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What is NA?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a supportive fellowship designed for individuals struggling with drug addiction. It offers a free program with regular group meetings that provide encouragement, understanding, and assistance in overcoming addiction. NA meetings are held in cities across the United States, including many locations in Illinois, Cook County, and Berwyn, USA.
These meetings are open to anyone affected by addiction and focus on mutual support and recovery through shared experiences. The program is grounded in principles that foster healing and long-term sobriety through peer support and the practice of the 12 Steps.
Berwyn Community Center
6401 W 31st St, Berwyn, IL 60402
Meetings time: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 PM
The meetings here follow a traditional format where members share their stories and work through the 12 Steps together. Each session begins with a brief meditation followed by Reading NA literature, fostering a calm and supportive environment for newcomers and existing members.
Cook County Health Center
1950 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL 60612
Meetings time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6:30 PM
These meetings combine speaker meetings with open sharing sessions that encourage members to discuss challenges and solutions in a confidential setting. The atmosphere promotes peer sponsorship and includes time for newcomers to ask questions about the recovery process.
Illinois Addiction Recovery Center
1000 Ogden Ave, Naperville, IL 60540
Meetings time: Saturdays at 10:00 AM and Sundays at 5:00 PM
Meetings here feature a focus on educational workshops alongside the regular group sharing. Facilitators provide detailed guidance on the 12 Steps, and members often participate in role-playing and exercises to strengthen coping skills and relapse prevention techniques.
The 12 Steps of NA
- We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction—that our lives had become unmanageable.
Acknowledging the loss of control over drug use is the first step toward recovery, creating a foundation for change. - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Members recognize the need for external help, whether spiritual or a higher power, to regain balance in life. - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of that Power as we understood it.
Commitment to surrender control encourages acceptance and opens the path for healing and growth. - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Self-reflection helps to identify behaviors and patterns contributing to addiction. - Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Sharing truths helps to release guilt and shame, building trust and accountability. - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Readiness to change is essential for personal transformation and progress. - Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Seeking help demonstrates humility and willingness to accept support. - Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Acknowledging the impact of addiction on others initiates healing in relationships. - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Taking responsibility for past actions restores integrity and trust. - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Ongoing self-examination fosters growth and prevents relapse. - Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will and the power to carry that out.
Regular spiritual practice supports recovery and peace of mind. - Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Helping others and living by these principles sustains long-term sobriety.
Getting Started with NA in Illinois, Cook, Berwyn, USA
The best way to find local Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Illinois, Cook County, and Berwyn is by using the meeting search available on Methadone.org. This site provides up-to-date listings of both in-person and online/virtual meetings across the region, making it easier for newcomers to locate support in their area.
Most locations offer a variety of meeting formats, so individuals can choose what best suits their comfort level and needs, whether face-to-face support or remote engagement.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
When attending your first NA meeting in Illinois, Cook, or Berwyn, it is helpful to understand the difference between open and closed meetings:
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meeting | Anyone interested in recovery, including non-addicts, may attend. These sessions are educational and conversational to help newcomers understand the NA program. |
| Closed Meeting | Only people who have a desire to stop using drugs may attend and share. Closed meetings provide a confidential space for addicts to openly discuss their recovery. |
- Arrive 10-15 minutes early to introduce yourself as a new member.
- Share your experiences if and when you feel comfortable.
- Receive a welcome keychain tag at your first meeting, symbolizing the start of your recovery journey.
NA celebrates milestones with special keychain tags that recognize member progress in sobriety:
- 30 days: Recognition of one month clean and commitment to continue.
- 60 days: Marking two months of sustained recovery and evolving strength.
- 90 days: Celebrating three months of sobriety and growing resilience.
- 6 months: Half a year of continuous progress and developing new habits.
- 9 months: Nearing the milestone of one year clean, symbolizing dedication.
- 1 year: A significant achievement representing a year of recovery and transformation.