of the group who are part of the volunteers who operate the meetings). Then there is what’s known as a speaker meeting, where a single person speaks for the majority of the session.

These meeting formats can be broken down even further, in the way that some of the discussions are conducted. There are round-robin meetings where individuals take turns speaking in a circle; tag meetings where one speaker picks the next person to speak, and even stick meetings where individuals draw a topic to speak on.

Open vs. Closed Meeting

First is the classification of whether a meeting is considered ‘open’ or ‘closed’. Open meetings mean that anyone is welcome to attend, including non-drug users such as friends and family members. Closed meetings, on the other hand, are restricted in attendance only to those who are struggling with addiction or otherwise have a drug use problem. Find a meeting near you today. 

Narcotics Anonymous is a peer-based support group that helps thousands of addicted persons find their motivation to quit using drugs or to continue abstaining from them. But as anyone who’s had a brush with addiction knows, addiction is a disease that affects more than the person with the substance abuse problem. It often hurts friends, family, and other loved ones; those who care for or rely on the drug user. In recognition of this, a separate support group was made—a sort of Narcotics Anonymous for families and friends. If you’ve been hurt by someone else’s drug use, keep reading.  

 

What Is Nar-Anon?

Nar-Anon Family Groups is a “worldwide fellowship for those affected by someone else’s addiction”, which can mean spouses, children, parents, friends, and coworkers. Nar-Anon closely follows the same format as Narcotics Anonymous as well as the same foundational core. Group meeting participants share their opinions, experiences, and frustrations in a confidential setting. Discussions and lessons are guided by a modified program based on the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts. 

 

There is another subset of Nar-Anon focused towards teenagers who have a parent, family member, or friend who struggles with addiction, called Narateen.  

 

The Benefits of Nar-Anon

Drug addiction is often referred to as a family disease because of how wide its impact can be. A person with a substance disorder may lose their job, causing food or housing insecurity for the entire household. Neurological damage can impact their behavior, making them more prone to dangerous or violent behavior or outbursts. Aside from the potential physical or financial burdens of living with an addict, these dysfunctional relationships can bear a heavy emotional toll as well. 

Anger, frustration, guilt, shame, and grief are common feelings for those close to an addicted person to have. Being unable to convince their loved one to go to rehab; recognition of their patterns of enabling behavior; a discovery that they’d been lied to repeatedly. These are just a few of the circumstances that might lead to family and loved ones feeling trapped with emotions they don’t understand or can’t let go of. 

Nar-Anon is a non-professional organization where loved ones can ask and give support to others dealing with similar struggles. Participants share their stories offering both commiseration, hope, and tips for dealing with what many feel like a traumatic experience. But Nar-Anon isn’t just a place to vent. Through a modified 12 step recovery program, it teaches how to be supportive towards the addicted loved one (without enabling) and how to cope with the stress of living with or loving an addict. 

 

Helping Loved Ones Dealing With Addiction

If you are a close relative or friend of a person struggling with addiction, you’ve likely been impacted by their new behavior in some way shape or form. You’re not alone. Find comfort and get help from others who have been in your position and find a Nar-Anon group near you. Meanwhile, you might find it beneficial to recommend that your loved one attends Narcotics Anonymous meetings as well. This will give you both a better platform to understand one another and hopefully repair any damage that was done to the relationship. 

If you’re eager to join the Narcotics Anonymous fellowship but have never attended a 12-step group before and aren’t sure what to expect, we’ve got you covered. We read the official Narcotics Anonymous literature so that you don’t have to (although we highly recommend that you do check it out yourself at some point). Here’s a skimmable breakdown of Narcotics Anonymous rules for participating in meetings and how to prepare for your first meeting.

 

Narcotics Anonymous “Rules”

You’ve heard the saying before: “The first rule is that there are no rules”. Cheesy, but that’s pretty much the case with Narcotics Anonymous. Members pride themselves on allowing groups to be self-governing and to develop their own identity. NA directly states that they “encourage unity, not uniformity”. As such, there are no hard and fast rules that dictate how to run a meeting or how to participate in one. The Group Booklet offers a set of helpful guidelines that set the expectations of groups and their members. As long as you operate within those parameters and adhere to the organization’s core principles, you don’t have to worry whether you’re breaking any rules or not. 

