Everything You Need to Know About AA, NA, and Al-Anon
In some meetings, attendees are invited to share burning desires. Other times, speakers may share their journeys with a major focus on their previous drug or alcohol use. The goal is to create a safe environment where people addicted to substances can connect with each other and support each other’s recovery. While many of the 12-steps of the NA program or focused on drawing on spiritual influences, you don’t need to be religious or spiritual to attend or benefit from NA.
step facilitation therapy
Abstinence, or not using the substance you’re addicted to, is always first in recovery. Without abstinence, all the step work in the world won’t help that much. The tools of recovery include meetings, sponsorship, the steps and more. Each of these tools are intended to help you stay abstinent and to grow as a person and in recovery.
We know more about alcohol and other drug dependence now
But there have been no serious candidates for gene, brain or personality differences that reliably predict the development or severity of alcohol or other drug problems. Many people who meet the AA definition of an “alcoholic” have successfully returned to controlled drinking. While both AA and NA meetings generally follow a similar format, there may be slight variations in the way meetings are conducted due to the different substances being addressed. However, the core elements such as sharing experiences, providing support, and working through the steps remain consistent. Since drug addiction covers a wide variety of drugs, you may feel comfortable talking about your struggles with prescription medication, ecstasy or any other drug.
- They have an open-door policy, so people can choose to start or stop attending meetings any time.
- Their main requirement is to request joiners to have the willingness to overcome their addiction.
- Members understand and agree that what is said in meetings and who they see there stays there.
- But therapy costs money and requires insurance, which not everyone has.
Alcohol Addiction or Alcohol Use Disorder
The 12 steps from AA can be applied to many problems in life, and that includes living with someone with an addiction. While AA and NA members start by admitting their powerlessness over substance abuse, Al-Anon and Alateen members reflect on being powerless over the effects of those substances. It’s a subtle difference but one that has helped many Al-Anon members find peace again after struggling with someone in their lives who’s addicted. Yes, many individuals attend both AA and NA meetings to address multiple aspects of their addiction or to find additional support. It’s important to find what works best for you and to feel comfortable exploring different options for recovery.
How effective are AA and NA in helping people recover from addiction?
Both AA and NA are effective in helping individuals achieve and maintain sobriety. However, the effectiveness may vary depending on factors such as individual commitment, the severity of addiction, and access to additional support services. AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) both follow a 12-step program, but they focus on different substances. AA primarily addresses alcohol addiction, while NA caters to those struggling with narcotics addiction.
Many in AA regarded drug addicts at meetings with disdain and many in NA were envious of AA’s resources but that’s no longer the case. Though the divide of alcoholic vs addict remains, AA and NA are now more open to different types of attendees and won’t shut the door to a drug addict at an AA meeting and vice versa. You’re more likely to see alcoholics in NA meetings compared to drug addicts in AA meetings but there are no official rules. White described current trends that will shape the future of AA and NA. In a recent article, White (2010) expands on the future of AA and NA.
What to Expect at NA Meetings
It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals. Both AA and NA are safe places — there is no judgment, only people with common problems gathering together to help each other find solutions. It doesn’t matter how long someone has been struggling from addiction, only that they are ready to take steps to become sober.
At White Light Behavioral Health, we treat alcoholism and substance abuse. Our treatment programs include dual-diagnosis treatment, inpatient rehab, intensive outpatient rehab, partial hospitalization, relapse prevention, and aftercare. We tailor treatment therapies and offer dialectical behavior therapy, family therapy, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and more. Narcotics Anonymous is a very similar group for those who struggle with any kind of drug addiction. Just like AA, NA meetings are held almost everywhere and anyone who wants to get clean or stay clean is welcome to attend. NA is also a nonprofit organization, meaning there are no fees or dues as their goal is not to make money, but to help people with addictions.
We admitted we were powerless over our addiction and that our lives had become unmanageable. NA and other support groups work best in combination with treatment. Your NA group might operate similarly in structure, but it will differ from meetings in other cities, states, and worldwide. Regardless of where it’s held, gaining new members is the most important part of each meeting. Upon your first visit to an NA meeting, you’ll receive a key tag. Over time, you’ll be given another after 30 days as a token of your hard work.
We’ll help make sure you stay healthy and safe during withdrawal, and keep you as comfortable as we can. Just keep in mind newcomers shouldn’t sponsor anyone until a recommended time period has elapsed in the program. People who have relapsed should also wait for about that long until they are ready to sponsor again. There is absolutely NO requirement that you believe in God or follow a particular spiritual tradition to belong to AA, NA, Al-Anon or any other 12-step group. If you are agnostic or atheist, you can find your own higher power. Most atheists simply believe it is the power of many people sharing a common problem and solution coming together that helps them.
If one AA meeting isn’t working, try attending a different meeting or group altogether. Because it’s so accessible, you likely won’t have problems finding other meetings. Patterson believes CBT can be a helpful tool when done in conjunction with a 12-step program or SMART Recovery, though plenty of people find CBT helpful on its own. AA uses a 12-step model that begins with a person admitting that they’re powerless over alcohol and that their lives had become unmanageable. Marlon stuck with AA and went on to work in drug and alcohol treatment and recovery.
It’s difficult to measure how effective NA and other 12-step programs are for its members. Although studies show its effectiveness on participants under 12-step programs, it’s not a complete guarantee. Because of this, Kinnon recognized how a 12-step program could help people with drug use problems. The primary purpose of NA is to build strong support groups and help members remain completely abstinent from drugs.
NA bases its 12 steps and 12 traditions on AA’s program and has a basic text known as Narcotics Anonymous. The two immediately clicked, crystal meth detox and withdrawal addiction rehab and recovery support sharing stories and discussing their problems. After the conversation, Dr. Bob would have one more beer then never drink again.
The higher power can be God, or any other spiritual entity or concept you believe in. It can be hard for people who are addicted to a substance to recognize their addiction. The first step is critical because it requires you to admit you have an addiction that needs to be treated. This can also make it easier for your friends and family members to accept and admit that you have a substance abuse problem.
Finding the right tools is essential to managing addiction; NA is just one of many tools to recover. Narcotics Anonymous offers both open and closed meetings. It’s important to how to find a faith-based rehab near you understand that the meetings aren’t meant to be group therapy sessions. The goal is to create a safe environment where people can connect and support each other’s recovery.
We are not anti-alcohol and we have no wish to reform the world. We are not allied with any group, cause or religious denomination. All “A” recovery groups — AA, NA, Al-Anon — are self supporting, apolitical and non-discriminatory. They do not accept endorsements how to help an alcoholic in denial from outside groups or monetary donations from interested parties. One of the other criticisms of 12-step groups is that the drop out is quite high – estimated at around 40% in the first year. Mainstream treatment in Australia has a dropout rate of around 34%.