Narcotics Anonymous: meetings, formats, and official resources

Narcotics Anonymous is a peer-support fellowship for people in recovery from drug addiction. Meetings are run by members, not by clinicians, and the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using.

NA is not a treatment program, a medical service, or a treatment provider, and it is not affiliated with this directory. Groups are self-supporting and independent, and no records are kept of who attends.

NA uses a 12-step framework, and members typically work it with the help of a sponsor — another member with more experience. The approach is mutual: members share what has worked for them and stay connected through regular meetings.

What the fellowship offers practically is a community that does not require you to explain yourself, plus a structure that keeps you in contact with other people in recovery. For many members that ongoing contact is the foundation of staying clean.

Meetings usually last about an hour and follow one of several formats: a speaker meeting, a topic discussion, a step or literature study, or a beginner meeting. Most open with a reading that explains what the fellowship is.

You will not be asked to disclose what you used, how much, or for how long. Speaking is optional, and "I'm just listening today" is a complete answer.

Choose a meeting close to you and go a few minutes early. Someone will usually greet you and may offer a phone list or suggest a beginner meeting — take what seems useful.

If a meeting does not feel like a fit, that is common and not a reason to stop. Meetings differ in size, tone, and format, and the right one is usually the third or fourth you try rather than the first.

In-person NA meetings take place in community centers, churches, clubhouses, and hospital meeting rooms in cities and towns across the country. Local areas and regions publish their own schedules and are the most current source for venue details.

Confirm the time and address with the organizer before traveling, particularly if you are going to an unfamiliar area or a meeting that has recently moved.

Virtual NA meetings run throughout the day and are useful for people who travel, work irregular hours, live far from the nearest group, or have health or caregiving limits. Many local groups now list both an in-person meeting and an online alternative.

Online meetings are run by individual groups or service bodies rather than one central platform, so privacy practices vary. It is reasonable to ask how a meeting handles participant names, recording, and access links.

NA World Services publishes the fellowship's approved literature, including the Basic Text and a range of pamphlets aimed at newcomers, families, and specific communities.

In most areas you can also find free informational pamphlets at meetings, and local service committees often maintain phone lines and meeting lists for their region.