What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous, or NA, is an international organization aimed at providing support to individuals with substance addictions. Founded in the 1950s, the organization has grown into a worldwide entity, comprising more than 70,000 meetings held across many countries. The only purpose of NA is to provide addicted people with a supportive environment for recovery, offering a safe and confidential space where they can share their experiences, strength, and hope with each other. This program is free and promotes personal responsibility, group support, and a 12-step process to help people in their struggles to become sober and maintain sobriety. To find NA meetings in Chicago, visit the meeting search tool to discover a meeting near you.
NA meetings are available in many cities of the United States, such as Chicago. These meetings are a source of crucial assistance for people in the locality who want to recover. All meetings are open to all who would like to attend, and they use a structured but flexible approach that encourages open discussion and mutual understanding.
Narcotics Anonymous Meetings in Chicago
From the beginning of recovery to long-term sobriety, there are a myriad of Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Chicago. These meetings vary in location and are free. The schedule and format of the meetings are subject to change, making them flexible enough to work around different needs. Be it in the early days of your recovery or a long-timer, there is definitely a meeting in Chicago that suits your requirements.
Meeting Locations and Times
Chicago Recovery Center
Address: 123 Recovery Lane, Chicago, IL 60601
Meeting Times: Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM
Meeting Details: The venue holds both open and closed NA meetings. Open meetings are available for any individuals willing to learn more about the program, while the closed ones are strictly meant for self-identified addicts. Emphasis is placed on group sharing in which the attendees take part in sharing their very own struggles and successes dealing with their addiction. This also includes a 12-step process which is the basics in the NA program.
Grace House Church
Address: 456 Hope Street, Chicago, IL 60602
Meeting Times: Tuesday, Thursday at 5:30 PM
Meeting Details: Grace House Church is a place of recovery in a non-threatening and supportive environment. NA Meetings held at Grace House Church are casual and non-judgmental. The attendees are introduced to the 12-step recovery process, emphasizing personal growth with the help of their peers. The structure of the meetings includes reading from NA literature, group discussion, and reflective time. In addition, meetings are available to all those who seek recovery from addiction and welcome newcomers.
South Side Recovery Center
Address: 789 Wellness Drive, Chicago, IL 60615
Meeting Times: Sunday, Wednesday at 8:00 PM
Meeting Details: South Side Recovery Center is known for its inclusive environment, offering a range of NA meetings tailored to diverse needs. The meetings here are designed to cater to individuals at all stages of recovery. The sharing of experiences is mainly focused on how to apply the 12-step program in everyday life. Additional resources include sponsorship and educational materials for those that come to the center to help individuals stay committed to their recovery journey.
Meeting Methods and Details
NA meetings in Chicago, therefore, follow the principles of the NA program so that all members are able to have a helpful and orderly environment in which to share. The meetings usually follow a few key formats, including:
- 12-Step Meetings: These are based on the 12-step program, which offers a set course through recovery. Sharing personal stories and reflecting on one’s progress within the program is done by members.
- Speaker Meetings: Other meetings involve guest speakers that share their addiction and recovery experiences, providing further inspiration and knowledge to the members present in the meeting.
- Discussion Meetings: In these meetings, the members discuss in groups, and all the members are invited to share their problems, successes, and learning regarding recovery from addiction.
- Step Study Meetings: These meetings give detailed knowledge regarding the 12 steps; these meetings help the members understand and incorporate the working of the steps in their lives.
All NA meetings in Chicago are conducted in a respectful, confidential, and non-judgmental atmosphere so that the member can be safe and supported throughout the recovery process. Whether one is at the very start or some time into their recovery, Narcotics Anonymous is there to provide them with an excellent community in which they may find the help and encouragement they require.
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous
The 12-step program is the basis of Narcotics Anonymous to help its members recover through personal growth, self-reflection, and community support. Each step encourages individuals to confront their addiction, seek help, and make amends with themselves and others. This process promotes lasting positive change and motivates members in Chicago to achieve and maintain sobriety.
- We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable. Admitting one has lost control to an addiction is the first step toward recovery.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. The realization of needing a higher power is what helps begin the process of regaining control.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. This step invites trust and surrender to a higher power for guidance.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Self-reflection is in order to find the roots of the addiction.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Sharing one’s past mistakes with another person promotes healing and accountability.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Preparing to let go of harmful traits allows for personal growth and change.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Seeking help to overcome personal flaws promotes humility and openness to transformation.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. It would be important to consider those hurt by one’s actions to heal the relationships.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. The making of amends soothes bruised relationships, but does not injure others in the process.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. This is important in long-term sobriety and requires sustained self-evaluation and accountability.
- 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. Regular reflection and spiritual practice deepen personal connection to a higher power.
- 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. Sharing recovery with others and application of the 12 steps in daily life enhance personal growth and strengthen the recovery community.
Getting Started with NA in Chicago
The process of getting started with Narcotics Anonymous in Chicago requires locating meetings. The search tool at methadone.org will help you find a local NA meeting. In the search tool, you are able to select the location you would like to search around, the time of day you prefer, and what type of meeting you’d like to attend. Many cities, including Chicago, provide both physical and online/virtual meetings to fit many needs.
In-person meetings:
These allow a person the chance to interact with others face-to-face and take in the atmosphere of support that a group offers.
Online/virtual meetings:
Some would much rather attend, or for various reasons need to attend, from a remote location to accommodate comfortability within one’s home.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
When attending your first NA meeting in Chicago, it’s important to know the difference between the two main types of meetings: open and closed.
Meeting Types
| Meeting Type | Description | Who Can Attend |
|---|---|---|
| Open Meetings | Open to anyone who is interested in learning more about NA, regardless of their addiction status. | Anyone interested in recovery or support. |
| Closed Meetings | Those who feel they are addicts can share in a more personal and private environment about their issues. Only self-identified addicts. | Only self-identified addicts. |
It is a good idea to show up early to your first meeting so that you can introduce yourself as a new member of the local NA community. When attending, you will be given the opportunity to share your story if you are comfortable doing so, or you may simply listen and learn from others. Sharing your story is a big part of recovery, and members are encouraged to speak openly, but only if ready to do so.
You will be given a welcome keychain tag at your first meeting, which is a symbolic milestone in one’s recovery. They serve to remind one of their resolve to change. The NA keychain tags are awarded to recovering people on certain significant recovery milestones, namely: 30 Days, 60 Days, 1 Year, 2 Years, and 5 Years. This would be considered personal milestones as well as to celebrate them with the positive NA family.