That said, there are a few standards of conduct that participants should abide by when attending an NA meeting. Here’s what you need to know:

1. No discussing outside issues. That means nix on religion, politics, and any other topic that isn’t recovery-related. 

 

2. Not all meetings are open to nonaddicts. The walk-in format means that every meeting is available for an addicted person to attend. However, if you wanted to bring a non-addicted loved one to accompany you, this isn’t always the case. Look to see whether an NA group lists their meeting as being “open” or “closed”. An open meeting everyone, addicted or not, is welcome to attend. Closed meetings are only for those who are struggling with addiction.  

 

3. Confidentiality is key. Don’t discuss anything or any of the stories that were spoken about during a meeting. 

 

Tips For Your First NA Meeting

As you can see, the list of actual Narcotics Anonymous rules is quite short. Instead, there’s a lot more that can be said to ensure that your first meeting is a positive experience. Far from being any sort of requirement, here are a few tips and things to expect when you attend:

 

When You First Get There

• Get there early, plan to stay late. Most groups have designated members to greet and guide first-timers. At least for your very first meeting, aim to get there early and stay a little while longer once the meeting is over. This will allow you to ask questions and feel more comfortable more quickly. 

 

• Be prepared to pitch in. Narcotics Anonymous emphasizes self-sufficiency for its groups, both financially and logistically. While you’ll never be required to make a donation or make any other monetary contribution, the work that goes into each meeting is shared amongst group members. It’s primarily the responsibility of the elected officers, but stepping up to fulfill some of the smaller duties like making coffee, greeting attendees, or setting up the chairs is helpful and makes for a great first impression.

 

• You don’t have to provide any personal information. Some groups may have nametags or attendance sheets. You do not need to reveal any information about yourself if you don’t feel comfortable doing so. Arriving early will give you the chance to ask how that group operates without being caught off guard. If you feel too self-conscious refusing altogether, feel free to use an alias in place of your real name. Further, most meetings involve hugs as greetings between participants. Feel free to say “no” if it makes you uncomfortable.

 

Sharing

• Only share once per meeting. It’s awesome that you want to participate and share your story. Due to time constraints, members are asked to limit their sharing to once per meeting, and for five minutes or less. 

 

• Avoid “crosstalk”. Responding to a member’s sharing by sharing your own experience doesn’t facilitate discussion. If you’d like, talk with that other member privately after the meeting.  

 

• Minimize the details. Be sensitive to the fact that others may be struggling with cravings or fairly new in their recovery. As such, try to avoid explicit details and descriptions of drug use or other distressing information such as harassment, threats, or financial struggles. Instead, focus on the areas of recovery. 

 

During & After The Meeting

• Focus on listening rather than sharing. Not only will this allow you to get a better understanding of how the group operates, but you’ll be better able to identify potential sponsors or friends.

 

• No drugs allowed. A no-brainer. Don’t bring drugs or drug paraphernalia around others who are struggling with substance abuse. Additionally, it’s recommended against attending meetings while intoxicated or if you have used in the past 24 hours, but the stringency may vary by group. 

 

• Don’t feel pressured to donate. If you’re still feeling out the group and aren’t sure if you want to declare a homegroup just yet, refrain from contributing. Until you are a full-fledge NA member, they ask you to withhold donations so that they can remain self-supporting. 

 

How To Find An NA Meeting

First off, congratulations. If you made it this far and are reading this, it means that you’ve made the choice (or are at least seriously considering) to do something about your drug use problem. Let us go on the record to say that we think that your decision to attend Narcotics Anonymous is a fantastic idea. 

They have an unwavering commitment to privacy and, most importantly, are free to attend and join. These zero-commitment groups are a place where people can begin their recovery process without judgment and stay to maintain their sobriety even after addiction treatment. Even better: they can be found everywhere. Narcotics Anonymous boasts nearly 70,000 meeting groups worldwide. Find an NA meeting near you today with our directory that breaks down locations by state and city.