However, there are some differences between these two groups too, and they include more than just the addict’s chosen substance. If you’re new to recovery, you might wonder what the differences are between AA and NA. Perhaps you’ve heard people talk about these support groups while attending addiction treatment or have seen them mentioned on various websites.
It provides a much-needed support system for those who continue to struggle with drinking. It also serves as a great support system for those who are fresh out of alcohol rehab. From what we do know, success at maintaining abstinence how to smoke moon rock is fairly low, even according to the fellowship’s own data. One AA study found only 27% of participants were alcohol-free for up to a year (73% relapse rate) and only 13% maintained abstinence for more than five years.
Alternatives to AA and NA
Additionally, most research focuses on a specific time frame. This means an NA member might be sober during data collection, but relapse occurs weeks, months, or years later. Even if you don’t want to participate in a recovery program, these meetings won’t require you to sign up for a membership. Besides open meetings, you can also join online meetings (virtual meetings). Members can share their experiences during NA meetings for 5 minutes or so.
The original 12-step program
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 quitting cymbalta cold turkey 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.
- Many of the results are published by the “fellowship”, as the 12-step movement refers to itself.
- Evidence from multiple lines of research supports the effectiveness and practical importance of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
- The AA programs may suit you better if you’re struggling with alcohol addiction.
- While you may struggle with this step if you’re not religious, it’s intended to be an opportunity to let go of the things beyond your control and start working on the things within your control.
- While AA is traditionally reserved for alcoholics and NA for drug addicts, those lines have mostly been erased with both types of addicts going to both types of meetings.
Some people in NA express that they are more apt to rely on themselves to overcome the “addiction” than rely on a Higher Power (as in AA) to overcome a “substance”. The founders, a stock broker and a surgeon, developed a system of peer support and then formalised the 12 steps, largely drawn from their own and others’ experience of recovery. If you’re an alcoholic, you go to AA and if you’re addicted to other drugs you go to NA. Many in AA regarded drug addicts at meetings with disdain and many in NA were envious of AA’s resources but that’s no longer the case. Though the divide of alcoholic vs addict remains, AA and NA are now more open to different types of attendees and won’t shut the door to a drug addict at an AA meeting and vice versa. You’re more likely to see alcoholics in NA meetings compared to drug addicts in AA meetings but there are no official rules.
AA Meeting Schedules
Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. The focus of this step is accepting your faults and being prepared to let them go. As you confront your past, you may find yourself feeling guilty or ashamed of your actions. This step helps you build the willingness to change your behavior. While the previous step requires you to recognize your wrongs, this step requires you to go one step further and confess them out loud. Admitting your faults to another person can be difficult, so the step helps you prepare by confessing to a higher power first.
The sample was composed of 166 male and female teens (average age 16) who had completed an inpatient treatment program. A series of analyses identified which specific elements of 12-Step involvement were responsible for positive outcomes and whether these elements varied by gender. Women were significantly more likely than men to sustain abstinence over 3 years although genders did not differ significantly at baseline. For men only, being a sponsor was predictive of sustained abstinence over 3 years. For men and women, doing service and having a home group was predictive of sustained abstinence over 3 years.
This step asks you to apply these principles to every aspect of your life and carry them forward to help others struggling with addiction as well. There may be times during the recovery process when you make mistakes or relapse. This step requires you to stay vigilant on a daily basis, and admit to any faults you make as you go forward, so you can maintain your spiritual progress. This step requires you to actually reach out to the people you’ve hurt and make amends with them. The only exception is in situations where trying to make amends will do more harm than good, for instance by opening up old wounds or causing fresh pain, in which case it is better left alone.
They wanted to help alcoholics give up alcohol and empower them to help others do the same. The program is centered around twelve steps, which is often simply referred to as The Twelve Step Program. These steps guide the alcoholic into growing spiritually, becoming aware of the hurt and pain they have caused to themselves as well as to others, and making amends can alcoholics eat food cooked with alcohol for that pain. As the person progresses through the program, he learns the importance of embracing these principles throughout every area of his life. In addition, he also becomes passionate about and learns the skills to help others as they begin and complete their own journey toward sobriety. AA is built upon the premise of therapy via a support group.
The group’s facilitator will ask at the beginning of the meeting if there are any new members in attendance. This is your chance to raise your hand and introduce yourself. There will be people at the meeting who are also new to the program. I really like AA but I’m curious what NA meetings are like.
