3 Ways to Save a Narcotics Anonymous Meeting
When you’re undergoing an outpatient treatment using Suboxone or methadone, it’s important that you find your resources for support wherever you can. One of the most common ways people choose to do that is to take advantage of the many 12-step support groups like Narcotics Anonymous. Free of charge with meetings every day of the week and, in many towns, many times a day, there really isn’t a more convenient or cheaper way to get the help you need.
Unfortunately, it’s not the most exciting way to spend your time. A friend of mine recently told me:
“Look, I hate meetings. I can’t stand the whining, the gossip and the fact that I lose hours of my life with my ass falling asleep in a metal chair. But I go and I’m going to keep going, because it’s keeping me clean.”
It’s true: meetings are not fun. Newcomers and chronic relapsers can get on your nerves as can the superiority of those who have been clean for years. The coffee is bad, and the snacks are cheap. Metal folding chairs will become the bane of your existence as will the sleazy 13th steppers. 
So how do you save yourself from an NA or AA meeting when you really just have to go?
- Bring your hobby. For many, just spending time in the meeting is the important thing, and you don’t have to have idle hands to listen to the speaker. I’ve seen people in meetings do everything from knit to carve clay figurines. Drawing, hand sewing, artist trading cards…whatever it takes to keep you from clawing your (or someone else’s) eyes out as long as it doesn’t smell, make a mess or take up a ton of space.
- Get involved. What’s the opposite of dropping out of NA? Taking over. Speak up in meetings, introduce yourself to newcomers, talk to people after the meeting. Volunteer to clean up after the meeting or get yourself voted into a position of authority. Maybe if you have a larger hand in your regular meetings, you’ll be able to choose topics that interest you.
- Change meetings. If you live in a city or any metropolitan area, you have a large schedule of meetings to choose from. Though you most likely choose according to the time of the meeting or where it’s located, it could be worth it for you to get up a little bit earlier, stay out later or drive a little bit further in order to explore the different meetings available. If you live in a smaller town and don’t have a ton of meetings to choose from, then start your own. Why not? That’s the beauty of NA. Pick a name, find a location, choose the first topic and advertise. Keep showing up and so will more and more people.
Whatever you have to do to make meetings more interesting or sufferable, do it. It’s worth it to build a strong support system that will long outlast the buprenorphine or methadone and carry you through a lifetime of sobriety.
What do you do to make it through an NA meeting when you’d rather be anywhere but there?
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April 25th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
You know…AA/NA are not very accepting of those who use suboxone or methadone as part of their recovery.
In their guidelines it states that they consider these things to be a continuation of using drugs and that it is ok for someone doing this to go and listen at a meeting but not ok for them to be sharing at a meeting.
The reason I bring this up is that I don’t want to see someone who currently is on Suboxone go to an AA/NA meeting and be told that they are not “truly in recovery”. That exact situation happened to my brother at his first meeting and he was very taken back by it. His choices were to search hard and long for an AA/NA chapter that would be accepting of Suboxone use, or he could just omit Suboxone from his story anytime he shared, or he could not attend the meetings and try to find other means of support.
He chose to find other means of support that would allow him to openly and honestly share exactly what his recovery entails and I think he is much better off because of it.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
That’s a good point, Erin. I often forget that here in San Francisco, because so many who go to the NA meetings here are on some sort of maintenance. Harm reduction is huge here and, as far as I’m concerned, if you’re not using needles and actively trying to be safe and tend to your addiction, then you’re doing great. Unfortunately, many disagree.
So thanks for pointing that out. Politics is yet another thing that makes NA difficult for some to stomach, so if you’re having problems due to your detox/maintenance status, all the above still applies: go and take what you need and leave the rest, start your own meeting, try new meetings, etc.
I don’t recommend lying, however, in any situation. Who are these people that you need to make it easier for them to deal with you on their terms? If you’re not finding support, then move on to a place where you will.
Thanks, Erin!
