August 2015 Narcotics Anonymous The GTA Newsletter Golden Triangle Area Narcotics Anonymous Helpline: 1-888-811-3887 Our Public Relations (PR) Committee along with other PR members from around the world partici- pated in a discussion regarding Narcotics Anonymous and Drug Replacement Programs (DRP) or Medical Replacement Therapies(MRT). As a committee we know this topic comes up for members and groups from time to time and we believe how we handle this topic could be life or death to an addict seeking recovery. We all come to NA seeking something. Most of us didn't even know, at that point, we would be offered a new way to live. We walked through the doors and took a seat. We each came with our own ideas of what we were looking for and what we wanted to achieve. Some of us had no idea what was going to happen next. We came still using drugs, detoxing from drugs, or on drug replacement therapy. Regardless of how we show up what we receive should still be the same - hope. The spiritual principles and traditions can help members/ groups welcome all who come to NA seeking recovery, ensuring we don't let any fears or judgements get in the way of our ability to carry the NA message or exclude anyone with a desire to hear the message. "Some NA members are confused or even intolerant of those on drug replacement due to what they see as a contradiction between drug replacement and the NA principle of complete abstinence. Some of us are fearful when those on drug replacement want to share or speak on behalf of NA. It may be helpful for all of us to remember that many addicts on drug replacement eventually do get clean, stay clean, and find a way of life they thought was unobtainable before coming to NA. This process does- n’t always occur when an addict attends his or her first meeting—getting and staying clean is often a decision that’s made after attending many meetings over a period of time " NA Groups and Medica- tion, Drug Replacement Along with the spiritual principals and traditions, our committee believes the Service Pamphlet "NA Groups and Medication" can be a resource to members and groups as it can serve as a starting place for such discussions. We recommend that members read this service pamphlet in its entirety. It should be noted this is not NA Fellowship Approved literature but it does show how we might apply the spiritual principals to combat fear members may have. As members we can ask ourselves: What does my group do to welcome new members? What can our group do to maintain a strong atmosphere of recovery? How do we foster unity? If we keep in mind "As long as the ties that bind us together are stronger than those that would tear us apart, all will be well"... then all will be well. Please feel free to email the Public Relations Committee at [email protected] if you have any questions. From our Public Information Subcommittee. Narcotics Anonymous and Drug Replacement Programs
Transcript
August 2015 Narcotics Anonymous The GTA Newsletter
Golden Triangle Area Narcotics Anonymous Helpline: 1-888-811-3887
Our Public Relations (PR) Committee along with other PR members from around the world partici-pated in a discussion regarding Narcotics Anonymous and Drug Replacement Programs (DRP) or Medical Replacement Therapies(MRT). As a committee we know this topic comes up for members and groups from time to time and we believe how we handle this topic could be life or death to an addict seeking recovery. We all come to NA seeking something. Most of us didn't even know, at that point, we would be offered a new way to live. We walked through the doors and took a seat. We each came with our own ideas of what we were looking for and what we wanted to achieve. Some of us had no idea what was going to happen next. We came still using drugs, detoxing from drugs, or on drug replacement therapy. Regardless of how we show up what we receive should still be the same - hope. The spiritual principles and traditions can help members/groups welcome all who come to NA seeking recovery, ensuring we don't let any fears or judgements get in the way of our ability to carry the NA message or exclude anyone with a desire to hear the message.
"Some NA members are confused or even intolerant of those on drug replacement due to what they see as a contradiction between drug replacement and the NA principle of complete abstinence. Some of us are fearful when those on drug replacement want to share or speak on behalf of NA. It may be helpful for all of us to remember that many addicts on drug replacement eventually do get clean, stay clean, and find a way of life they thought was unobtainable before coming to NA. This process does-n’t always occur when an addict attends his or her first meeting—getting and staying clean is often a decision that’s made after attending many meetings over a period of time " NA Groups and Medica-tion, Drug Replacement
Along with the spiritual principals and traditions, our committee believes the Service Pamphlet "NA Groups and Medication" can be a resource to members and groups as it can serve as a starting place for such discussions. We recommend that members read this service pamphlet in its entirety. It should be noted this is not NA Fellowship Approved literature but it does show how we might apply the spiritual principals to combat fear members may have.
As members we can ask ourselves: What does my group do to welcome new members? What can our group do to maintain a strong atmosphere of recovery? How do we foster unity? If we keep in mind "As long as the ties that bind us together are stronger than those that would tear us apart, all will be well"... then all will be well.
Please feel free to email the Public Relations Committee at [email protected] if you have any questions.
From our Public Information Subcommittee.
Narcotics Anonymous and Drug Replacement Programs
Note: N.A. is not affiliated with the places where we hold our meetings or events
The No Use News and NA as a whole, does not endorse or agree with any articles presented in this newsletter. The articles are considered per-
sonal opinions and interpretations of recovery. We invite you to submit an article, poem etc. to this newsletter. They need to be recovery ori-
ented, reflect experience, strength and/or hope. In submitting an article, you understand that we may edit the content to convey an NA mes-sage. All contributions become the property of the GTA Newsletter Sub committee, we reserve the right to edit, or not publish any submission.
Send your submissions to [email protected] 2 weeks before the area meeting.
