What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous is a worldwide, nonprofit public organization for people with the disease of drug addiction. It delivers a supportive environment where people share experiences and give and receive support in recovery. NA has regular meetings all over the cities in the US, including Dallas, providing a place of comfort to such people in need. The program is based on a 12-step model, similar to other support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, and emphasizes personal responsibility and mutual support. To find local meetings in Dallas, you can use the resources available at https://www.methadone.org/rehabs/texas/dallas-county/dallas/.
NA is a free program and doesn’t have any fees or dues to join. Anyone that desires to stop using drugs is welcome, regardless of background or the extent of his or her addiction to drugs. The group’s purpose is to help people recover from drug addiction, and since the 1950s when it was founded, the group has grown in tremendous ways. Today, more than 70,000 meetings are held by Narcotics Anonymous worldwide, playing a critical role in helping people recover.
Narcotics Anonymous Meetings in Dallas
Dallas has lots of NA meetings around the week that come in different times and group settings to fit the need of an individual. Whether in-person traditional, virtual, or specific in nature, there’s something for everyone.
Dallas Area Narcotics Anonymous
Location: 123 Main St, Dallas, TX 75201
Meeting Times:
- Monday 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday 12:00 p.m.
- Saturday 5:00 p.m.
Meeting Type: Speaker meeting and discussion group
Details: These meetings take place in a comfortable, confidential setting where participants share their personal experiences and offer support to one another. The format includes both open discussions and guest speakers who share their recovery journeys.
North Dallas Recovery Center
Address: 456 Recovery Blvd, Dallas, TX 75202
Meeting Times:
- Tuesdays at 6:30 PM
- Fridays at 10:00 AM
- Sundays at 3:00 PM
Meeting Type: Open meeting and step study
Details: This is an open NA group for anyone who wants to show up and listen. A lot can be learned from working the 12-step recovery process. The step study format involves working the steps with peers in a well-structured manner. Participants work through each step as facilitated, which will give valuable personal growth and healing.
Oak Cliff Narcotics Anonymous
Address: 789 Oak Cliff Rd, Dallas, TX 75208
Meeting Times:
- Mondays at 8:00 PM
- Thursdays at 5:30 PM
- Sundays at 2:00 PM
Meeting Type: Closed meeting and sharing session
Details: The Oak Cliff group holds closed meetings that are only open to anyone who defines themselves as a drug user. This assures privacy and safety. A mutual support type of meeting where members share their difficulties, successes, and how they keep clean. The group makes sure the members have accountability with one another.
How the Meetings Work
Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Dallas are designed to be accessible and supportive. The fellowship offers a range of different meeting types—from speaker sessions all the way to step studies—designed to suit different needs and stages of recovery. Participants can share their personal stories and go through a reflective process in understanding their journey toward recovery.
- Speaker Meetings: A guest speaker speaks about his or her addiction and recovery experience to inspire and enlighten.
- Discussion Meetings: Members freely share their experiences and talk about problems that might arise either in addiction or recovery.
- Step Study Meetings: More structured, these are meetings which deal with working the 12 steps as people progress in recovery.
The NA meeting is not just about one’s addiction problem but a place where people could find good company and a support system that will last a lifetime in recovery.
The 12 Steps of NA
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous represent a systematic process whereby the addictive individual is able to change their lives, grow as a person, and establish a more healthy existence. These steps are core in the recovery process within NA and will lead the members toward positive change and continued sobriety.
- We admitted we were powerless over our addiction-that our lives had become unmanageable. This step encourages acceptance and acknowledgment of the addiction’s impact on one’s life.
- Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Members open themselves to the idea of a higher power that can help them in their recovery journey.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. This is the step of relinquishing control to a higher power and trusting in the process of recovery.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Members reflect on their past actions, behaviors, and patterns that contributed to their addiction.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. This step is an act of honesty and openness, as one shares personal shortcomings with others.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Through the letting go of negative traits, members prepare themselves mentally and emotionally for change.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Individuals seek guidance and assistance in addressing their personal flaws.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. This step gets members to be responsible for their past misdeeds and to seek amends.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Members make efforts in mending relationships while being sensitive to the well-being of others.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. This step encourages ongoing self-awareness and responsibility in recovery.
- 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. Members foster spiritual growth and connect with their higher power for guidance.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. The last step promotes members to share their journey of recovery with others, helping new members get well.
Getting Started with NA in Dallas
To get started with Narcotics Anonymous in Dallas, one of the easiest and most effective ways to find local meetings is through the meeting search tool on Methadone.org. This online tool allows you to search for both in-person and online meetings, so you can easily find one that works best for your schedule and your preferences. Many areas around Dallas have different meeting formats, including virtual sessions, that make it easier to go regardless of location or personal situations that may arise.
Dallas offers both in-person and virtual meetings for members to choose from, whichever works best for their recovery process. In-person meetings allow for face-to-face contact with other members, promoting a sense of community and support, while online meetings have the advantage of convenience, especially for those who may have mobility or transportation issues.
Going to Your First Local NA Meeting
When going to your first NA meeting in Dallas, one should first know the difference between an open meeting versus a closed meeting. An open meeting is open to anyone who wants to know about NA: family members, friends, or professionals in the field. A closed meeting is for those who say they are an addict and want to focus on recovery in a private and confidential environment.
Meeting Types: Open vs. Closed
| Meeting Type | Description | Who Can Attend |
|---|---|---|
| Open Meeting | Open to the public, including non-addicts. | Anyone, including family and friends. |
| Closed Meeting | Reserved for people who describe themselves as addicts. | Only people with addictions. |
It’s a good idea to go early so that you may introduce yourself to the people with whom you will share these meetings and get accustomed to the place. Fellow participants will greet you and give you a chance to say what has been going on with you, but only if it feels right for you to do so. You do not have to say a thing at your first meeting.
You will also be given a welcome keychain tag at your first meeting. This is a small token, but it means a lot because it shows that you have taken the first step in the recovery process. You will get more tags as you progress to show your important recovery dates.
Keychain Tag Milestones
- 30 Days: One month clean.
- 60 Days: Two months into the process.
- 1 Year: One full year of recovery.
- Multiple Years: Continuing recognition for ongoing recovery milestones.