Narcotics Anonymous:
A Vital Community Resource
Origin of our name –
Why “Narcotics?”
◆ Commonly used for all illegal
substances at the time of our inception
in 1953
◆ N.A. is not a drug-specific program but
has universal appeal to all who share
the disease of addiction
Historical Background
◆ Adapted from AA; regular NA meetings
started in Los Angeles, CA in 1953
◆ Explosive growth coincided with
publishing of the book Narcotics
Anonymous, in 1983
◆ As of April 2016, there are nearly
67,000 meetings in 139 countries
What is NA?
-A Vital Resource
◆ Therapeutic value of one addict helping
another — support network
◆ Process for change through the Twelve
Steps
◆ Adjunct to treatment professionals in
continuing care
The NA Meeting –
Primary vehicle for delivering the
NA message of recovery
◆ 2 or more NA members gathering constitute a meeting
◆ Meetings promote atmosphere of recovery from drug
dependence
◆ Members often share their personal experiences with
addiction and recovery
◆ Experienced older members support newer members
◆ NA meetings are self supporting by those who choose to
contribute (no fees)
◆ Guidelines of how to conduct an NA meeting are
available
The NA Meeting –
Primary vehicle for delivering the
NA message of recovery
NA meetings provide an
environment within which people
can help one another stop using
drugs and learn to live drug free
Dynamic Meeting Growth
70 000
60 000
50 000
40 000
30 000
20 000
10 000
0
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
Global
1993
1995
USA
1997
1999
2001
Non-USA
2003
2005
2006
2008
2010
Non-USA without Iran
2012
2014
2016
Cultural Adaptability of NA
◆ Long Term NA Communities: Indian sub
continent, Japan, Western Europe, Latin
America, Middle East
◆ Recent Growth: Asia-Pacific, Eastern
Europe and Africa
◆ Published NA literature in 47 languages
and meetings held in 80 languages.
2015 Membership Survey
◆ Carried out biennially since 1996
◆ 68% rated first NA meeting Important or Very Important
◆ Top three influences to attend first NA meeting:
1. Treatment / counseling agency
2. Another NA member
3. Family
◆ Members surveyed averaged 3.23 meetings per week
Gender
Female
41%
Male
59%
Age
35%
29%
30%
24%
25%
21%
20%
14%
15%
11%
10%
5%
1%
0%
<21
21-30
31-40
41-50
Age
51-60
>60
Employment Status
4%
4%
Full-Time
9%
Part-Time
Retired
11%
60%
12%
Unemployed
Homemaker
Student
Years Drug-Free
>20 Years
25%
<1 Year
8%
1 to 5 Years
27%
16 to 20 Years
10%
11 to 15 Years
12%
6 to 10 Years
18%
Areas of Improvement
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
92%
88%
81%
77%
75%
56%
Cooperating with
Professionals
◆ Welcoming your clients to meetings
◆ Presentations to professionals and clients
◆ Printed material, audio-visual, helplines,
websites
◆ Subscription to NA newsletters and literature
useful for client introduction to NA
◆ There is no charge or fee to attend NA
recovery meetings or for NA presentations
Benefits to…
The Client:
◆ Assists with transition back into the community
◆ Can support clients while in treatment and
correctional facilities
◆ Provides a peer-based support network
◆ Drug-free role model reinforcement
The Professional:
◆ Research indicates: improves retention
◆ Immediate access to aftercare support
NA Literature
Contacting NA
NA World Services
P.O. Box 9999
Van Nuys, CA 91409
Website: www.na.org
Phone: 818.773.9999
FAX: 818.700.0700