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What is NA?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a global, community-based support group designed to help individuals struggling with drug addiction achieve and maintain sobriety. It operates through a free program that offers regular group meetings, encouraging mutual support and recovery. NA meetings are widely available across the United States, including key locations in Rhode Island and the city of Bristol, providing accessible help to those in need.
The program is rooted in anonymity and fellowship, offering a safe environment where members can share their experiences, strength, and hope with others who understand the challenges of addiction.
Saint Michael’s Parish Hall, Bristol, RI
Address: 378 Hope St, Bristol, RI 02809
Meeting Time: Mondays, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM
Meeting Details: This in-person meeting is a discussion-based format where members openly talk about their recovery journeys, challenges, and progress. Meetings are conducted in English and are open to anyone interested in the program, including non-addicts who wish to observe and learn more.
Faith United Methodist Church, Bristol, RI
Address: 300 High St, Bristol, RI 02809
Meeting Time: Wednesdays, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM
Meeting Details: This meeting uses a step-study format, focusing on the detailed discussion of NA’s Twelve Steps. Each session helps members reflect on their experiences in relation to each step, fostering deeper understanding and personal growth. It is an in-person session, open to all members seeking recovery.
Hope Community Center, Bristol, RI
Address: 50 High St, Bristol, RI 02809
Meeting Time: Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Meeting Details: This is an in-person, speaker meeting where a designated member or guest shares their personal story of addiction and recovery. The aim is to inspire and motivate attendees through authentic sharing of struggles and successes. The meeting welcomes members at all stages of their recovery journey.
The 12 Steps of NA
- Admitted powerlessness: We recognized that our addiction had made our lives unmanageable. Accepting this is the first step toward healing and surrendering control.
- Belief in a greater power: Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. This step emphasizes hope and the possibility of recovery beyond self-will.
- Decision to turn over will and lives: Made a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of this higher power as we understood it. This fosters trust and a sense of spiritual connection.
- Inventory of character defects: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. This honest self-examination identifies our shortcomings affecting recovery.
- Admitted wrongs: Admitted to the higher power, ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. This openness relieves guilt and shame.
- Ready for change: Were entirely ready to have the higher power remove all these defects of character. This readiness opens the Door to transformation.
- Asking for removal of shortcomings: Humbly asked the higher power to remove our shortcomings. This step encourages humility and acceptance.
- Made a list of harms done: Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. This confronts the impact of addiction on others.
- Made amends: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when doing so would injure them or others. This promotes healing of relationships and personal responsibility.
- Continued personal inventory: Continued to take personal inventory and promptly admitted when we were wrong. This maintains accountability and growth.
- Sought spiritual connection: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with the higher power, praying for knowledge of its will and power to carry it out. This nurtures ongoing spiritual development.
- Helping others: Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts and practice these principles in all our affairs. This step encourages service and community involvement as part of recovery.
These steps aim to motivate NA members across Rhode Island and Bristol toward positive, lasting change by providing a spiritual framework and practical guidance for recovery.
Getting Started with NA in Rhode Island, Bristol, Bristol, USA
The best way to find local Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Rhode Island, Bristol, and nearby areas is by visiting Methadone.org. This website provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date listing of meetings, ensuring that newcomers can easily locate both in-person and online/virtual sessions available in their vicinity.
Most locations in the region offer a variety of meeting formats to accommodate different needs, including discussion, speaker, and step-study meetings. Virtual meetings are increasingly common, providing flexible accessibility for those unable to attend in person.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
There are two primary types of NA meetings in Rhode Island and Bristol:
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meetings | Open to anyone interested in Narcotics Anonymous, including addicts, family members, and observers. These meetings provide an introduction to the program in a welcoming environment. |
| Closed Meetings | Restricted to individuals who identify as recovering addicts or those who have a desire to stop using drugs. These sessions offer a confidential and safe space for sharing personal experiences. |
When attending your first meeting, it is recommended to arrive early to introduce yourself as a new member. Participation in sharing is encouraged but voluntary—you may choose to listen initially to gain comfort and understanding.
New members often receive welcome keychain tags that mark their recovery milestones, which serve both as encouragement and recognition of progress.
- 30 days: Celebrates the first month of sobriety, symbolizing an important initial achievement.
- 60 days: Marks sustained commitment and growth in recovery after two months.
- 1 year: Represents a significant long-term accomplishment and dedication to staying clean.
- Beyond 1 year: Additional tags are awarded at various intervals, encouraging continuous perseverance.