What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous is a support group for people who have problems with drug addiction. NA was founded in the 1950s and has grown to be one of the most well-known addiction recovery programs in the world, with over 70,000 meetings worldwide. It provides a supportive environment where individuals can connect with others facing similar challenges and work together towards recovery. The program is based on a 12-step philosophy, similar to AA, where self-reflection, personal accountability, and mutual support are some of the ways to beat addiction. For those seeking additional support, medication assisted treatment california can be an effective option to help manage addiction and facilitate long-term recovery.
Free Program and Meetings in California
Narcotics Anonymous has a no-charge program, as it is for anyone who feels the need to overcome the problem of drug addiction. Since NA meetings are scheduled on a regular basis in different cities across California, individuals can actively participate in group sessions that boost their recovery process. These meetings both occur in physical and online environments, serving a vast array of needs. Individuals attending these sessions can receive compassion, understanding, and encouragement from peers who are also in recovery.
NA meetings in California are open to all, regardless of background and experience, wherever one may be in their recovery process. Whether you are fresh to recovery or have been going to meetings for many years, Narcotics Anonymous has a safe, non-judgmental environment for everyone.
Locations and Meeting Times
San Francisco
Address:
123 Recovery St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Meeting Times:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Meeting Details:
Meetings at this location are held in person. One will find a warm and accepting atmosphere for people in any phase of their recovery. The meetings follow the 12-step model, centering on spiritual development and personal responsibility. The group offers a safe environment in which to share experiences, strengths, and hopes with others and to listen and be of support. Besides the usual meetings, special events and workshops can be organized that will aid participants in further strengthening their recovery.
Los Angeles
Address:
456 Hope Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90001
Meeting Times:
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Meeting Details:
NA meetings in Los Angeles are held in this centrally located venue. The sessions are open to anyone who has an addiction problem and wants to be back in control of their lives. It also uses discussion and reflection on personal experiences, enabling the participants to share with one another and give support to one another. The group further promotes a drug-free life through coping skills, self-discipline, and good relationships. Every meeting is an opportunity for a sense of community. This group is a great source of recovery support.
San Diego
Address:
789 Clean Path Rd, San Diego, CA 92101
Meeting Times:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Meeting Details:
The San Diego location provides physical and virtual meetings for your convenience in case one is not physically well enough to attend. Meeting format is personal time sharing and a group discussion process. A person can speak as freely and honestly about their recovery as they see fit. The San Diego group also provides a range of support materials on the 12-step process and strategies for long-term sobriety. NA is committed to fostering a strong, supportive community, and that commitment is evident at every meeting as people come together to help one another stay clean and focused on recovery.
Meeting Methods and Details
Narcotics Anonymous meetings vary in style, but they generally follow these formats:
- Speaker Meetings: A member tells their story of personal recovery experience.
- Discussion Meetings: Members discuss and share experiences and offer aid to each other.
- Step Study Meetings: The meetings are used to work the 12 steps with the help of a sponsor or a leader of the group.
- Closed Meetings: These are for those who feel they have a drug problem.
- Open Meetings: These are open to anyone interested in learning about NA or supporting a loved one in recovery.
Regardless of the format, the core of NA is its supportive environment, where all participants are encouraged to engage at their own pace while respecting others’ privacy and confidentiality.
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous
The steps of Narcotics Anonymous in recovery from addiction provide a systematic path leading to positive change and long-term sobriety. The steps emphasize personal reflection, spiritual growth, and mutual support within the membership, helping their members in California and everywhere else to surmount problems associated with addiction. A quick overview of each of the 12 steps is listed below:
- We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable.
