Narcotics Anonymous Meetings in New Jersey: Find Local Support
What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous is a worldwide, nonprofit fellowship of persons who come together to help each other remain clean from drugs and lead well and drug-free lives. NA will offer the close surroundings necessary for those suffering from the consequences of addiction to derive strength, understanding, and fellowship through regularly scheduled meetings. It is free to join and based on the 12-step philosophy, just like other recovery groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Founded in the 1950s, today NA encompasses more than 70,000 meetings worldwide, helping people to rebuild their lives in a place where the atmosphere is very understanding and non-judgmental. To find local meetings in New Jersey, you can use the methadone clinic nj page for a comprehensive list of clinics and support groups in your area.
New Jersey Support Group for Drug Addiction
NA is well-represented in New Jersey, with more than a handful of locations around the state offering meetings to get people well. The 12-step support group is there to offer recovering addicts a support network where people share their stories and experiences, helping others be motivated to continue down the road to recovery. All NA meetings are open to anyone and are free of charge.
Key Features of NA Meetings:
- Free Admission: There are no fees or any kind of registration required for entry.
- Safe and Anonymous: A confidential environment ensures privacy for members.
- Supportive Atmosphere: Share your story or simply attend to listen and support others.
- Variety of Format: Meetings are in a discussion format, speaker format, or step work format.
- Non-judgmental: No questions asked, no one is judged, nor stigmatized; only healing.
New Jersey NA Meeting Places and Times
Newark
Location: 123 Main Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Meeting Times:
- Monday: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Open Discussion
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Step Study
Meeting formats include: open discussion and step study meetings where members share personal recovery experiences and discuss the 12-step program for insights and support from peers.
Jersey City
Venue: 456 Liberty Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Meeting Times:
- Tuesday: 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM, Speaker/Discussion
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Open Forum
Meeting Methods: Speaker meetings have guests that share their tales of recovery; the open forum is an open group discussion and support. Newcomers should feel welcome to join and share.
Atlantic City
Address: 789 Atlantic Boulevard, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Meeting Times:
- Wednesday: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (Newcomers’ Meeting)
- Sunday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Literature Study)
Meeting Methods: Meetings are focused on newcomers and how to get started with the recovery process. Literature study meetings explore texts related to NA’s 12-step recovery, offering guidance and tools for long-term sobriety.
Global Reach and History
Formed in the 1950s, Narcotics Anonymous started with a few people within California and grew into more than 70,000 meetings in many countries. The growth of NA points to its success in keeping people drug-free. NA is still growing, and it continues to provide basic recovery support and recovery tools to individuals who suffer from substance addiction in most cities all over the United States, including New Jersey.
NA’s 12 Steps
The 12-Step program is the core structure of Narcotics Anonymous and is intended to direct members toward recovery through promoting self-awareness, responsibility, and personal growth. Each step serves in a valuable manner to assist members with understanding their addiction and to progress forward in life. Below are the 12 Steps:
- We admitted we were powerless over our addiction—that our lives had become unmanageable.
Admitted powerlessness over addiction and how it has ruined one’s life. - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Realizing the need for a higher power or support system to help with recovery. - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Hand over our lives to a power greater than ourselves and ask for guidance in recovery. - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Made a profound reflection on the mistakes of the past and what defects needed changing. - Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Acknowledged mistakes; openness and honesty were sought. - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Being willing to change by preparing oneself for transformation. - Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Asking for help in letting go of past behaviors and faults. - Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Identify the hurt caused to others by addiction and preparation to reparation. - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Making amends with active effort and considering the well-being of others. - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Self-evaluation regularly and timely owning up when wrong. - 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.
Strengthening spiritual connection to guide daily actions. - 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.
Using the recovery experience to help others and live by the lessons learned.
These steps have been quite a helpful guide and beacon of hope for members in New Jersey to make meaningful, accomplished milestones in overcoming addiction and living a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Finding NA Meetings in New Jersey
The Meeting Search feature from Methadone.org can help you find local NA meetings in New Jersey as you get started. It is easy to search for in-person and virtual meetings in your area by simply searching by city, zip code, or district. Many areas have flexible options to fit the needs of those who prefer online meetings or a platform that is easier to access. This makes it easier for people to join the meetings whatever their location or schedule.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
When you start attending your first NA meeting in New Jersey, you’ll learn there are two kinds of meetings: open and closed.
Open vs Closed Meetings
- Open: This means anyone may attend, including family members and friends of those suffering from addiction.
- Closed: Nobody is allowed to attend except those who feel they are people affected by addiction.
What to Expect at Your First Meeting
- Come Early: Come early in order to get familiar with the meeting space and feel comfortable.
- Introduce Yourself: You will be invited to introduce yourself as a new member, but only if you feel comfortable.
- Share Your Experiences: If and when you feel ready, you can share your experiences, but this is not mandatory.
NA Welcome Keychain Tags
At your initial meeting, you will be given a welcome keychain tag to mark the beginning of your journey down the road to recovery. These tags remind you of where you have been and how far you have come in terms of achievement. The following are general shared tag milestones:
- 30 Days
- 60 Days
- 1 Year
- 2 Years
- 5 Years
- 10 Years
These are those important milestones that show how committed you are and how far you have come with your recovery; such tags upon receipt will keep you motivated and connected with fellow members.