Narcotics Anonymous a ray of hope for drug addicts

Narcotics Anonymous has been holding weekly meetings, at Women’s College at Ambedkar Circle (Jyothi) in Mangaluru, on every Sunday, at 11.30 am.

Briefing mediapersons here on Saturday, recovering member of NA Robert (name changed) said that there is one group of NA with 12 members in Mangaluru started five months ago. A fellowship of NA does not cost a person anything as there are no membership fee, nor do they use medicines for treatment.

NA only expects “honesty, willingness, open-mindedness, acceptance, care and compassion, unconditional love, trust, hope, faith, self-support from its members. We rely on mutual support and sharing of experiences,” he said.

The core of the programme is the 12 steps which practiced on a regular basis lifts the obsession to use again. They call it ‘freedom from active addiction’.
The experienced members termed “Sponsors” guide the new members. They help them identifying their problems and find their own best solution, he explained.

Further, he said that NA is bound with traditions that keeps them in unity and also in union with others. This programme follows the principle of ‘Anonymity’ that which helps in keeping a sense of equality and also secures their identity to the outside world.

Another member David (name changed) said NA does not accept financial contributions from any non-members. They do not affiliate or endorse or lend their name to any outside enterprise nor provide any opinion on any of the outside issues. The only requirement for membership in NA for one is to have a desire to stop using drugs.

“NA is a non-religious institution and we don’t accept funds from anyone. It is just one addict helping the other to get over addiction,” he said. 
NA in India is since 1983 and have active fellowships in Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Orissa, Pune, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Ahmedabad and Mangaluru.

“We conduct regular NA meetings in public facilities which provides an environment for addicts to identify and help each other to cope and learn to stay away from all mood altering substances that includes alcohol. In fact, the NA has been conducting presentations at a few educational institutions, for the last few years,” he said.

Those who wish to overcome drug addiction can also contact helpline in Mangaluru on 7506662028 or 9880590059 (Bengaluru).