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What is NA?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a support group for individuals struggling with drug addiction, offering a community-based, peer-driven approach to recovery. It is available in cities across the United States, including New Jersey, Bergen County, and Elmwood Park.
NA programs are free to attend and provide regular group meetings that encourage mutual support and shared experience among members. In New Jersey, especially in Bergen and Elmwood Park, these meetings are held frequently to offer accessible help to those in need.
Address: First Reformed Church, 200 High St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Meeting Time: Mondays at 7:00 PM
Details: This meeting follows the traditional NA format with a focus on sharing personal recovery stories and working through the 12 Steps. It is an open meeting, welcoming newcomers and those seeking ongoing support, with a calm, respectful atmosphere encouraging honest dialogue.
Address: Cavalry United Methodist Church, 25 East Palisade Avenue, Englewood, NJ 07631
Meeting Time: Wednesdays at 6:30 PM
Details: This location hosts a literature study meeting where members engage with NA-approved texts to deepen understanding of recovery principles. The meeting invites participation through Reading and group discussion, promoting both educational and spiritual growth within the community.
Address: Elmwood Park Community Center, 182 Market St, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
Meeting Time: Fridays at 8:00 PM
Details: Here, the meetings emphasize fellowship and emotional support with a speaker sharing their journey of recovery followed by open sharing. The group fosters a warm environment where members can build connections and gain encouragement for sustained sobriety.
The 12 Steps of NA
- Admission: We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable. This step initiates acceptance and honesty about one’s condition.
- Hope: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. It opens the Door to hope and external help.
- Surrender: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. This step emphasizes surrendering control to a higher power for guidance.
- Self-Inventory: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. This encourages self-reflection and identification of personal flaws.
- Admission of Wrongs: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. This builds accountability and honesty in recovery.
- Readiness: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. This step cultivates willingness to change and grow.
- Humbly Asking: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. It involves seeking spiritual help to overcome personal limitations.
- List of Amends: Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. This fosters reconciliation and responsibility for past behavior.
- Making Amends: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. This promotes healing and restoration of relationships.
- Continued Inventory: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. Encourages ongoing self-awareness and correction.
- Prayer and Meditation: 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. This step deepens spiritual connection and direction.
- Spiritual Awakening: Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts and to practice these principles in all our affairs. This final step reflects the commitment to service and living the recovery program daily.
These steps serve to motivate members toward positive change throughout New Jersey, Bergen, and Elmwood Park, encouraging lifelong recovery and community involvement.
Getting Started with NA in New Jersey, Bergen, Elmwood Park, USA
Individuals seeking to join NA meetings locally can best find current and comprehensive schedules by searching Methadone.org. This website provides updated information about both in-person and virtual meetings across the region, ensuring accessibility regardless of location or circumstance.
Most areas in New Jersey, including Bergen and Elmwood Park, offer both face-to-face as well as online/virtual meetings, catering to diverse preferences and needs for anonymity or convenience.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
When attending an NA meeting for the first time in New Jersey, Bergen County, or Elmwood Park, it is helpful to understand the difference between open and closed meetings:
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meeting | Open to anyone interested in the NA program, including addicts, family members, and friends. These meetings encourage observation and learning about NA’s recovery principles. |
| Closed Meeting | Restricted to individuals who identify as addicts or those who have a desire to stop using drugs. This setting offers a confidential space for sharing and support. |
- Arrive early and introduce yourself as a new member to the group or meeting leader to receive guidance and support.
- Share your experiences when you feel comfortable; participation is encouraged but not mandatory.
- Receive welcome keychain tags at your first meeting to celebrate milestones and encourage continued recovery.
Keychain tag milestones typically include:
- 30 days: Celebrates one month of continuous recovery, recognizing the initial commitment to sobriety.
- 60 days: Marks two months of sustained abstinence and growing strength in the program.
- 1 year: A significant milestone signaling dedication and perseverance in recovery.
- Further milestones may include 18 months, 2 years, 3 years, and beyond, each marking ongoing commitment and success within the NA community.