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Narcotics Anonymous: A Journey to Recovery
Stephanie George
School of Behavioral Sciences-Liberty University
PSYC 306: Advanced Theory and Treatment of Substance Abuse
Professor Christopher Lucas
December 9, 2023
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Narcotics Anonymous: A Journey to Recovery
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a spiritually guided 12-step treatment option for
individuals suffering from substance abuse disorder (SUD’s) and alcoholism. The history of the
12-step programs is lucrative and enlightening. The effectiveness of the 12-step program will
also be analyzed. Relapse rates will be analyzed for individuals who participate in a 12-step
program. The unity of the NA members is essential to success in the program and the journey to
personal recovery. The quality of life for NA members also plays a massive factor in the success
or failure of the recovery. Although the 12-step programs have proven to produce high success
rates in the treatment of addiction and substance use disorders, the programs are not perfect. The
issues related to these programs must be highlighted for an individual to make the most educated
decision in choosing a treatment option. The treatment model and the types of meetings, such as
closed or open meetings, will also be discussed. Lastly, I will discuss my experiences and
perceptions of the NA program and meetings. The different meeting formats allow for an inviting
and welcoming environment for individuals beginning their recovery journey.
The History of Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous was created from the success and outlines formed by Alcoholics
Anonymous. A globally recognized organization serving hundreds of dialects and cultures is
based on a 12-step spiritual addiction treatment model. Narcotics Anonymous was founded in
1953, and weekly meetings occur in 143 countries (Narcotics Anonymous World Services Inc.,
2019). NA describes itself as a “non-profit fellowship or society of men and women for whom
drugs had become a major problem” (Narcotics Anonymous World Services Inc., 2019). James
“Jimmy K” Kinnon is known to be the founder of the NA fellowship (Narcotics Anonymous
World Services Inc., 2019). Jimmy K founded NA 20 years after the development of Alcoholics
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Anonymous (Narcotics Anonymous World Services Inc., 2019). Membership growth was
minimal until the publication of “Basic Text” in 1983, after which membership grew drastically
(Narcotics Anonymous World Services Inc., 2019). The history of NA is best understood during
the decade of the 1950s, when “good” and “bad” drugs were identified (Lewis, 2017). Due to the
opiate epidemic formed after WWII and harsh new anti-drug laws, gathering of recovering
people with a substance use disorder for support were subject to police surveillance; it was from
these inhumane conditions that NA was created (Lewis, 2017). Growth of NA also increased
abroad with three countries in 1972, over 12 in 1983, 60 in 1993, 127 in 2007, 131 in 2010. In
May 2016, 67,000 meetings were held in 139 countries (Lewis, 2017). The growth of NA in the
United States and around the world may be contributed to Jimmy K’s encouraging people with a
substance use disorder to hold meetings in their communities, to hosting the 1978 8th World
Convention in Houston, Texas, to the development of the addiction treatment centers, and the
publishing of NA’s Basic Text with 7.3 million copies distributed in 18 different languages
(Lewis, 2017).
Peer-Reviewed Literature
Available studies on recovery have often focused on peer-delivered or 12-step programs,
indicating that these programs facilitate recovery processes by providing specific mechanisms of
change such as cognitive, social, affective, and spiritual elements (Dekkers & Vanderplasschen,
2020). One of the critical components of the NA program is connectedness. Connectedness was
analyzed on a scale including elements of non-judgmental approaches and mutual understanding
through sharing individual stories within the NA meetings (Dekkers & Vanderplasschen, 2020).
Furthermore, opportunities for building a social network and providing a safety net or
soundboard were also named vital elements of the NA program (Dekkers & Vanderplasschen,
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2020). When it comes to recovering people with an addiction, relapse is a harsh reality one must
face. However, the rate of relapse diminishes dramatically when an individual is participating in
a program such as NA.
Mohseni et al. (2022) analyze the probability of lapse (slip) or relapse with individuals
participating in the NA program or methadone maintenance programs (MMT). The results
showed that individuals participating in MMT had a higher risk for lapses or slips (Mohseni et
al., 2022). In contrast, individuals participating in the NA program were at a higher risk for full
relapse (Mohseni et al., 2022). The results produced by this study proved that the type of drug
being abused plays a crucial part in the rate of relapse experienced by the participants; There was
a higher risk of relapse for the participants who consumed opium, opium sap, heroin, and crystal
in comparison to the patients who abused other drugs (Mohseni et al., 2022).
