The first Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting took place near Los Angeles, California, in 1953, with support from the Alcoholics Anonymous movement. NA meetings follow a format similar to that of AA meetings and rely on 12-step principles. While AA is designed specifically for people with alcoholism, NA deals with all types of addictive psychoactive drugs, alcohol included.
The only requirement for a person to become a member of NA is the desire to overcome substance use disorder. NA groups don’t make a distinction between any type of drug, including alcohol. They also recognize that polysubstance dependence is common for the majority of people struggling with addiction.
Tarzana Narcotics Anonymous Meetings
Any addict who wants to recover is welcome to attend a Tarzana NA meeting. If you find that NA meetings are not providing sufficient support, an inpatient or California detox program can give you your best chance at recovery. Contact Avedis Recovery today by calling 833.514.0579 to start the healing process. Your new life is closer than you think.
I Want to Go to an NA Meeting, But I’m Nervous
You can rest assured that most NA meetings will provide a caring, welcoming, friendly, non-judgmental atmosphere. Whether you feel like talking or listening, you will be welcome. Our inpatient and outpatient treatment options at Avedis are also based on 12-step principles used in Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. A large part of treatment involves providing exposure to concepts you will encounter in outpatient treatment. In recovery, language matters.
Gaining the language of recovery is an important part of recovering from substance use disorder. By the time you leave Avedis, you will have a solid foundation in 12-step recovery. This means that for the rest of your life you will have access to free recovery support groups that are connected with your treatment at Avedis.
Types of NA Meetings
NA groups are usually either discussion- or speaker-based meetings. They tend to last a little over an hour, depending on who is speaking. During discussion-based meetings, members share their personal accounts of substance use disorder and recovery as they relate to their lives. In speaker meetings, one or more members are asked to share for most of the meeting. You are likely to encounter some unfamiliar terms at your first Narcotics Meeting.
Terminology for Your First Tarzana Narcotics Anonymous Meeting
The following is a brief glossary of terms used in NA meetings, as listed in the Narcotics Anonymous official “Intro to NA” material.
Addict: This is the term we use to refer to ourselves. It takes some getting used to, but acknowledging the condition is essential in recovery. We see substance use disorder itself as the problem, rather than the use of a specific drug.
- Big Book: The book that contains our core ideas, titled NA
- Group: Group members who hold scheduled Narcotics Anonymous meetings
- Higher Power: Any loving, peaceful force that helps a member stay clean and seek recovery
- Newcomers: New people at a meeting
- Relapse: When a lapse in a person’s recovery results in a brief or extended return to drug use
- Sharing: Offering personal experiences with substance use disorder and recovery
- Sponsor: Experienced member who offers support and guidance using the 12 steps
- Trusted Servants: Members who hold designated service positions in Narcotics Anonymous
Addiction Recovery in Los Angeles County
Our goal at Avedis Recovery and Detox is to prepare people for independence. Being independent in recovery means using the resources available to you. Getting used to attending NA meetings is a truly excellent way to prepare for a lifetime of recovery. When you are ready to address the substance use and mental health issues holding you back, we will be ready. Contact us at 833.514.0579, or contact us online to start a new chapter of your exciting life.
