New England Region of Narcotics Anonymous Basic Website

These Frequently asked questions and answers have been complied from correspondence sent to newenglandna.org, over the past year. If you do not find an answer to your question please email us.

Can I/we submit an event to be posted on your website?

Right now the only events being posted on the newenglandna.org website are those within our region. We do have a link to the World Service Office website so that addicts can get information on events outside the region: WSO Events.

We are posting all NA® Events given to us from groups, areas and regional events.

I’m looking for an event , why isn’t it on the website?

The only way for an event to be posted on the newenglandna.org website to have the GSR, ASR/RCM or event contact person to submit it to us and after verification we will post it within 36 to 72 hrs.

It may not be within the New England Region .

I / We submitted a change of our meeting yesterday, why don’t I see it?

It takes awhile for the Regional Meeting Directory Committee to Verify all changes.

Meeting Information changes are posted approximately three times each Service cycle ( Region meets 6 times a year/ every other month)

If the required fields ( especially contact information, times and locations ) aren’t filled out properly the submitted change isn’t accepted.

The Regional Service Meeting meets in 3 weeks where are the Directions?

The website sub-committee posts directions to Regional Service Meetings within 48 hrs of receiving them.

I live out of state and I'm having trouble finding a meeting. If you could help me I would greatly appreciate it.

There are all NA links for areas and regions (http://www.na.org/?ID=phoneline ). I would find the link to the region you are in and then look up the meetings there or try this link - http://www.na.org/?ID=phoneline .

Have you tried call 411 for your local NA number or look it up in the yellow pages?

I went to a meeting and it wasn’t there . What is going on?

We are sorry you've had this experience. The meetings that are listed are submitted by the group or the area that the meeting resides in. We rely on the GSR's and Area Representatives to provide us with accurate meeting information. Also you can call our helpline @ 1-866-624-3578. There is a option to speak to an addict in that geographic area who can help you get to a meeting.

I've been to a few meetings now. I cant seem to stop smoking pot. Why its only pot, is what I feel after listening to addicts share. Maybe I shouldn’t be going what do you think?

First not everyone stops using at their first meeting. We do encourage people to try to attend their next meeting clean. If you can't stop using for now don't stop attending meetings. Please continue to keep going to meetings. We do not turn people away from meetings because they are not yet clean. Although you might not yet be clean , in attending meetings you are able to hear the lifesaving message of NA. That you can get clean, stay clean , lose the obsession to use and find a new way to live. It is possible for anyone.

Been to 3 meetings at different locations. I have no clue what to do or where to begin. Please help me out. Am I supposed to join a group, join NA or just show up? In other words how do I join? How do I begin?

Sounds like you've already started. It is suggested to go to 90 meetings in 90 days. We would suggest finding 7 meetings that you can go to ( in a week ). One for each day of the week. Find a meeting that you enjoy, that could be your "home group" , You've already joined NA because our literature says that your a member when you say you are. To join a group usually you sign the group book ( ask for the secretary or you'll see that person when they do the secretary's report during the meeting ) and attend business meetings, they occur once a month. It is suggested that you show up early ( to help set up ) and stay after to help clean up. It’s a great way to meet other members and start to feel a more part of the group. Your doing the right thing by going to meetings. As you attend meetings listen for the person of your gender who talks about things you can identify with and get their phone number and give them a call.

The meeting codes are confusing what do they mean?

O Open (Anyone Welcome) L Literature
C Closed (Addicts Only) J Just For Today
A Assorted Format D Discussion
S Speaker B Beginners
T Topic W Women
R Recovery Text M Men
11St 11th Step G Gay
12St 12 Step H Handicap Access
12Tr Tradition Ns No Smoking
P Pamphlet Tn Teen

Each meeting is a format or “theme” that each meeting uses. ie:
a. Literature – A discussion of different pieces of NA® literature
b. Recovery Text - A discussion of the Recovery Text
c. 12 Step study – A Discussion of how we work the 12 Steps of NA® in our lives.

I’ve relapsed and haven’t been to a meeting in many years, please help!

First, WELCOME HOME!, you have come to the right place. The best place to start is getting you to an NA meeting right away. To find a meeting closest to you - on our site we have meeting listings by the day. If you need to speak to an addict right away please call our helpline @ 1-866-624-3578.
Our message is simple message - that you don't have to use any mood or mind altering drug just for today and that Narcotics Anonymous® can help.

Do you have a meeting book like AA?

Yes we have a Regional Meeting Directory ( RMD). Many Groups provide them for free. You purchase them at the next Regional Service Meeting.

Are there any book stores that sell any NA® books or other literature in New England?

Our Literature is available on the World Service Website of Narcotics Anonymous® - http://www.na.org/?ID=literature You can download a copy of the catalog and fax in your order.
You can try Borders or Barnes and Nobles.We do not have any affiliation with these vendors. Reference from this website does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by NA® as a whole or of The New England Region of Narcotics Anonymous® . Although we may refer members to other stores this does not mean we endorse or condone ANY specific products or services provided by any other public or private entitiess.

Do you host any online NA meetings ?

At this time the New England Region does not host any online meetings. To see if there are any online meetings please check the World Service site - http://www.na.org

NON NA or FAMILY MEMBER

We have a family member who needs treatment can you recommend a facility?

We as a fellowship to do not recommend any in-patient or out-patient care programs. You could try calling any outpatient care facility in Mass/ RI and they could help you with phone numbers or try this link .We do not have any affiliation with these programs. Reference from this email does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by NA® as a whole or of The New England Region of Narcotics Anonymous ® . Although we may refer family members to other 12 step programs this does not mean we endorse or condone ANY specific products or services provided by any other public or private organizations.
Please pass on the Regional Helpline Number, 1-866-624-3578 , to your family member so that when he/she leaves the facility they have a way to contact NA®.

Are there 12 step programs for family members?

Yes there are a number 12 programs for Family members of Addicts try this link to find one.We do not have any affiliation with these programs. Reference from this link does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by NA® as a whole or of The New England Region of Narcotics Anonymous ® . Although we may refer family members to other 12 step programs this does not mean we endorse or condone ANY specific products or services provided by any other public or private organizations.

Can Family Members Attend NA meetings?

Yes , We have open meetings where anyone can attend our meetings. There are closed meetings where we ask that those attending are in recovery, seeking recovery or think they may have a Drug Problem only.