What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a support group for individuals struggling with drug addiction. Founded in the 1950s, the organization has grown to become one of the largest and most recognized groups dedicated to helping people overcome addiction. With a global network of over 70,000 meetings, NA offers a free, welcoming, and non-judgmental environment for people in need of support. It runs a 12-step program, similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, in which the personal recovery process will involve sharing experiences, spiritual growth, and mutual accountability. If you’re looking for more resources, you can find information about rehab centers in Oklahoma City to complement your recovery journey.
NA meetings are available in most cities throughout the United States, including Oklahoma City. The meetings offer a lifeline for those desiring to overcome their addiction to drugs and the opportunity to relate to others who can understand their struggles. The program is free, so there is no cost to anyone desiring to participate.
Narcotics Anonymous Meetings in Oklahoma City
NA meetings are set up all over Oklahoma City for each stage of a person in recovery. Here, through these gatherings, people adversely affected by the disease of drug addiction find encouragement and learn to be assisted by persons who give of themselves – their experience, strength, and hope. Meetings have open doors, and there is no pre-registration; the following are locations and times for Oklahoma City:
Oklahoma City NA Meeting Center
Address: 123 Main St., Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Meeting Times:
- Monday: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- Wednesday: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- Friday: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Meeting Details:
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- Open meetings: Anyone can attend.
- Closed meetings: For members only (those who have a desire to stop using drugs).
- Formats: Discussion, speaker, and step study.
Midtown Narcotics Anonymous
Address: 456 Maple Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73109
Meeting Times:
- Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Sunday: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Meeting Details:
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- Open meetings: Welcomes anyone interested in recovery.
- Step study: Focus on working through the 12-step program.
- Meditation: Sessions aimed at mental and emotional healing.
South Oklahoma City Recovery Group
Address: 789 South St., Oklahoma City, OK 73119
Meeting Times:
- Monday: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Wednesday: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Friday: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Meeting Details:
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- Closed meetings: For persons desiring to stop using drugs.
- Speaker meetings: The meetings have guest speakers who describe their personal recovery experiences.
- Literature study: Members read and discuss NA recovery literature.
How NA Meetings Work
Narcotics Anonymous meetings generally follow a structured format, although each group may have its own variations. In general, these meetings are supposed to provide an atmosphere that is conducive for the members to share their addiction experiences, tell stories, and learn about tools and methods that have helped others to remain sober. Some common types of meetings include:
- Open meetings: Open to anybody interested in learning about Narcotics Anonymous, whether or not the person has a desire for recovery.
- Closed meetings: These would be limited to those who demonstrate a desire to stop using drugs. In contrast to open meetings, closed ones offer a smaller and closer environment for active recoveries.
- Step study meetings: The individuals come together to work the 12-step program to further their understanding and commitment to recovery.
- Discussion meetings: People share their personal experiences in relation to their journey.
- Speaker meetings: Special guest speakers will tell their recovery story for inspiration and to give hope to the individuals present.
NA meetings are held on a regular basis in Oklahoma City so that the needy may have constant access to their recovering process. These meetings provide an atmosphere that is non-judgmental and friendly, free of cost, where individuals can take back control of their lives and draw strength from others who have gone through or are going through similar struggles.
The long and storied history of Narcotics Anonymous since its founding in the 1950s has made it a cornerstone for addiction recovery, with over 70,000 meetings being held globally. These have gone on to provide a lifeline for many desirous of overcoming the addictive cycle and into drug-free, healthier living.
The 12 Steps of NA
NA operates a 12-step program aimed at aiding individuals in surmounting addiction and moving on to achieve long-term recovery. The 12 steps offer a systematic approach through which members are guided in taking responsibility for their own actions, seeking spiritual development, and relying on other recovering addicts for support. Each step builds on the last, leading members toward change and a life free from drugs.
- We admitted we were powerless over our addiction—that our lives had become unmanageable.
This step encourages members to come to a place of reality over their addiction and how it has affected their life. - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Members begin to open themselves to spiritual support or a higher power in their recovery. - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
This step emphasizes letting go of control and trusting in the guidance of a higher power. - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Individuals deeply reflect on their behaviors, mistakes, and patterns to better understand their addiction. - Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Confession, honesty, and vulnerability are involved in this step as a way to heal. - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
The members are getting themselves ready to let go of the negative behaviors and traits that have brought them into addiction. - Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
This stage calls for seeking assistance to rise above defects of character and other weaknesses. - Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Members take accountability with the people that were harmed by their actions and ready themselves to mend the situations. - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
This step involves concrete actions taken to make amends with those they have harmed. - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
This step fosters continued self-awareness and accountability during 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 reinforce spiritual practice as a way of staying in touch and focused on recovery. - 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 is about sharing the recovery message with others and practicing the principles learned through the program.
These 12 steps are central to NA’s mission of motivating individuals toward positive change and supporting their journey toward recovery. With each of the steps, members in Oklahoma City and beyond can cultivate a sense of hope, purpose, and connection as they move forward in their process of healing.
Getting Started with NA in Oklahoma City
Finding Local Meetings
To get started in your road to recovery, find Narcotics Anonymous meetings near Oklahoma City. You can access nearby meetings with the help of the meeting search feature on methadone.org for a comprehensive list of NA meetings both locally and across the country. On the platform, you can filter by location, time, and format to find what best suits your needs.
- In-person meetings: NA provides face-to-face meetings across Oklahoma City. These meetings provide an excellent opportunity to connect with others in the recovery community, share experiences, and build support networks.
- Online/virtual meetings: Many of these meetings can be accessed online for those who would like or need to attend from home. Virtual meetings are convenient and accessible; one can join a meeting from any place in the world, all while maintaining privacy and confidentiality.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
Attending an NA meeting for the first time can be a major milestone of recovery. Here’s what happens if you attend your first local meeting in Oklahoma City.
Open vs Closed Meetings
NA meetings generally fall into two categories: open and closed meetings. Each serves a different purpose and offers a different type of experience.
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meetings | These are open to all persons, including non-addicts who want to learn more about NA or to support a loved one. |
| Closed Meetings | These are for people with an addiction problem and a desire to work on recovery. Only those who want to stop using drugs can attend. |
First Meeting Tips
- Arrive early: It is a good idea to arrive a little early in order to get comfortable with the setting and meet the meeting organizer or other members.
- Introduce yourself: During the meeting there will likely be an opportunity for attendees to introduce themselves. As a new member, that is perfectly okay to state one is new to NA and looking for help.
- Share your story/experience: You are encouraged to share your story and experience with addiction, but if you are not ready to say anything, you are not required to share.
- Receive a welcome keychain tag: Newcomers often receive a keychain tag at their first meeting, which serves as a symbol of your commitment to recovery. This tag is a tangible reminder of your decision to get help and be part of the NA community.
Milestones and Keychain Tags
As you continue in recovery, you will be able to receive further keychain tags in between these milestones to mark your clean date and how much time has passed since you began. The milestone dates include:
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
- 6 months
- 1 year
- Multiple years
Each one serves as proof of a further milestone for you in the process of recovery and acts as testimony to your dedication and determination to keeping clean. All these dates will keep reminding you while continuing with meetings and working out the 12-step plan about how far you’ve come and what strength it has taken.