In a study analyzed by Krentzman et al. (2011), the predictability of remaining abstinent
from drugs for up to one year was significantly higher in individuals who considered themselves
members of a 12-step program and regularly attended their meetings. Continuous 12-step
attendance over three years predicted sustained abstinence for three years (Krentzman et al.,
2011). As positive as these findings are, there are specific elements of involvement in these 12-
step programs that heighten the predictability of abstinence. Krentzman et al. (2011) found these
elements to include acquiring a sponsor, participating and getting into service within the
program, reading recovery literature, and contacting other NA members outside of meetings.
However, these elements produced a higher success rate in women than men (Krentzman et al.,
2011). For men only becoming another addict's sponsor showed higher predictability of drug
abstinence for three years (Krentzman et al., 2011). For both men and women, the study proved
equal in three years or more of abstinence if they participated in getting into service and acquired
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a home group (Krentzman et al., 2011). A study by Laudet rated the effectiveness of NA
programs among individuals in an outpatient therapy setting. Her results were as follows. On the
importance of a 12-step program for recovery, it was rated 8.7 out of 10 (Krentzman et al., 2011).
The helpfulness of a 12-step program was rated 8.02 out of 10 (Krentzman et al., 2011). These
individuals stated that their top two reasons for becoming members of a 12-step program were to
promote recovery and to find support, acceptance, and friendship (Krentzman et al., 2011).
12-step Treatment Model
When an individual suffers from SUD, they must be able to recognize that their addiction
is chronic, progressive, incurable, and potentially fatal and that relapse is always a possibility
(Inaba & Cohen, 2014, p. 9.20). The idea of self-help recovery groups is a 200-year idea that
began in the United States (Inaba & Cohen, 2014, p. 9.27). Recovering addicts would remain
abstinent through discussion, social activities, and prayer (Inaba & Cohen, 2014, p. 9.27). When
you join a 12-step program each group or meeting is independent, relying on each other’s
knowledge and experiences to remain drug-free (Inaba & Cohen, 2014, p.9.27). All memberships
are free and run their meetings of minimal voluntary donations, the only requirement for
membership is a desire to stop drinking or drugging (Inaba & Cohen, 2014, p. 9.28). Inaba and
Cohen ( 2014), explains the 12 -step group process as helping each individual at their own level
of recovery, breaking the isolation, guilt and pain one experiences during early recovery and
shows them that they are not suffering through this alone. HOW is an acronym commonly used
with 12-step programs. HOW means honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness, all three of
which are vital elements one must possess if one wants to be successful in their program and
recovery (Inaba & Cohen, 2014, p. 9.28). Personal Spiritual change and individual problem-
solving are the basic concepts related to the treatment model of the 12-step programs (Inaba &
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Cohen, 2014, p. 9.28). There seems to be a 12-step self-help group for all addictive substances
and activities. Some of these groups include Overeaters Anonymous (OA), Gamblers
Anonymous (GA), Heroin Anonymous (HA), Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and Sexaholics
Anonymous (SA) (Inaba & Cohen, 2014, p.9.28). There are also 12-step support groups for
individuals who have loved ones and family members suffering from addiction and are looking
for their support, the leading group most well-known is Al-Anon, this group focuses on family
members of alcoholics (Inaba & Cohen, 2014, p. 9.28). Lastly, to wrap up the treatment model of
NA or any other 12-step group, one must be aware, acknowledge, and understand the 12 steps as
a whole. These 12 steps are interchangeable between each group but retain the same concepts
and ideas. The 12 steps are: 1. Admit you are powerless over (alcohol, drugs, etc.) and your life
has become unmanageable, 2. Believe that a power greater than yourself could restore your
sanity, 3. Decide to turn your will and life over to God as you understand him, 4. Made a fearless
moral inventory of yourself, 5. Admit that you are wrong to God, yourself, and another human
being. 6. You are ready to have God remove your character defects; 7. Humbly as God to remove
your shortcomings, 8. List all the people you have harmed and are ready to make amends to
them; 9. Made direct amends except when harm or injury could occur; 10. We continued to take
a personal inventory and promptly admitted any wrongs we committed. 11. Use prayer and
meditation to stay in constant contact with God as you understand him, and 12. Had a spiritual
awakening as a result of these steps (Inaba & Cohen, 2014, p. 9.28-29).
Personal Observations
I was nervous and unsure what to expect when entering my first NA meeting. What I
witnessed was nothing short of enlightening and heartwarming. Upon arrival, I saw a group of
men and women congregating outside the church doors, smoking cigarettes and laughing as if at
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a party or a gathering. I was greeted with warmth and happiness when I walked up to the church
doors. Everyone greeted me and introduced themselves, asking if this was my first meeting and
not to be nervous. They seemed excited to have me there when I informed them that I was a
student just there to observe the meeting format. One individual began to explain to me that they
held an “open” meeting, meaning that anyone from off the street could walk in and attend the
meeting. I was also informed of a “closed” meeting format, which meant that only the
individuals who were NA members could attend that type of meeting. When the church doors
opened, everyone walked in and was greeted by a greeter, who welcomed and hugged everyone.
