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My Community Profile: Members of Narcotics Anonymous 

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My Community Profile: Members of Narcotics Anonymous 

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I am a member of Narcotics Anonymous, a universal group of people who get together to help each other in their quest to be sober from drugs and alcohol. People usually meet at groups and discuss private matters regarding their experience, strength, and hope. The message is that an addict, any addict, can stop using drugs, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live. There are many core characteristics to this program including peer support, anonymity, abstinence based recovery, and spirituality over religion.

NA expresses these values several ways including recovery literature, in person and online meetings, public relations, service committees, and recovery events. Personally, I have taken part in almost all of these. I have read the book, the daily meditations, I've been to many meetings locally and in other countries, as well as public events which are really fun. Leading a meeting and attending the meetings are much different. Leading, means that you must show up for others and be a responsible, reliable source for others to depend on, while attending means you can express yourself without judgement and rely on others to keep what is said in the meeting, in the meeting.

I really appreciate the program of Narcotics Anonymous and what it has done for me over the years. One day I hope to be more involved by having a bigger role in the community and be there for more people; but for now I enjoy going to the meetings and connecting with other people who are just like me trying to find their way through life and their recovery.

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Social changes in the community of Narcotics Anonymous program have put pressure on the once underground movement to become a worldwide global membership. The growth of technology has moved the initiative to adapt to online forums, allowing people anywhere to join when they can't be there in person. This has granted international adaption and successfully adapted to other countries and languages. I've joined online meetings across the world which is very interesting when connecting to new people and cultures.

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This video tells a brief history of the NA program while also showing how many meetings have spread worldwide as well as number of languages the literature has been translated to. From the first meeting in 1954, until 2024 which now holds 72,215 meetings worldwide. The literature is in 57 languages, and the basic text has been translated to 39 languages.

The AA and NA communities have changed a lot over the years, especially during major drug crises in the U.S. Back in the 1960s and 70s, when drug use really spiked and substances like heroin and psychedelics became more common, AA wasn’t enough on its own, so NA started growing to support people dealing with addictions beyond alcohol. Then the War on Drugs hit, which led to a huge rise in arrests and court-ordered treatment. That pushed even more people into AA and NA meetings, and it made these groups important safe spaces where people could talk without judgment. Fast forward to today, and the opioid epidemic has created another huge shift—more people than ever are turning to NA and AA because of issues with prescription opioids and fentanyl. Because of this, the groups have expanded, adapted, and tried to better support younger members and families affected by addiction. Overall, each of these events has pushed the recovery community to grow and evolve in real, meaningful ways.

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When researching possibilities of how changing environmental factors can affect the members of Narcotics Anonymous, I was surprised when there were more factors than I expected. Extreme weather events like floods, hurricanes, heat waves, and wildfires are a big impact on members accessing meetings. This forced displacement separates people from connecting to others, which would withheld people from connecting to others possibly leading them to relapse.

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Global inequality impacts the NA community in a lot of real ways, especially for people who are low-income or marginalized. Even though NA meetings are free and technically open to everyone, things like where someone lives, whether they have transportation, or how stable their life is can make it a lot harder to actually show up and feel included.

At the same time, globalization has helped NA spread across the world, but it hasn’t been simple. The program started in the U.S., so some of its traditions don’t always translate perfectly into different cultures or communities. Because of that, NA is constantly trying to balance its universal message of recovery with the specific needs, beliefs, and experiences of people in different parts of the world.

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Institutions like healthcare systems, public health programs, and the state have had a big influence on both me and the AA/NA community. When the government expands mental-health services, funds addiction treatment, or supports harm-reduction programs, it makes recovery more accessible for more people. But when resources are limited or policies are strict—like during the War on Drugs—it can make things harder, increase stigma, and push more people toward AA or NA for support. For individuals, including me, these systems shape what kind of help is available, how easy it is to access care, and how society talks about addiction. Overall, as health and state institutions change, AA and NA have to adapt too, creating new meetings, changing how they support people, and responding to shifting attitudes about recovery.

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Recent regulation change for treatment for opioid addiction is helping more addicts see success

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Colorado is on track to receive over $871 million in opioid settlement funds.

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Education systems have shaped both me and my community by influencing how much support, information, and awareness people actually get about addiction, mental health, and recovery. Schools that teach about mental health, coping skills, and substance use early on can help people understand these issues instead of judging them. But in many places, the education system doesn’t talk about addiction in a real or helpful way, which allows stigma to grow. This affects AA and NA because when people don’t learn the truth about addiction, they’re less likely to seek help or understand why groups like AA/NA matter. As education changes—becoming more open about mental health and support—communities can become more understanding, which helps reduce stigma and makes recovery feel more accepted.

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Religion and spirituality influence my community by shaping how people understand the idea of a “higher power,” which is a really important part of AA and NA. Even though AA and NA aren’t tied to any specific religion, the higher-power concept gives people something bigger than themselves to lean on during recovery. For some, this connects naturally to the faith or spiritual beliefs they grew up with, giving them comfort, hope, and a sense of guidance when things get hard. For others who may have had negative or judgmental experiences with religion, the idea of a higher power can still be flexible—it can mean the universe, the group itself, or even just the belief that change is possible. As society becomes more open about mental health and recovery, people have started to redefine spirituality in ways that feel right for them. This shift makes AA and NA more welcoming and helps people create their own version of a higher power that supports their healing. In the end, this connection between spirituality and recovery can make the journey feel less lonely and give people strength when they need it most.

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The Recovery Village Drug and Alcohol Rehab

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The Role of Spirituality in Addiction Recovery #mentalhealth #addiction

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Social movements have had a big impact on both me and the AA/NA community by changing how people understand addiction, recovery, and support. Movements around mental health awareness, harm reduction, and reducing stigma have helped people see addiction as something that needs compassion, not judgment. This has made it easier for people in AA and NA to feel accepted and to talk honestly about what they’re going through. Some members of these communities have been involved in social movements themselves—sharing their stories, advocating for treatment instead of punishment, or pushing for better resources in their neighborhoods. In return, AA and NA have also inspired their own kind of social change by showing how community support, honesty, and connection can help people heal. The connection goes both ways: social movements shape how recovery is viewed, and recovery communities help spread messages of hope, acceptance, and change.