What Is the Narcotics Anonymous Program?
NA is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only one requirement for membership, the desire to stop using. We suggest that you keep an open mind and give yourself a break. Our program is a set of principles written so simply that we can follow them in our daily lives. The most important thing about them is that they work.
Before we started using, many of us dreamt of what we might become when we grew up and what direction life might take us in. Active addiction dampened any vision we may have had for ourselves in the future. We spent all of our time pursuing selfish desires to escape reality. The world became very small with each day planned around how and when we would get high.
In recovery, we begin to see the big picture outside of ourselves. After clearing the wreckage of our addiction, most of us begin to feed our spirits in ways that help us connect to the world around us: acts of generosity, creativity, and community building. Searching for meaning and purpose in our lives becomes a part of our spiritual journey.
Discovering a sense of purpose can be pivotal in our recovery. We begin to find meaning in helping others. We offer kindness and compassion to others, and, in return, we experience an unparalleled sense of joy and happiness. This reciprocal relationship is the essence of goodwill, feeding our spirit and the spirits of those we serve.
Being of service in Narcotics Anonymous and showing up with integrity can pave the road out of self-obsession and into a more optimistic sense of self. As we start to show up for ourselves and others, we begin to feel better and enjoy a newfound sense of purpose. When we take a moment to look at how our efforts help others, we begin to discover who we were meant to be all along.