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What is NA?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a nonprofit support fellowship for individuals struggling with drug addiction, available in cities across the United States, including Massachusetts, Essex, and Salem. It is a community of recovering addicts who meet regularly to help one another stay clean through total abstinence from all drugs. The only requirement for membership is the sincere desire to stop using, making NA a welcoming and accessible program for anyone seeking recovery.
NA is a free program offering regular group meetings where members share their experiences, strength, and hope to empower each other on the path of recovery. These meetings take place both in-person and online, providing flexible options for participants across Massachusetts, Essex, and Salem.
Address: Salem Community Center, 401 Bridge Street, Salem, MA 01970
Meeting Time: Mondays and Thursdays, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Meeting Details: This is a traditional in-person NA meeting held in a welcoming community center environment. The format encourages open sharing and active participation, focusing on the 12-step principles through group discussions and literature readings.
Address: Essex Town Hall, 30 Martin Street, Essex, MA 01929
Meeting Time: Wednesdays, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Meeting Details: This weekly meeting combines speaker sessions with smaller breakout groups to foster personal connections. Participants support one another in navigating challenges related to addiction and maintaining sobriety in their daily lives.
Address: Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114 (serving Greater Essex County area)
Meeting Time: Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Meeting Details: Held within a hospital setting to integrate recovery support with medical and mental health care. This meeting focuses on strengthening members’ commitment to recovery with educational discussions on addiction and relapse prevention techniques.
The 12 Steps of NA
- We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction — that our lives had become unmanageable. This step involves acknowledging the severity of addiction and the inability to control it alone, which is the foundation for recovery.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Members open themselves to the hope and possibility of healing through a higher power, helping to inspire faith in the recovery process.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. This step encourages surrender to the recovery journey and trust in spiritual guidance, whatever form that may take for each individual.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Personal reflection and honesty are vital here, as members identify their behaviors and patterns that have contributed to addiction.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Confession builds accountability and helps reduce shame by openly sharing struggles with others.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. This step prepares members mentally and spiritually to let go of harmful traits and behaviors.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Seeking help through prayer or meditation reinforces humility and the willingness to change.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. Members recognize the impact of their addiction on others and commit to repairing relationships.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. This step involves taking responsibility and actively making restitution in a thoughtful way.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. Ongoing self-assessment fosters continuous growth and honesty.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. This step deepens spiritual connection and strengthens resolve.
- 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. Members commit to helping others recover and living the NA principles in daily life, promoting community and sustained sobriety.
These steps aim to guide members toward positive life changes and sustained recovery across Massachusetts, Essex, and Salem, reinforcing the principles of honesty, accountability, and spiritual growth.
Getting Started with NA in Massachusetts, Essex, Salem, USA
The best way to find local NA meetings in Massachusetts, Essex, and Salem is to use the official meeting finder at Methadone.org. This resource provides up-to-date listings of both in-person and online NA meetings available throughout the region, allowing individuals to find the most convenient and suitable meetings for their needs.
Most locations offer both face-to-face gatherings and virtual meetings to accommodate different comfort levels and accessibility requirements, ensuring that support is always within reach.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
When attending your first Narcotics Anonymous meeting in Massachusetts, Essex, or Salem, it is useful to understand the distinction between open and closed meetings:
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meetings | Open to anyone interested, including addicts, family members, and friends. These meetings often include presentations or discussions appropriate for all attendees. |
| Closed Meetings | Restricted to individuals who have a desire to stop using drugs. This environment encourages confidentiality and focused peer support among recovering addicts. |
- Arrive early to introduce yourself as a new local member to the group facilitator or trusted member.
- If comfortable, share your experience with addiction and recovery during the meeting.
- At your first meeting, you may receive a welcome keychain tag celebrating your commitment to recovery.
Common keychain tag milestones include:
- 30 days: Celebrates the first month of sobriety, symbolizing the initial commitment to change.
- 60 days: Marks continued dedication to recovery and the development of new coping skills.
- 1 year: Recognizes a full year of sustained abstinence, a significant achievement in long-term recovery.
- Additional milestones may follow as members continue their journey to lasting sobriety.