Narcotics Anonymous is a global, community-based organization with a
multi-lingual and multicultural membership. NA was founded in 1953,
and our membership growth was minimal during our initial twenty
years as an organization. Since the publication of our Basic Text in 1983, the
number of members and meetings has increased dramatically. Today, NA
members hold more than 50,000 meetings weekly in 130 countries. We offer
recovery from the effects of addiction through working a twelve-step
program, including regular attendance at group meetings. The group
atmosphere provides help from peers and offers an ongoing support network
for addicts who wish to pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle.
Our name, Narcotics Anonymous, is not meant to imply a focus on any
particular drug; NA’s approach makes no distinction between drugs including
alcohol. Membership is free, and we have no affiliation with any organizations
outside of NA including governments, religions, law enforcement groups, or
medical and psychiatric associations. Through all of our service efforts and our
cooperation with others seeking to help addicts, we strive to reach a day
when every addict in the world has an opportunity to experience our message
of recovery in his or her own language and culture.
