What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous is a worldwide support group of people who have the disease of drug addiction. NA works on the 12-step recovery system, just like AA; it provides a safe place where members can share their stories and work together in recovery. The program is free of charge and open to all who have a desire to stop using drugs. NA meetings are held on a regular schedule in many cities throughout the United States, including several locations in Oregon, and are crucial for many people in their recovery process. To find local NA meetings in Oregon, you can visit https://www.methadone.org/clinics/oregon/.
Narcotics Anonymous Oregon
There are many different NA meetings across Oregon, which means that someone needing the support is able to find a location and time that works well for them. There are over 70,000 meetings happening worldwide, and the program has been in operation since the 1950s. NA meetings held in Oregon share the same spirit, principles, and guidelines as meetings around the world, based on personal growth, recovery, and the maintenance of sobriety.
Meeting Locations and Times
Here are a few key locations for Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Oregon:
Portland, OR
Address:
1624 NE Broadway St, Portland, OR 97232
Meeting Times:
- Monday: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Open discussion)
- Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (Step study)
- Friday: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Speaker meeting)
Meeting Methods/Details:
- Open discussion groups where participants can share personal experiences with addiction and recovery
- Step studies focused on the 12-step recovery process
- Speaker meetings where guest speakers share their stories and insights on overcoming addiction
Eugene, OR
Address:
2490 Willamette St, Eugene, OR 97405
Meeting Times:
- Tuesday: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM (Closed meeting)
- Thursday: 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM (Open meeting)
- Sunday: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM (Step study)
Meeting Methods/Details:
- Closed meetings for people who have a desire to stop using drugs
- Open meetings where friends, family, and others can attend for support
- Step studies that focus on specific principles of the 12-step recovery process
Salem, OR
Address:
4725 Liberty Rd S, Salem, OR 97302
Meeting Times:
- Monday: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Step study)
- Wednesday: 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM (Open discussion)
- Saturday: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM (Speaker meeting)
Meeting Methods/Details:
- Step study meetings for the purpose of studying and working the 12 steps of recovery
- Open discussion groups where members share their experiences and difficulties
- Speaker meetings where motivational talks are given by persons who have overcome their addiction
The meetings give the chance to Oregon individuals to reach others like them and help themselves by forming some kind of support group to make them feel better during recovery.
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous
The Narcotics Anonymous 12-step program is a systematic process for recovery from addiction. Each of the steps emphasizes personal insight, responsibility, and change. The following describes briefly what each of the steps is about.
- We admitted we were powerless over our addiction-that our lives had become unmanageable.
Admitted that, because of addiction, the addict lost control. - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
This step means realization of the need for recovery using resources higher than oneself. - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
The member is committed to turning for guidance and direction from the higher power. - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
This is the step that allows the individual to reflect on past behaviors and to determine those things that need to change. - Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Honesty and openness with self and others are major features in personal growth. - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
This is a step where the individual must be willing to let go of all the negative characteristics and practices. - Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
The members pray or in reflection ask for help on their personal weaknesses. - Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Acceptance of the harm one had caused others serves to form a bridge towards their amends. - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Taking responsibility for past actions by making amends is central to healing relationships. - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Ongoing self-reflection ensures members stay accountable and on the path to 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 in spiritual growth where one seeks guidance through reflections and meditation. - 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.
The final step looks at how to help others in their process of recovery while living according to those principles.
These steps lead residents of Oregon through change, betterment of themselves, and continued sobriety.
Getting Started with NA in Oregon
Your Recovery with Narcotics Anonymous in Oregon begins with finding a meeting that is convenient for you, and that is quite simple through the meeting search tool on methadone.org. You can search for either face-to-face or online/virtual meetings, whichever fits best into your schedule. No matter which one you decide on, there are several to choose from throughout the state.
NA meetings in Oregon are hugely accessible, from major city locations to smaller communities. Both in-person and virtual meetings offer flexibility for someone, any situation, any location, to get the needed support.
Finding Meetings in Your Area
- Go online at methadone.org and search for NA meetings closest to you.
- You can filter results to get either in-person or online/virtual meetings.
- Check Meeting Time: Access details on the exact times of the meetings and type held near your location.
- Search for Meetings: It can find those that perfectly match your busy schedule and fill a needed position in commencing the journey of recovery for your disease.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
Attending your first NA meeting can be an important step in your recovery process. When participating in NA meetings in Oregon, you’ll encounter two primary types of meetings: open meetings and closed meetings.
Open vs. Closed Meetings in Oregon
Open meetings are open to all people, whether affected by addiction or not. Such a meeting will allow family, friends, and all people who support one in recovery to join them. Open meetings cultivate a supportive community atmosphere.
By contrast, closed meetings are limited to those who express a desire to stop using drugs. The discussion and support in such a meeting is from and about those who are actually working through their addictive journey.
Here is a quick comparison of the two meeting types:
| Meeting Type | Who Can Attend | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Open Meeting | Anyone (including family and friends) | General discussion and support to all attendees, including loved ones. |
| Closed Meeting | Persons desiring to quit drugs | Talking will center around recovering from addiction and personal story telling. |
Tips for Your First Meeting
- Arrive Early: It is a good idea to arrive a few minutes early to get settled and feel comfortable.
- Introduce Yourself: If you are a new member, you are invited to introduce yourself. You do not have to say anything that you do not want to-the fact that you are new and would like some support is sufficient.
- Share Your Experience: You may share your experiences with addiction and recovery if you wish. Sharing is totally voluntary, and many people prefer to just listen during their first meeting.
- Welcome Keychain Tags: As you take your first meeting, a welcome keychain tag symbolizes your personal commitment to recovery. For this particular tag, a reminder will be attached-to the process and to your community.
Keychain Milestones
As you continue on with your recovery process, NA has milestone keychain tags to celebrate in your sobriety. These tags are symbolic for the different milestones reached in your recovery process:
- 30 Days: This is your first milestone of sobriety, showing your dedication to one month of recovery.
- 60 Days: An important milestone showing your ongoing effort and growth.
- 1 Year: This is a big deal, one full year of sobriety, one full year of working at your recovery process.
- Additional Milestones: Beyond one year, other milestones include 18 months, 2 years, and beyond, with each representing continued progress.
These milestones serve as tangible reminders of the work you’ve done and the strength you’ve shown throughout your recovery.