What is NA?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a support group dedicated to individuals struggling with drug addiction. It provides a welcoming and supportive community for people seeking recovery from substance use disorders. NA operates across cities in the United States, including New Jersey, Burlington, and Willingboro, offering free programs to help members maintain sobriety and improve their lives.
The program involves regularly scheduled group meetings where members can share their experiences, strength, and hope. These meetings are designed to foster a sense of belonging and accountability among participants, encouraging lasting recovery.
Address 1: Burlington County Area of Narcotics Anonymous
Location: Various meeting locations within Burlington County, New Jersey
Meeting Times & Methods:
- Multiple weekly meetings: There are currently 11 groups offering a total of 16 meetings each week across Burlington County. Meetings often occur in community centers, church halls, or other public spaces.
- Meeting format: Meetings typically start with a Reading of NA literature, followed by members sharing personal recovery stories. Some meetings use a speaker format where one or more members share their experience with addiction and recovery in detail.
Address 2: Willingboro NA Meetings
Location: Various locations throughout Willingboro, New Jersey
Meeting Times & Methods:
- Regular weekly sessions: Willingboro hosts several NA meetings each week, with specific times varying by location. Meetings serve local members seeking a convenient, accessible support network.
- Meeting environment: Groups provide a confidential setting where members can speak openly about their struggles and successes. Meetings may be open to the public or closed to only those who identify as addicts.
Address 3: Narcotics Anonymous of New Jersey (Statewide)
Location: Multiple venues throughout New Jersey, including Burlington and Willingboro
Meeting Times & Methods:
- Comprehensive statewide listings: NA of New Jersey provides numerous meetings daily throughout the state, including virtual options available to residents anywhere in New Jersey.
- Meeting styles: Options include open meetings, closed meetings, speaker meetings, and discussion groups. Virtual meetings are hosted via phone or online platforms, offering flexibility for those unable to attend in person.
The 12 Steps of NA
- We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction—that our lives had become unmanageable. This step encourages acknowledging the severity of addiction and the need for help.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Members develop faith that recovery is possible through a higher power or collective strength.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of this Power as we understood it. This step involves trusting in guidance beyond personal control.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Members examine past behaviors and patterns honestly to identify issues that contribute to addiction.
- Admitted to the higher power, ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Sharing faults openly helps reduce shame and builds accountability.
- Were entirely ready to have the higher power remove all these defects of character. This step reflects a willingness to change internal flaws.
- Humbly asked the higher power to remove our shortcomings. Members seek spiritual and personal growth through humility.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. This involves recognizing the impact of addiction on others.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Repairing relationships is key to rebuilding trust.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. This step promotes ongoing self-awareness and responsibility.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with the higher power, praying only for knowledge of its will and the power to carry that out. Practices of prayer and meditation support sustained recovery.
- 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 and living by NA principles daily.
Getting Started with NA in New Jersey, Burlington, Willingboro, USA
Individuals seeking support can find local NA meetings by searching on Methadone.org, which offers the best up-to-date listing of meetings in their area. Both in-person and online or virtual meetings are widely available across New Jersey, Burlington, and Willingboro.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
When attending your first meeting in New Jersey, Burlington, or Willingboro, it is recommended to arrive early and introduce yourself as a new local member. Sharing your experiences is encouraged but optional, depending on your comfort level.
Meetings are categorized as either open or closed, each serving a specific purpose for participants.
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meeting | Open to anyone interested in the NA program, including family members and friends. These meetings welcome all attendees to listen and observe. |
| Closed Meeting | Restricted to individuals who identify themselves as recovering addicts. These meetings provide a confidential space specifically for members of NA. |
At your first meeting, you may receive welcome keychain tags that mark your recovery milestones and encourage continued commitment.
- 30 days: Recognizes one month of continuous sobriety, symbolizing a crucial initial achievement.
- 60 days: Marks two months clean, reinforcing perseverance and growing strength.
- 1 year: Celebrates a significant milestone highlighting the stability and growth achieved through recovery.
- Further tags may mark longer periods of sobriety, providing ongoing motivation.