Recognizing the loss of control over addiction is the first step toward seeking help and initiating recovery. - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
This step asks an individual to believe in any higher power for inner strength and clarity. - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Members commit to surrendering their control and trusting the process of recovery with guidance from a higher power. - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
This involves reflecting on personal behaviors, actions, and thoughts to identify areas for improvement and healing. - Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Honesty and transparency are paramount: members admit their wrongs to themselves and others for the release of guilt as a beginning to healing. - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
This would require an openness and willingness to change personal shortcomings, with the aid of a higher power. - Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Through the process, members seek and request help in overcoming personal weaknesses, having faith in recovery. - Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
A very important step for emotional growth in which the individual confronts the harms of the past and prepares to make amends. - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
This step helps one to make amends where wrongs have been caused but in a manner that no further hurt is being created. - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Here, continuous self-evaluation makes the members always on their toes regarding their acts and growing into 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.
This is the step that reinforces spiritual connection and instills feelings of peace and a purpose-driven recovery process. - 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 encourages members to help others by sharing their recovery experiences and living according to the principles learned in the 12 steps.
The 12 Steps are geared to inspire NA members into change; this supportiveness and structure in recovery from addiction are replicated throughout California.
Getting Started with NA in California
Narcotics Anonymous welcomes any person who feels the need to overcome their dependence on drugs and would like support in that direction. To attend any meeting in California, find your local meeting using the Methadone.org meeting search tool, which maintains an up-to-date registry of local meetings. Be assured that meetings are held either in person or virtually, depending on the needs of the individual, by NA.
Meeting Formats – In-Person and Virtual
Both in-person and virtual meetings are available across California, thus enabling your choice. In many areas, it’s hybrid, so members in person or on video and phone calls are able to attend. This is great for people who just can’t make it to a physical meeting for one reason or another, whether that is due to distance, transportation issues, or simply just personal preference. Virtual meetings also offer the opportunity to be in contact with members of an extended community for further support and motivation.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
Open vs. Closed Meetings in California
When you go to your first NA meeting in California, there are two different types of meetings you will find: open and closed. Knowing the differences will help you decide which one best suits your needs.
Open Meetings:
- Open to all who wish to attend, including relatives, friends, or anyone interested in Narcotics Anonymous.
- They are a good forum for learning about NA or supporting a family member or friend who is in recovery.
- Open meetings may be discussions, speakers who share their personal story, or group sharing about the process of recovery.
Closed Meetings:
- For addicts only.
- These meetings are centered on the experiences and recovery of the members needing support.
- Closed meetings are more personal and better for members to share their struggles and successes with others who understand.
Meeting Types Table
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meetings | Open to all, even those interested in learning about NA or supporting a loved one. |
| Closed Meetings | For addicts only; a safe environment where members can share their personal stories. |
| Speaker Meetings | A single member will often share their story in recovery, and sometimes a discussion or Q&A will follow. |
| Discussion Meetings | Members will share their thoughts and experiences and offer support and advice to fellow members. |
| Step Study Meetings | Working the 12 steps of NA with the support of the group or sponsor. |
What to Expect at Your First Meeting
Coming early to your first meeting will give you time to get settled and introduce yourself as a new member. That gives you the more personal touch to get connected with other members and also makes initial relationships with other attendees. And upon arrival, you are likely to be welcomed into a very friendly and supportive community of individuals who wish to be of help to you in your journey toward recovery.
During the meeting, you’ll have the opportunity to share your experiences if you feel comfortable doing so. While sharing is not required, many individuals find that speaking about their struggles and progress helps them feel more connected to the group and supported in their recovery.
You will also be given a welcome keychain tag at your first meeting, which is considered to mark the beginning of your NA recovery process. These tags are presented to members once they reach certain milestones in their progress of sobriety. The milestones on the tags go as follows:
- 30 Days: Recognizes one month has been completed in sobriety.
- 60 Days: Celebrates the progress of two months in one’s recovery journey.
- 90 Days: Recognizes three months continuously of sobriety.
- 1 Year: The first big hurdle of long-term recovery and symbolizes one year continuously sober.
Additional tags will be given for continued progress on this journey of recovery. Every milestone represents increased success.