What You MUST Know Before you Attend Your First Narcotics Anonymous Meeting

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Going to your first Narcotics Anonymous meeting can be nerve-wracking, especially if you don’t know what to expect. The experience of opening up to strangers about your deepest issues and mistakes isn’t exactly thrilling.

However, it’s a necessary part of your recovery. By learning more about what Narcotics Anonymous meetings are like, you can take away some of the fear and anxiety of going to your first meeting. Here are some things you need to know before attending.

Important Terms to Learn

When you walk into your first meeting, you’ll immediately start hearing certain lingo that might be confusing. While you’ll understand terms like “addict” and “relapse,” here are some of the lesser-known terms you should know:

• Basic text – the name of the book that expresses the group’s main ideas
• Ips – informational pamphlets
• Trusted servants – members who hold service positions in the group
• Open meetings – a meeting open to all members of the community, including non-addicts
• Higher power – a non-denominational, loving or spiritual force that helps you recover

Narcotics Anonymous Is Not Therapy

You might be going into your first Narcotics Anonymous meeting thinking it will be like therapy. Maybe you’re thinking you’ll be able to resolve your psychological issues at the same time.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Narcotics Anonymous does not focus on teaching lessons or providing counseling.

You won’t be expected to share anything at your first meeting.

Instead, meetings consist of sharing personal experiences about addiction and recovery. Usually, people take turns sharing their stories during the meeting. However, sometimes there are speaker meetings where one person shares their stories for the entire meeting.

If you find that Narcotics Anonymous is not enough and you feel like you need more professional support, give our hotline a call at 800-934-1582(Sponsored) . Our specialists can help you find a program in your area that meets your needs.

Narcotics Anonymous Is Open to Everyone

By definition, Narcotics Anonymous is a place where “anyone may join us regardless of age, race, sexual identity, creed, religion or lack of religion.” Additionally, the organization is open to both men and women.

Narcotics Anonymous is also a non-profit organization. This means they do not have to collect dues or fees for you to attend. Instead, they rely on voluntary donations so that people of all financial backgrounds can attend.

Many people think that Narcotics Anonymous is a religious organization because it is sometimes held in churches. This is not true. One of the main reasons for holding meetings in churches is that those venues are usually the most affordable and convenient.

The only requirement for attending meetings is a desire to stop using substances and live drug-free.

List of NA Meeting Topics by Step

Knowing what will be discussed for each step of NA will help you feel more prepared to attend meetings.

Narcotics Anonymous Will Greet You Warmly

At your first meeting, you will be warmly greeted by your fellow addicts. Typically, most meetings will ask you to introduce yourself by your first name.  You won’t be expected to share the first time. Instead, you will be encouraged to listen to identify which members could make good sponsors or have similar experiences to yours.

With this information in mind, your first Narcotics Anonymous meeting won’t be awkward at all. There’s nothing to fear, as the group will welcome you with open arms.

When you’re ready to start attending, call us at 800-934-1582(Sponsored)  for help finding a Narcotics Anonymous group near you.

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