PROFESSIONALS

Esperanza Area of Narcotics Anonymous wants to assist professionals working in the addiction field in any way we can. If a member of the community is interested in attending a meeting to see how it may benefit their clients or patients, we encourage you to do so. Our meetings listed as “open” are accessible and free to anyone that is interested in learning more about NA recovery, and all are welcome. That being said, Narcotics Anonymous is governed by a set of 12 Traditions that serve as guiding principles for our fellowship. These traditions help us to continue to provide a clear and concise message of recovery that serves to protect our groups and individual members. We encourage those interested in learning more about our way of life to attend a local meeting and see for themselves what NA is all about.

NA Meetings

Narcotics Anonymous is not a religious organization and does not mandate any particular belief system. It does teach basic spiritual principles such as honesty, open-mindedness, faith, willingness, and humility that may be applied in everyday life. The specific practical application of spiritual principles is determined by each individual. Recovery in NA is not a miracle cure that happens within a given period of time. It is a process, ongoing and personal. Members make an individual decision to join and​ recover at their own pace. Financial contributions from non-members are not accepted. Most NA meetings are held regularly at the same time and place each week, usually in a public facility. There are two basic types of meetings those that are open to the general public and those closed to the public (for addicts only). Meetings vary widely in format. Some formats are: participation, speaker, question and answer, topic discussion, and some have a combination of these formats. The function of any meeting is always the same: to provide a suitable and reliable environment for personal recovery. NA’s primary approach to recovery is its belief in the therapeutic value of one addict helping another. Members take part in NA meetings by talking about their experiences and recovery from drug addiction. NA meetings are informally structured, held in space rented by the group, and are led by members who take turns opening and closing the meeting. NA meetings and other services are funded entirely by member contributions and the sale of recovery literature.

Esperanza Area of NA and Community Professionals

Narcotics Anonymous in the Esperanza Area consists of 102 meetings per week throughout San Antonio and the surrounding cities. Esperanza Area Service Committee has two subcommittees that are designed specifically to provide information and services to professionals and the community: Public Relations Subcommittee – This subcommittee provides information about recovery from addiction through the Narcotics Anonymous (NA) fellowship. Additionally, NA members are often available to make panel presentations in educational facilities, treatment centers, and correctional facilities, as well as other public venues. The primary focus of this subcommittee is to reach out to the surrounding community, and to demonstrate how Narcotics Anonymous can be a valuable resource. Hospitals and Institutions Subcommittee – This subcommittee carries the Narcotics Anonymous message of recovery to addicts who do not have full access to regular NA meetings. Meetings and/or presentations are provided to hospitals, jails, addiction treatment facilities, detox centers, and other various institutions. The primary purpose of this subcommittee is to allow recovering addicts to be of service, and to carry the message of hope to those addicts seeking freedom from active addiction.