NA meetings?

"I know it is the only option for people who really don't wanna put the effort in to getting clean from opiates. But I truely feel sorry for people on that stuff, because of my experience of being on it and now off it. "

Im on methadone at the moment and touch no other drugs(except the odd benzo), it is anything but easy and requires effort even with methadone as the drug has very little if any euphoria, its a struggle to stay clean as i dont drink booze, top up etc and to say it takes no effort belittles any people on methadone who get their life together.
Also many people who go to A.A./N.A. have other mental health problems and the advice from lots of members to stop psych meds etc.. is disgusting imo as an addicts first port of call should be professional help not n.a..
Plus im all ears if you can point me to stats that show the 12 steps effectiveness as they dont exist because a.a./n.a. wont do them because they know how terrible they would be/look.
A certain number of addicts learn their lesson / have had enough and have "spontaneous remission" from their addiction ( without a.a./n.a.) and its these that na take credit for, while the people who it doesnt work for (i.e. 99%) n.a. blames the individual.
YES i have a problem with na/aa its closed minded, outdated,unprofessional,immoral and a brainwashing religious cult, once called the oxford group(christian).
Like you said though ,what ever you THINK works for you BUT have an open mind to things ,instead of blindly believeing the bible or indeed the big book.
@oliphil cheers for reply and respect for standing your ground and explaining your beliefs.(we'll agree to disagree)
 
Spiritual principles: open-mindedness, honesty, and willingness. just being a good person for the right, non-selfish reasons.

GOD to me is just a power i can call on at any time that is outside of myself that can help me find strength inside. and i will tell u that it works me. when my mind is racing, i ask for it to be quited and slows down/stops; when i am scared to talk to people because im shy i find it easier to open my mouth. i know that my god sees and hears all i see and hear. it knows my thoughts. i can not lie, manipulate or hide from it. i know that it loves me unconditionaly no matter what happens but doing "bad" things brings me farther away, while doing "good" things with pure motivation brings me closer to it.

this is working for me. i even feel strengthened right now.

i believe religion gets very self-righteous but has good intentions. of course there have been many awful things that come out of these good intentions. this is what many ppl focus on and i did and still do. you say that AA/NA is based on christianity and while that may be partly true, i think it more so runs parrallel to it. for example, we forgive, try to help each other, etc and all of these ideas come from christianity but we also (arent suppose to ) dont condem and force our views on others. thats all i got for now hope it made sense :)
 
There are a lot of good NA and AA meeting in the South Bay Area. I am from San Jose, so they are decent.

For me though, I just can't stand the fucking meetings.
 
SOrry to bang on abot methadone, maybe I came across like i was trying to ram my opinions down your throat. I do believe that methadone is the best option for some people, I just find it sad that methadone clinics are the first port of call for a heroin addict, and loads of people end up on methadone, when they really dont need to be. Like me for example. Anyway, we'll agree to disagree about it all! :)
 
@overcome

Thats o.k., i do think aa/na does have a lot of genuine people as many posts here prove. but i think most addicts dont like the 12 steps because its somewhat" anti-intelectual" and some members dont like people questioning its worth and sucess as a treatment option.(obviously dont mean you/ or opiphil)
 
I'm sorry but first off it isn't religious. I don't need to carry on arguing, you clearly have something against NA/AA and that's fine with me.

But methadone, fuck that shit. Go down any meth clinic in the country and tell me it's helping these people in the long run. I know that for some people it is the only option, but not everyone. In my clinic at one point I was one of 2 people that worked, out out about 80 who went there. The statistics you're on about are crime reduction figures, etc. Nothing to do with quality of life, just statisticly this juice keeps the junkies in line sort of thing. When I was on meth it blocked out all my major feelings, connection to the world, and just made me ok, like not happy but not sad. Since coming off it, I have laughed, cried, felt happy, sad felt actual intimacy with my girl, felt more connected to the world. Not just a government funded zombie anymore.

This is just my view on methadone. I know it is the only option for people who really don't wanna put the effort in to getting clean from opiates. But I truely feel sorry for people on that stuff, because of my experience of being on it and now off it.

But if anyone wants to do anything however they want that is fine with me.

Great post :)
 
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