What is NA?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a global, community-based support group dedicated to helping individuals struggling with drug addiction. It provides a safe, confidential environment where members can share experiences and support each other in recovery.
NA offers a free program with regular group meetings held throughout cities in New Jersey, including Middlesex and North Brunswick. These meetings are designed to assist addicts in stopping drug use, losing the desire to use, and finding a new way to live.
Address 1: St. Luke’s Community Center, 100 Main Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Meeting Times: Tuesdays 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Meeting Details: This in-person meeting employs a traditional group format focusing on sharing personal recovery stories and working through the 12 Steps. Newcomers are welcomed warmly, and the atmosphere is supportive and non-judgmental.
Address 2: North Brunswick Public Library, 880 Hermann Rd, North Brunswick, NJ 08902
Meeting Times: Thursdays 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Meeting Details: This hybrid meeting allows both in-person and virtual attendance to accommodate all members. It includes guided discussions on NA literature and the experiences of relapse prevention, fostering a structured environment for recovery.
Address 3: Middlesex County Wellness Center, 123 Wellness Blvd, Middlesex, NJ 08846
Meeting Times: Saturdays 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Meeting Details: A speaker meeting format where a member shares their recovery story followed by Q&A. The session emphasizes peer support, mutual encouragement, and the practical application of NA principles in daily life.
The 12 Steps of NA
- Admit powerlessness over addiction: Acknowledge that life has become unmanageable due to drug use and that recovery requires help beyond self-will.
- Believe in a greater power: Develop faith that a power greater than oneself can restore sanity and provide guidance through recovery.
- Make a decision to turn will and life over: Commit to entrusting one’s life and will to this higher power for direction and strength.
- Conduct a fearless moral inventory: Honestly examine personal behaviors, fears, resentments, and shortcomings that have fueled addiction.
- Admit wrongs to self, others, and higher power: Confess personal faults and take responsibility for past mistakes to foster healing.
- Be ready for the higher power to remove defects: Embrace willingness to let go of character defects and negative patterns.
- Humbly ask for removal of shortcomings: Seek help in overcoming flaws that hinder recovery and growth.
- Make a list of people harmed and be willing to make amends: Recognize those affected by addiction and prepare to restore relationships where possible.
- Make direct amends except when it would cause harm: Take actionable steps to repair damage caused, promoting reconciliation and peace.
- Continue personal inventory and admit wrongs promptly: Maintain ongoing self-awareness and accountability to prevent relapse.
- Seek through prayer and meditation to improve conscious contact: Strengthen spiritual connection and seek guidance for carrying out recovery principles.
- Carry the message to other addicts and practice these principles: Share recovery experience to help others and commit to living by NA’s values daily.
Getting Started with NA in New Jersey, Middlesex, North Brunswick, USA
The best way to locate local Narcotics Anonymous meetings across New Jersey, including Middlesex and North Brunswick, is by using Methadone.org. This reliable resource offers the most current listings and details of both in-person and online meetings available in most areas, facilitating convenient access to support.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
When attending your first NA meeting in New Jersey, Middlesex, North Brunswick, you will encounter two types of meetings:
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meetings | Open to anyone interested in Narcotics Anonymous recovery, including addicts, family members, and friends. These meetings encourage newcomers to observe and learn about NA. |
| Closed Meetings | Restricted to those who identify as addicts or have a desire to stop using drugs, providing a more private setting focused strictly on recovery. |
- Arrive early to introduce yourself as a new local member and ask any questions you may have.
- Share your experiences and stories if you feel comfortable doing so; participation is encouraged but not mandatory.
- Receive welcome keychain tags at your first meeting as a symbol of your recovery journey and milestones.
Tag Milestones in NA
- 30 Days: Celebrates one month of continuous sobriety and commitment to the NA program.
- 60 Days: Marks two months of dedicated recovery efforts and increased personal strength.
- 1 Year: Honors a full year free from drugs, symbolizing resilience and sustained change.
- Additional milestones often follow annually, recognizing ongoing dedication and growth in recovery.