Welcome to Narcotics Anonymous of NJ. Our Message Is…
That an addict, any addict can stop using drugs,
lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live.
Helpline
If you feel you have a problem with drugs, call our helpline
Events
See upcoming NA events and activities in NJ
Narcotics Anonymous is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean.
– Narcotics Anonymous Basic Text, page 9
Recovery from addiction is possible and available through the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous.
Narcotics Anonymous is FREEDOM from active addiction.
Narcotics Anonymous is an international, community-based association of recovering drug addicts with over 61,000 weekly meetings in over 131 countries worldwide.
Just for Today
At first, many of us may have thought the First Step required no action--we just surrender and go on to Step Two. But Step One does require action!
The action we take in the First Step will be evident in the way we live, even from our first day clean. If we truly believe that we are powerless over our addiction, we will not choose to be around drugs. To continue to live with or associate with practicing addicts may indicate a reservation in our program. An absolute belief that the First Step applies to us will insure that we clear our homes of all drugs and paraphernalia.
As time goes on, we'll not only continue with the basics but add new actions to our First Step repertoire. We'll learn to feel our feelings rather than trying to control them. We'll stop trying to be our own and only guides on our recovery journey; self-sponsorship will cease. We'll begin looking to a Power greater than ourselves more and more for spiritual satisfaction rather than trying to fill that void with something else.
Surrender is only the beginning. Once we surrender, we need to learn how to live in the peace we have found.
A Spiritual Principle a Day
Starting from our first day clean, one of the most amazing gifts we find in NA is people who truly believe in us. Some of us are hesitant to believe in their belief, especially after disappointing so many people for so long. Still, there's something so genuine in the way members tell us, "You never have to use again, even if you want to," and that encouragement can be all that it takes to get us to our next meeting clean.
We change a lot in our first weeks, months, and years of recovery. "I laugh about it now, but they told me when I got clean not to make any major life changes during my first year," one addict shared from the podium. "My entire life was turned around and flipped inside out--what could be more major than that?!" As time goes by, many of us settle into a more stable version of ourselves. A member with decades clean shared, "It's a reservation in my Second Step if I believe I can't still change just because I've been clean so long. If a newcomer can stop using drugs, I sure as hell can get help with a character defect."
Even though our early recovery often sees the most dramatic change in our lives, there is always room for improvement. "It is the most amazing gift to witness people in my recovery network grow," one member wrote. "No matter how long I'm clean, seeing others change reminds me that I can, too." Being present to others' growth means being present physically, showing up regularly. It also means truly listening to where our fellow members are at--mentally, emotionally, spiritually--and sharing honestly with them. The vulnerability, intimacy, and presence we practice in NA inspires growth in us all.
