Des Moines, Iowa NA Meetings

About NA Meetings in Des Moines

Narcotics Anonymous is a free, peer-led fellowship for anyone who wants to stop using drugs. There are no dues, no fees, and no requirement beyond a desire to stop. Des Moines meetings fall under the South Central Area of Narcotics Anonymous (SCANA), one of the local areas of the Iowa Region of NA, which also covers nearby Polk County communities including West Des Moines, Ankeny, and Urbandale.

Finding an NA Meeting in Des Moines

The finder above searches by distance rather than city limits, so it can show meetings held just outside Des Moines right alongside meetings inside the city. That is a feature, not a mix-up. A meeting a few minutes away in West Des Moines or Ankeny can show up next to ones in Des Moines proper, and Urbandale meetings are close by too.

Across Des Moines, active meetings include open and closed formats, discussion meetings, candlelight meetings, and Basic Text and step study meetings, along with dedicated women’s and men’s meetings. If you are new, an open meeting is a good place to start. Open meetings welcome anyone curious about NA, including family members and people who are not yet sure they want to stop using.

The South Central Area is part of the Iowa Region of Narcotics Anonymous, which can help with meeting information at 800-897-6242. For a plain-language look at how NA meetings work, see Narcotics Anonymous, or browse the full list of NA meetings across Iowa.

Drug Use and Overdose in Polk County

Nationally, drug overdose deaths have fallen for three straight years. Iowa has followed that trend, though methamphetamine, not opioids, is now the leading cause of overdose death in the state. Locally, thousands of Polk County residents access substance use treatment each year through the state’s behavioral health system.

The Polk County figure reflects treatment admissions, not overdose deaths. County-level overdose death counts are not consistently published for Polk County due to small-number suppression practices, so the statewide total is shown instead.

Treatment Options In and Near Des Moines

Levels of care for a drug addiction range from medically supervised detox to inpatient rehabilitation to ongoing outpatient counseling. For opioid use disorder specifically, medications including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are the evidence-based standard of care. These medications work alongside NA rather than in place of it, and many people in NA also take one of them as part of their recovery.

Des Moines has several SAMHSA-certified opioid treatment programs offering methadone and buprenorphine, along with hospital-based behavioral health and crisis services at Broadlawns Medical Center. SAMHSA’s FindTreatment.gov lets you search licensed treatment providers near any Des Moines ZIP code, and the SAMHSA National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, offers free, confidential referrals 24 hours a day.

Naloxone and Harm Reduction

Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose and is safe to give even when you are not certain opioids are involved. Under Iowa’s statewide standing order, pharmacists can dispense naloxone without an individual prescription to a person at risk of overdose, someone in a position to help them, or a first responder.

• Iowa pharmacies: ask any Iowa pharmacy for naloxone under the state’s standing order; no prescription is required.
• Free naloxone locator: naloxoneiowa.org lists organizations distributing free naloxone by county, including options in the Des Moines area.
• Harbor of Hope: a Des Moines recovery house that partners with the Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition on community naloxone access.

Iowa’s Good Samaritan law, in effect since 2018, protects a person who stays and calls 911 to report an overdose from certain drug possession charges. The protection applies the first time a person uses it. For more on recognizing an overdose and what to do, see How Can I Recognize Overdose?

Crisis and Immediate Help

Des Moines NA Meetings FAQ

Are there NA meetings in Des Moines?

Yes. Des Moines has active NA meetings in several formats, and the finder above shows current options in the city and in nearby Polk County communities.

Are NA meetings free to attend?

Yes. NA meetings have no dues or fees. Some groups pass a basket for voluntary contributions toward rent and literature, but nobody is turned away for not contributing.

What if there isn’t a meeting nearby when I need one?

The finder searches by distance, so widening the radius often turns up a meeting in a nearby community like West Des Moines or Ankeny. You can also call the Iowa Region of NA at 800-897-6242 for current meeting information.

Is NA religious?

NA is not affiliated with any religion. Its program refers to a “higher power,” a concept each person defines for themselves, and meetings welcome people of any faith or none at all.

Do I have to be sober to attend a meeting?

Open meetings welcome anyone, including people who are still using and family members who want to understand NA. Closed meetings are reserved for people who identify as having a drug problem.

Are there women’s or men’s meetings in Des Moines?

Yes. Des Moines has dedicated women’s and men’s NA meetings in addition to its general meetings.

Related Pages

• Narcotics Anonymous: What It Is and How It Works
• Understanding Addiction Treatment
• How Can I Recognize Overdose?