Narcotics Anonymous; good bad experiences?

[bustabraincell]

Hey folks, was wondering what sort of experiences people have had with narc-anon when they have decided to stop using. Personally, I was an attendee at meetings with a very small group for some months, and gained great value from the experiences of others who probly did it worse than I under worse conditions. I couldn't relate very well to the steps programme, although figured that by working alongwith it, it provided an alternative to using. In my circumstance, a very small crew, and realistic ppl, that had been to meetings in much larger groups in much larger cities told me about the almost religious zeal that some recovering addicts embraced the concept, and I met a coupple of them. In a way, it seemed that they had replaced their drug addiction with NA enthusiasm, However, there were many questions answered by them as to what do you do while not getting wasted? I am still an addict, there is no cure for that, I still use, however I constantly try to find non harmful addictions (not always successful) but looking at the options. Anyway, any thoughts and experiences would be good

[EDIT: Thread renamed, see post #6. hoptis]

 

[my innerself]

I am still an addict, there is no cure for that, I still use

Im sure there is a cure for your addiction, maybe (like me) you just dont want to quit. If you feel that there is no cure for your problem after attending NA for so long then your not really benefitting from NA at all.

I myself have been made to attend both AA and AN (for legal reasons, stupid shit). Iactually tried to take it seriously and try to benefit from the experience. I found, like you also found, that some people swap AA or NA for drugs, and become addicted to these meetings. Excellent I reckon, if you can do that, and also help others along the way. I hated the 12 steps bulshit. It really put me off the whole thing. I felt that I didn't really belong with the people I met. That I was more in control than what they were, but in reality struggled with many demons and addictions. Nearly every drug I've tried I've always wanted more and more. Ice is my hardest addiction. But only because I feel that when Im high on ice, that is the way we are supposed to function. I couldn't afford my addiction financially, so I wasted alot of my money on it. Not buying clothes or food etc. I think if I truly wanted to give up drugs NA could help me through support from other users with one on one contact. But I struggle with just the concept of quitting.

 

[juice_soldier]

Quitting for me is a loss of self identity, drugs defined my identity. I use, Therefore I am.

Pretty useless.. but thats the demonic cycle in your head

[EDIT: Discretion is your friend. Lil Angel15]

 

[Numeron]

I doubt this idea would work for anyone with a serious hardcore addiction to something, but I recently stopped smoking and have been taking a bit of a unique approach to it. That approach is:

Im not quitting, Ive already quit.

With this mentality the battle is already over and won before it began. Every time I crave I say to myself tough shit because since im no longer a smoker cant have one. End of story. Time to think of something else. 3 months or so have passed so far but im not keeping track because its just not important: Its behind me.

It takes a lot of discipline to think this way but then again doesnt curing yourself of any addiction?

As for narc-anon, ive never heard of it, but it sounds interesting, I think ill look into it if only to get a more rounded idea of their approach. My drug use is something thats a little more difficult to control, probably because Ive tricked myself into beleiving that it is infact totally under control. As juice_soldier said, I think it would be a bit of a loss of my self identity, particularly since im so interested in the pharmachology and brain interactions at the same time. But who knows, perhaps if I got my shit together and actually decided to stop drugs I could take the same approach as above? Im not quitting, Im simply no longer a user: time to forge myself a new identity.

 

[SKL]

Narconon is seriously scary shit tied to Scientology, stay far far away.

 

[hoptis]

Shit not this again.

I'm assuming bustabraincell is talking about Narc-anon which refers to Narcotics Anonymous.

NOT Narconon which refers to the Scientology-based programme. I'm going to rename this thread to suit unless advised otherwise just to clear this up.

See this thread from The Dark Side for similar confusion.

See this thread for past discussion of rehab options in Aus.

 

[bustabraincell]

absolutly correct, Hoptis, I was referring to Narc-anon, who has pretty much the same twelve-step programme as Alcohilics anonymous... I also agree with a previous poster who identifies with thier personality as a user...

 

[Depone]

NA saved my life.

it works if you work it seriously.

it is the only thing that has got me clean and ive tried everything..

surrender to win.

 

[Luchia]

I went to NA meetings weekly for over a year, orginally it was just to stop my boyfriend (ex) from getting locked-up after re-offending while he was on an ISO (it worked b the way) but after a while I just kept going cause the people there became my friends, I was still using at the time and although I never asked and no one else admitted it, it was so obvious who was still using, but I guess thats not the point-no actcually that IS the point!
Sorry Im kinda scrambled at the moment, anyway I left cause it seemed like the only reason anyone showed up was to exchange amusing drug stories! Did anyone else experience the same thing?