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Myths & Realities. Myth 1 . NA is a secret society. Reality 1. We are a private organisation. We do our best to protect the anonymity of our members, though we do not guarantee it.
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Myth 1 NA is a secret society.
Reality 1 • We are a private organisation. • We do our best to protect the anonymity of our members, though we do not guarantee it. • Anonymity makes it safer for people to share, and creates equality in meetings, regardless of background or circumstances.
Myth 2 Narcotics Anonymous is a cult.
Reality 2 • There are no leaders in NA; neither do we have any central value system. • The core of our programme is the therapeutic value of one addict helping another. • Membership of NA is free, and any contributions towards our running costs collected at meetings are entirely voluntary. • Our members are free to leave at any time.
Myth 3 NA is for heroin addicts only.
Reality 3 • NA is open to anyone, regardless of what they used. • Our surveys show a membership with very diverse histories of drug use. • NA is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs, including alcohol. • NA’s help is available to all, regardless of age, race, class, religion or sexual orientation
Myth 4 NA is not for those on prescribed medications, such as methadone.
Reality 4 • The only requirement for membership of NA is a desire to stop using. • NA pretends no medical expertise, and we encourage anyone coming to NA who is on any form of prescribed medication to seek medical advice before stopping.
Myth 5 Everyone in NA is using or dealing drugs.
Reality 5 • This is not our experience: in hundreds of meetings we have never seen drugs used or sold. • You do not have to be clean to attend NA meetings. • If a person goes to an NA meeting seeking drugs, it’s possible that they might find what they are looking for (although this is true almost anywhere). • At the same time, if a person goes to an NA meeting with a desire to stop using drugs, there will definitely be members in the meetings willing to help them.
Myth 6 NA is a religious organization.
Reality 6 • The NA program is based on a set of spiritual principles that are not associated with a particular religion. Our steps call for finding and believing in a power greater than oneself. • Members are free to choose a belief that works for them personally. There is no opposition to anyone’s choice within Narcotics Anonymous. • Experiences of our members show that the spiritual principles work for all members, whether devoutly religious (in any faith), atheist, or agnostic.
Myth 7 NA is part of criminal justice ~ church ~ probation
Reality 7 • We are not affiliated with any outside organisations. • We have no opinion on outside issues. • However, Narcotics Anonymous is keen to build co-operative relationships with any organisations, based on our common goals.
Myth 8 NA doesn’t work if you are forced to go.
Reality 8 • Whilst the program of NA may not suit everybody, we have found that regular exposure to NA has helped many people stop using drugs and find a new way of life. • Many people who voluntarily commit to the program of NA have stopped using drugs; we see no reason why those who attend as part of a treatment order or DRR should not have the same success. • Many of us first encountered NA when we were sent to meetings by treatment centres, or attended a meeting in prison. Once we learned that recovery is possible in NA, we continued to come of our own accord.
Myth 9 NA is not a safe place, especially for women.
Reality 9 • One of the goals of NA is to establish and maintain a safe and welcoming environment, which we call ‘an atmosphere of recovery’. • Meetings are facilitated by people with at least a year’s clean time in order to achieve this. • There are a number of meetings such as women-only, men-only, and gay/lesbian and child friendly where some members may feel more comfortable. • NA encourages members to support each other and often suggests that MEMBERS seek THE SAME SEX TO support in their recovery efforts.
Myth 10 NA is just like AA.
Reality 10 • NA, founded in 1953 is a fellowship in its own right, with 61,800 meetings worldwide (and over 800 in the UK). • NA has adapted the 12 Steps and the 12 Traditions, for our own use. • In particular, our first Step uses the word addiction rather than referring to any specific substance.
Myth 11 Only addicts can attend NA meetings.
Reality 11 • There are two kinds of NA meetings: • A closed meeting is for people who think they may have a problem with drugs. • An open meeting is exactly that; open to anyone who wishes to come..
Myth 12 There’s no point. Addicts always use again.
Reality 12 • NA may not suit everyone, but we believe that those who apply themselves to our simple program can find freedom from active addiction. • We believe the statement “Once an addict, always an addict” is a lie. • Narcotics Anonymous has approximately 61,800 groups in 136 countries around the world; we have literature translated into 65 languages. • This simple program, known as Narcotics Anonymous is proving itself in the lives of addicts around the world.
Thank you ! If you have any questions then please ask.
