She has previously been awarded funding by Australian and state governments, NHMRC and other bodies for evaluation and research into alcohol and other drug prevention and treatment. She is a Fellow if the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy and was previously president. I arrived seeking peace from emotional trauma, gaining personal spiritual insight, redirection in feeling chronic pain, and tools for developing emotional connection with my wife and children. There’s a good chance there’s an AA or NA meeting happening near right you now. Even small towns tend to have at least one daily AA or NA meeting, but you must find them. You can use the AA Resource Guide or the NA Find-a-Meeting Guide to find a 12 step meeting near you.
What are the 12 Traditions of NA?
Attending 12-Step meetings, considering one’s self a member of a 12-Step fellowship, and working the steps at baseline were predictive of sustained abstinence over one year. Continuous 12-Step attendance (weekly or more frequent) over 3 years predicted sustained abstinence over three years. Across recovery stages, individuals were 4.1 to 8.6 times more likely to achieve sustained abstinence by continuous 12-Step meeting attendance and involvement.
It has been difficult to work out how effective AA and NA are because there has not been a lot of good quality research into them. Many of the results are published by the “fellowship”, as the 12-step movement refers to itself. From gourmet cuisine to our spacious, 10,000 square foot estate, Silver Ridge provides a tranquil and peaceful setting for recovery. I just want to thank my therapist for helping me to accept my anger, and learning how to deal with it. I truly believe that this is a life changing experience here at Silver Ridge, the best place I know to start your recovery. If these benefits speak to your needs and you feel like a community recovering from alcohol misuse will best help you, consider reaching out to an AA community in your area.
When it comes to deciding if AA and NA are right for you, approved literature called “Am I an Addict? This pamphlet asks individuals the following questions to help them determine if they feel like they need the support of a treatment program like AA or NA. It is likely the key ingredient in 12-step groups is the peer support, rather than the 12 steps themselves. We know from other types of peer support, and anecdotally from people in recovery, this type of support is helpful and highly valued. Those struggling with alcohol abuse tend to benefit more from attending AA meetings, while those seeking help for their narcotics use often feel better understood at an NA meeting.
- If you’re relatively new to the idea of getting treatment for your addiction to drugs and/or alcohol, you’ve probably wondered about whether you need AA vs NA.
- A series of analyses identified which specific elements of 12-Step involvement were responsible for positive outcomes and whether these elements varied by gender.
- Understanding the summary of differences between Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is vital for those embarking on a recovery journey.
- The setting in which recovery is pursued profoundly influences the healing process.
Treatment Options for Drug Addiction
Despite AA’s focus on alcohol and NA’s broader scope, the core principles remain universally applicable, emphasizing recovery as a shared, ongoing process. Choosing the right support group for your recovery journey is a personal and vital decision. It’s essential to assess your individual needs and preferences to find a fit that will best support your path to sobriety.
Should I Stop Drinking Alcohol Before the Normal Fasting Time for Surgery?
By providing a consistent and reliable support system, AA meetings offer hope and assistance to individuals seeking sobriety worldwide. The program’s adaptability allows it to meet the diverse needs of its global membership while maintaining the core principles that have made AA a lifeline for many. Through this expansive network, AA underscores the universal nature of alcoholism and the shared human capacity for recovery and redemption.
However, the nuances in their support structures cater to the specific needs of their memberships. Located in Boise, Idaho, Northpoint Recovery is proud to offer quality drug and alcohol detox as well as alcohol and drug rehab and mental health treatment programs in the Treasure Valley. As AA took off, there was a group of people who were struggling with addiction, but they lacked the type of support people received in AA. Because AA was designed to assist alcoholics, those who used recreational or prescription drugs weren’t included. Like AA, NA also utilizes the support group model of therapy because it has shown to be very effective in treating addictions of all kinds. Their focus is also on coming to terms with the pain they have caused themselves as well as others in their lives, healing broken relationships and working to help others overcome their addictions.
Measuring success regarding specific data is challenging because NA members are anonymous. This means an NA member might be sober during data collection, but relapse occurs weeks, months, or years later. Members can share their experiences during NA meetings for 5 minutes or so. You can find approved reading literature, meetings, and additional local resources here. There are other peer support programs now available like SMART Recovery and Hello Sunday Morning, as well as individual peer support workers. These may better suit those who are not aligned with the values and philosophy of AA.
NA’s principles extend into practical applications, with members encouraged to participate in meetings, engage in sponsorship, and perform service work, thereby enhancing their recovery journey. This structured yet flexible framework helps members navigate the complexities of sobriety, emphasizing growth, resilience, and the continuous pursuit of a drug-free life. The origins of NA highlight a crucial point in history where the need for a distinct group focusing on drug addiction became apparent.
The first step is critical because it requires you to admit you have an addiction that needs to be treated. This whats an enabler can also make it easier for your friends and family members to accept and admit that you have a substance abuse problem. Studies show that NAs have been effective at helping people maintain sobriety. It’s best to work with an addiction specialist to receive the proper combination of treatments for your condition. Like all treatment programs, NA works for some and is not enough for others. Finding the right tools is essential to managing addiction; NA is just one of many tools to recover.