There are a number of resources available online for the community professional who would like to learn more about the recovery program called “Narcotics Anonymous”. Of course this information would be useful to substance abuse treatment programs, but it could also be useful to members of the clergy, mental health workers, community corrections programs, referral agencies and many more. In short, to anyone who has contact with “the addict who still suffers”, remember that the only requirement for membership in Narcotics Anonymous is the desire to stop using drugs.

The state of Ohio is served primarily by two Regional Service Committees: the Buckeye Region covering Northeast Ohio and the Ohio Region which serves Areas in the following counties of Ohio: Ross, Athens, Vinton, Hocking, Lucas, Wood, Ottawa, Sandusky, Franklin, Delaware, Union, Madison, Montgomery, Greene, Erie, Richland, Huron, Wayne, Knox, Crawford, Highland, Clinton, Hamilton, Clermont, Butler, Warren, Scioto, Lawrence, Jackson, Fairfield, Licking, Muskingum, Coshocton, Seneca, Marion, Wyandot, Shelby, Miami, Darke, Logan, Champaign, Allen, Mercer, Hancock, Hardin, Van Wert, Paulding, Auglaize, Clark, Adams, Brown, Pike. And in Kentucky: Kenton, Campbell, Boone, Pendleton, Lewis, Boyd, Mason, Fleming, and Bracken.

In turn, there are Area Service Committees and an Outreach Committee which serves Groups not already part of an Area Committee. Both the Regional and Area service committees maintain Hospitals and Institutions ‘H & I’ subcommittees, which carry the NA message of hope for recovery into prisons, jails, hospitals, treatment programs and other facilities.

Anyone who wants to stop using drugs may become a member of Narcotics Anonymous. Membership is not limited to addicts using any particular drug. Those who feel they may have a problem with drugs, legal or illegal, including alcohol, are welcome in NA. Recovery in NA focuses on the problem of addiction, not on any particular drug.

There are two basic types of meetings; those which are open to the general public and those closed to the public (for addicts only). Meetings vary widely in format. Some formats are; participation, speaker, question and answer, topic discussion, and some have a combination of these formats. The function of any meeting is always the same: to provide a suitable and reliable environment for personal recovery.

Excerpted from “Narcotics Anonymous; A Resource in Your Community”
Copyright © 1991, 1993 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.  All rights reserved.

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