I thought this was such a calming and heartfelt way to greet everyone. When the meeting began,
the chairperson, or the person running the meeting, introduced himself and began to call out
pieces of literature to be read by another participant. There was then a part of the meeting where
“clean time” was acknowledged, and little coins were given to the individuals celebrating a
specific amount of clean time. If there were anyone who would receive a coin, they would stand
up and walk to the front of the room, introduce themselves, be handed their coin, and receive a
hug. After the readings were completed, for my first meeting, there was a speaker, an individual
who was there voluntarily to share their story and experiences through their active addiction and
recovery journey with the group. When listening to this story, I was heartbroken by the torture,
despair, and pain this individual experienced. The attention to the speaker from the group was
undeniable. After the speaker was finished, they “opened the floor” to anyone in the group who
wanted to “share” their thoughts on what the speaker said or about anything they may need to get
off their chest. After listening to the first few shares, I realized how similar but different the
group members' experiences were, how all came from such a deep, dark place and
astronomically changed their lives. The hour seemed to fly by, and before I knew it, they were
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closing the meeting. This part of the meeting was the most influential. Everyone in the meeting
stood up and formed a circle while holding hands. At this point, they all began to recite a
“serenity " prayer. They all recited this prayer with such hope that you could feel the oneness of
the group. My second and third meetings were generally the same, except there was no speaker
this time. I was what they called an “open discussion” meeting. This time, everyone in the
meeting had the opportunity to share about what was going on in their lives or anything they felt
needed to be said out loud. To my surprise, not many people shared about drug-related topics.
They shared about their jobs, family, weekend plans, parties or gatherings, or anything they just
wanted to express to the group. No matter the topic, no one interrupted, and no one gave any
feedback or comments. After the person was finished, they all said, “Thanks for sharing,” and
moved on to the next person. I was expecting to hear horror stories of drug use or war stories
about active addiction, but I did not hear any of that. I was astonished at the closing of the
meeting when I approached another group member and asked why there was so little drug talk,
and I was informed that they focus on recovery, on the good in someone’s life, not on the past.
Attending these meetings was such a fulfilling experience, one that I am truly humbled and
honored to have been able to complete.
Conclusion
Narcotics Anonymous is a 12-step spiritual program utilized to assist individuals who are
suffering from substance use disorder. NA was created as a sister program to AA and has proven
to provide the means necessary to help people with an addiction obtain recovery and remain
abstinent. Although relapse is imminent, the NA program continues to leave its doors open to any
newcomers, whether it be their first time or their tenth time walking into a meeting, as long as a
person is honest, open-minded, and willing to entirely give themselves to the NA program and
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the 12 steps they are already giving themselves such a compelling start to a new lifestyle. There
is a program available for anyone suffering from addiction of any sort. 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No
temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. Moreover, God is faithful; he
will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. However, when you are tempted, he will
also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (The Holy Bible, 1985). Addiction does not
need to define who a person is. Finding the support offered through these programs and opening
oneself to God to allow him to remove character defects and shortcomings is what these
programs require to begin the journey to recovery.
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References
Dekkers, A., Vos, S., and Vanderplasschen, W. (2020). “Personal recovery depends on NA unity”:
an exploratory study on recovery-supportive elements in Narcotics Anonymous Flanders.
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 15(1).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-020-00296-0
Inaba, D., and Cohen, W. E. (2014). Uppers, downers, all arounders: physical and mental effects
of psychoactive drugs (8th ed.). Cns Publications, Inc.
Krentzman, A. R., Robinson, E. A. R., Moore, B. C., Kelly, J. F., Laudet, A. B., White, W. L.,
Zemore, S. E., Kurtz, E., and Strobbe, S. (2011). How Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Work: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives. Alcoholism
Treatment Quarterly, 29(1), 75–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/07347324.2011.538318
Lewis CE (2017). The History of Narcotics Anonymous. J Addict Med Ther 5(2): 1036.
Mohseni, F., Rahimi, K., Niroumand Sarvandani, M., Jamali, Z., Seyedhosseini Tamijani, S. M.,
and Rafaiee, R. (2021). Lapse and Relapse Rates in Narcotics Anonymous versus
Methadone Maintenance Treatment: a 12-Month Prospective Study. Iranian Journal of
Psychiatry, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v17i1.8044
NA. (2019). Na.org. http://www.na.org
William, A. (1985). The Holy Bible. Oxford Univ. Press.
