What is NA?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a nonprofit fellowship of men and women who have struggled with drug addiction. It provides a supportive environment for individuals seeking to overcome substance use disorders through regular meetings and a program of complete abstinence. These meetings are free and open to anyone with a desire to stop using drugs, and participants in areas like California, Santa Clara, and San Jose can find detailed schedules and locations at https://www.wfmh.org/na/california/santa-clara/san-jose, making NA a valuable resource across cities in the United States.
Location Addresses and Meeting Details
First Baptist Church, San Jose
Address: 80 South 5th Street, San Jose, CA 95112
Meetings at First Baptist Church include a Monday Discussion Meeting at 7:30 PM, where members share experiences and thoughts. The Tuesday Speaker Meeting at 7:30 PM focuses on a speaker sharing their personal recovery journey. On Friday at 7:30 PM, there is a Literature Study Meeting where members study NA literature to deepen their understanding of the recovery process.
Calvary Church, San Jose
Address: 16390 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129
Calvary Church hosts a Wednesday Step Study Meeting at 7:00 PM, where members delve into the 12 Steps of NA to understand and apply them in their lives. The Saturday Speaker Meeting at 6:30 PM features a speaker sharing their experiences and insights into recovery.
Saint James Church, San Jose
Address: 370 Di Salvo Ave, San Jose, CA 95128
Saint James Church offers a Sunday Topic Discussion at 6:00 PM, focusing on specific themes related to recovery. A Thursday Literature Study at 7:30 PM helps members explore NA literature and apply its principles to their recovery journeys.
The 12 Steps of NA
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous are a spiritual foundation for recovery. Here is a detailed explanation of each step:
- We admitted we were powerless over narcotics—that our lives had become unmanageable.
– This step involves acknowledging the powerlessness over drugs and recognizing how they have affected personal lives. It is a crucial first step toward recovery, as it sets the stage for change. - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
– In this step, members come to believe in a higher power that can help them regain control over their lives and thought processes. It is about recognizing the need for external strength in recovery. - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
– This step involves making the decision to surrender personal will to a higher power, allowing for spiritual guidance and support throughout the recovery journey. - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
– Members conduct a thorough self-examination, identifying past mistakes and areas for personal growth. This step helps individuals understand their motivations and behaviors. - Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
– This step involves confessing past wrongs to a higher power, oneself, and another person, which helps in healing and moving forward. - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
– Here, members are prepared to let go of negative character traits that have hindered their recovery. - Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
– This step is about humbly seeking the removal of personal shortcomings, acknowledging the need for spiritual help. - Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
– Members create a list of those they have harmed and become willing to make amends, which is crucial for healing relationships and personal growth. - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
– This step involves taking action to make amends to those harmed, unless it would cause further injury. - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
– Members continue self-reflection and promptly acknowledge their mistakes, ensuring ongoing personal growth. - Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
– This step focuses on maintaining and deepening spiritual connection through prayer and meditation. - Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
– The final step involves sharing the recovery message with others and applying the principles of NA in daily life.
Getting Started with NA in California, Santa Clara, San Jose, USA
To find local Narcotics Anonymous meetings in California, Santa Clara, and San Jose, visiting the World Fellowship of Mineralogical Collections (WMFH) website is recommended. However, for NA meetings, the best resource is typically the local NA area website or the World Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous’ (WFNA) affiliated sites. Both in-person and online or virtual meetings are available in most areas, allowing flexibility for those seeking recovery.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
When attending your first NA meeting, it is helpful to know the types of meetings available:
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meetings | Open to anyone, including non-addicts and those seeking information about NA. They provide a supportive environment for those looking to understand more about recovery. |
| Closed Meetings | Exclusively for addicts or those seeking to arrest their addiction. These meetings are generally more intimate, allowing members to share openly. |
Here are some tips for your first meeting:
- Arrive Early: It’s a good idea to arrive a bit early to introduce yourself and get settled.
- Introduce Yourself: As a new member, introducing yourself is a great way to connect with others.
- Share Your Experiences: If you feel comfortable, sharing your story can help you connect with others and feel more part of the community.
- Welcome Keychain Tags: Many groups offer welcome keychain tags for milestones like 30 days of sobriety, 60 days, and beyond.
Some common milestones for these tags include:
- 30 Days: Marking a month of sobriety.
- 60 Days: Celebrating two months of being clean.
- 90 Days: Recognizing three months of sobriety.
- 1 Year: Commemorating a full year of recovery.
- 5 Years: Honoring five years of continuous sobriety.
- 10 Years: Celebrating a decade of recovery.
These tags serve as a meaningful way to acknowledge progress in recovery and provide encouragement for continued sobriety.
