Is Narcotics Anonymous Effective?

Addiction is one of the loneliest diseases a person can experience. As they cycle through the different phases of substance abuse, tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal can be incredibly taxing on their minds and bodies. And in the process, people get hurt, relationships get shattered, and the closest ones drift away from each other. It can be extremely hard for people to relate to an individual struggling with substance abuse and vice versa, making staying sober even more difficult. That’s when the twelve-step programs come in, as well as the question: Are they effective? More specifically: Is Narcotics Anonymous effective? That’s our talk for the day.

What is NA?

NA has its roots in AA, or Alcoholics Anonymous, founded in the 1930s. The two share similar approaches to support and the goal for all members to achieve complete abstinence from substance use. The organization grew pretty quickly, and today the twelve-step programs are as popular as ever. By 2020, the meetings were being held in over 140 countries. The doors are open for anyone who wants to break free from addiction: people of all ages and backgrounds are welcome, regardless of their drug of choice. A strong desire to stop using is the only membership requirement.

The main objective of NA meetings is:

• Connecting people with common addiction concerns
• Helping them cope with problems and changes
• Finding the resources, support, and encouragement they need to remain abstinent

They aren’t meant to be a cure for addiction. As a matter of fact, experts recognize addiction as a chronic and relapsing brain disease, which, unlike high blood pressure or diabetes, has no cure. An individual can get treatment and do their best to manage the disease. Still, it will always be subject to a range of biological and environmental factors that can very easily lead to the reoccurrence of symptoms. For this reason, they may not be effective for everyone.

What are the twelve steps?

The twelve steps are the foundation and the skeleton of Narcotics Anonymous that provide a framework for members’ recovery and a path to sobriety.

The twelve steps are:

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addiction—that our lives had become unmanageable
2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves
5. We admitted to God, ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
7. We humbly ask Him to do so
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all
9. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when doing so would injure them or others
10. We continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, we promptly admitted it
11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts and practice these principles in all our affairs

Although there are religious references in the program, being religious is not a requirement for attending NA. These are merely there to provide general guidelines for staying abstinent.

Is Narcotics Anonymous effective?

Many people start attending NA meetings after having already gone through detox. And although we have limited data on NA attendance and continued drug use, it does suggest a connection between regular attendance and reduced use, particularly compared to those who did not attend. Why is this so?

A supportive social network

One of the key drivers of change for the better is a solid support system. People attending the meetings come together to share their experiences, goals, and challenges. The important thing is that they share with others who understand what they’re going through and gain positive feedback. For many, that alone is a lifeline to long-term recovery and a more positive quality of life. It gives them hope for a better future, and comfort, knowing they’re not alone.

Education

Along the way, they learn a lot about themselves and the disease they’re struggling with. This can result in a significant confidence boost, not to mention a lot of hope, especially when witnessing the success of others who used to be where they are or are doing the same things.

You’ll also learn a lot about healthy coping mechanisms and strategies for staying sober. For instance, one of the key sobriety strategies is avoiding old routines and habits. This suggests no longer hanging around the same people and places. Sometimes, it may even mean moving to a new city so you can avoid your triggers altogether. Many people have taken this opportunity for a fresh start in life. They get to change the environment, meet new people, form new connections in the new city, and get to know the area and all the fun new hangout places.

Valuable resources

Finally, from sponsors to agency referrals, motivational support, and various other services, members have access to resources that may not be available anywhere else. Not to mention the program can be used in conjugation with other treatments, thus boosting one’s recovery progress. These can help keep an individual going in the right direction.

Reasons NA may not work

Still, some studies on NA members’ retention show that NA isn’t as helpful for everybody. The research is limited, but the available data suggests that roughly 40% of people stop attending after twelve months. So, some people may need more than a supportive social network to remain drug-free. It is worth mentioning that this same research found lower “drop-out” rates in those who began attending 12-step meetings while attending an addiction treatment program.

Also, some have been unable to attend follow-up meetings due to the group’s expectance for complete abstinence from their members. Additionally, many who struggle with substance use disorders have co-occurring mental health disorders. While these individuals can still benefit from participating in 12-step programs like Narcotics Anonymous (NA), they may also require ongoing psychiatric treatment from licensed professionals.

Thirdly, in case an individual is going through withdrawal from drugs or alcohol or has other health problems, NA wouldn’t be an appropriate substitute for medically-supported addiction treatment. Finally, some groups do not support treatments that utilize ongoing maintenance medications (medication-assisted treatment). These groups may view buprenorphine or methadone use as a breach of abstinence. Rather, twelve-step programs typically rely on higher powers and spiritual awakenings. And, for some demographics, this spiritual approach to recovery may be off-putting.

All in all, the answer to the question “Is Narcotics Anonymous effective?” is: Yes! However, it may not be 100% helpful, and it may not be for everybody.