April 26th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I agree with what I just read on people at meetings an others saying we are not clean if we are on suboxone an when I hear that statement I become angry an will stand up for my self I have a hard time remaining quiet I have been clean almost 3yrs now an if it werent for the suboxone I probaly would not be alive health an happy with my life, I feel that the medicine an my drs saved my life thanks for listening a 3yr clean addict. Maggie C
April 29th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
You’re a strong person, Maggie. I’m glad that you’re standing up for yourself. The more that happens, the better off newcomers to Suboxone will be. There’s no need to feel ashamed or let anyone put you down for taking medications that help you. Some meetings are even down on antidepressants or any mood altering drug, which I think is ridiculous. If Suboxone is helping you stay clean, stand up for it. Staying true to yourself is a big part of recovery.
April 29th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Thanks Valeria and I agree with you 100 precent have a safe sober an clean day all.
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 am
Wow, Many things to consider. After 16 years in AA, finding myself having 3 surgeries that led to my abuse of presriptions, this Friday I start Suboxone. I never thought about the “topic” that was surfacing wether you are truely clean or not if using Suboxone. I have enough trouble debating wether it is my fault for abusing the precriptions or not.I certainly did not Dr, Shop, it was just one poor Dr. That kept the supply going. I think anything other than the real thing is a step in the right direction. I wish the best for all and perhaps this coming Friday will prove to have a life saving effect. Craig S.
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Goodluck to you an let me know how you are doing take one day at a time.
May 10th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Hey Craigs. I am in week 3 of Suboxone and it is working wonders! I was scared to go to the doctor for a fear of being let down and the medication not working for me but after all was said and done I am still determined and going strong, well stronger than when I had an 18 year relationship with prescription medication! Good luck to you! To you Maggie I am from Texas and people like me are frowned upon to the extent it is like a plague! Thanks for standing up not only for yourself but for all of us in recovery, and the ones who are considering Suboxone treatment.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Thanks all for helping me stay clean an sober another day Maggie C
August 21st, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I’ve gotten the same prejudice at NA meetings when I was on Methadone. All the negativity kept me away from meetngs that I truely needed. After 7 years on Methadone, I relapsed after having surgery and being thrown out of on ununderstanding clinic. Heroin addiction has controled my entire being for the past 30 years or so. I never imagined that I would live this long. I’ve always had the mindset that my lifestyle would kill me at a young age, and I didn’t care. But now at 52, I see how precious life really is and how blessed I am to still be here. I detoxed hundreds or maybe even thousands of times. Either cold turkey, units, psych wards, prisons, jails, booze, pills, everyway I could ever think to stop using. But I could never stay stopped. So to those that say an addict is not clean if they are on methadone or suboxone is a very ignorant and self centered opinion. Some addicts NEED them to recover. Addiction & Recovery is a matter of life & death.
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Cheers, Merrill. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
October 1st, 2008 at 1:32 pm
i used to think just like merrill, my disease told me i couldnt recover with out methadone. yes, addiction is a matter of life and death! i was on methadone for 8 years and am living proof that you can detox and live truley clean-abstaining from ALL drugs in order to recover. thank god for narcotics anonymous!
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:28 pm
okay guys here goes, I am still not using and there are not any meetings that I go to. I turn to this website for support, for that I thank you! I recently went into the Hospital I was very ill, white blood cell count was way too high and I had to be admitted, needless to say no one knew what Suboxone was at the Hospital so I had my Suboxone in my purse and I told them that I was taking it, they had no problem with it. That is not why I am commenting today, while I was in the Hospital my daughter was in my exhusbands care and I was unable to go and get her I am in the Hospital right and have been for 3 days, my ex tells my daugther that I am only in there to get pumped with morphine and people who need drugs go to Hospitals all the time to get it, my daughter jumped to my defense and told him that I was not taking pills and that I was not there for pain medication that I was very ill. How am I supposed to feel about trying so hard to stay clean and I am doing it very well now going on 6 months when my ex is still convinced that I am on pills or I am using Hospitals for pain medicine! I am beside myself and in tears, no I will not go off the deep end, I won’t let myself down again. I just needed to get it off of my chest. I am out of the Hospital and am waiting on a
Spinal Puncture test result, I am better and doing well as far as the illness goes. Thanks for listening, and everyone stay clean.
October 5th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I too have had these same problems in AA/NA meetings about bupe. As a matter of fact there are a lot of AA meetings in my area that do not let you mention addiction or drugs. And a lot of NA meeting that are just hangouts for young addicts looking for to get laid or a new connection.,