What is NA?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a nonprofit organization that serves as a support group for individuals struggling with drug addiction. It operates in many cities across the United States, including https://www.wfmh.org/na/georgia/muscogee/columbus, and offers a free program with regular group meetings. NA meetings provide a space for people to share experiences, receive support, and follow a structured recovery process to help them overcome addiction.
NA Meetings in Columbus
Below are three key locations for NA meetings in Columbus, along with details about each:
Central Presbyterian Church
– Address: 323 12th St, Columbus, GA 31901
– Meetings Time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 8:00 PM
These meetings are open discussion sessions focused on the 12 steps of recovery, lasting about an hour. They provide an opportunity for members to share their experiences and insights, fostering a supportive environment for personal growth.
Empowering Addicts to Recover
– Address: 1517 7th Ave., Columbus, GA 31901
– Meetings Time: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 7:00 PM
This location hosts candlelight meetings, which emphasize the first three steps of recovery. These intimate gatherings encourage deep reflection and commitment to the early stages of the recovery process, helping members to establish a strong foundation.
The Crossroad
– Address: 7200 Moon Rd., Columbus, GA 31909
– Meetings Time: Sunday at 6:00 PM, Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 PM
The Crossroad offers open speaker meetings, ideal for newcomers to NA. These meetings feature speakers sharing their personal journeys of recovery, providing inspiration and motivation for those just starting their path.
The 12 Steps of NA
The 12-step program is the core of Narcotics Anonymous, guiding members through a process of personal transformation and recovery. Here’s an overview of each step:
- We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable.
This initial step involves acknowledging the problem of addiction and its impact on one’s life. Members recognize their inability to control their addiction and admit the chaos it has caused in their personal and professional lives. - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
In this step, members begin to develop or reaffirm faith in a higher power that can help them achieve recovery. This belief is central to the NA philosophy and supports the idea that addiction is a disease that requires spiritual healing. - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
This step involves surrendering one’s will to a higher power, recognizing that personal control is limited. Members commit to letting go of self-reliance and instead seek guidance from their chosen spiritual support. - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Members conduct a personal inventory to identify past wrongs, fears, and shortcomings. This self-examination helps them understand their past behaviors and prepare for amends. - Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
In this step, members confess their wrongdoings to themselves, a higher power, and another person, typically a sponsor. This admission helps cleanse the soul and build honesty. - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Members prepare themselves for spiritual growth by recognizing the need to let go of their defects. This step is about being open to change and spiritual healing. - Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Here, members ask their higher power to remove their defects of character. This request is made with humility, recognizing the limitations of human power. - Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
This step involves creating a list of those harmed by one’s actions and committing to make amends. Members take responsibility for past wrongs and prepare to correct them. - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Members begin to make amends to those they have harmed, except in cases where doing so might cause further injury. This step is about healing relationships and finding personal peace. - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
This ongoing process involves regularly examining one’s actions and promptly acknowledging any wrongdoing. It ensures continued self-awareness 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.
In this step, members deepen their spiritual connection through prayer and meditation. They seek guidance on their path and the strength to follow it. - 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.
Finally, members share their experience of recovery with others and integrate NA’s principles into their daily lives. This step is about spreading hope and maintaining personal growth.
Getting Started with NA in Columbus, Muscogee, Georgia, USA
To begin your journey with NA in Columbus, you can use the meeting search feature on platforms like methadone.org. Both in-person and online/virtual meetings are available, offering flexibility to suit different needs and preferences.
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
When attending your first NA meeting, it’s helpful to understand the types of meetings available:
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meetings | These meetings are open to anyone interested in NA, including non-addicts seeking information or support. |
| Closed Meetings | Reserved for those who have a drug or alcohol addiction. These meetings provide a safe space for members to share personal experiences without external judgment. |
– Arrive Early: Get to the meeting before it starts to get settled and meet other members.
– Introduce Yourself: Let others know you’re new to NA and willing to participate.
– Share Your Experience: If you feel comfortable, share your story to help both yourself and others.
– Welcome Keychain Tags: New members often receive keychain tags to mark milestones in their recovery journey, such as:
– 30 days: First month of continuous sobriety.
– 60 days: Two months of staying sober.
– 90 days: Completing the initial three months of recovery.
– 6 months: Six months of continuous sobriety.
– 9 months: Nearing a year of recovery.
– 1 year: Completing a full year of sobriety.
By participating in these meetings and following the 12-step program, individuals in Columbus, Muscogee, Georgia, can find support, guidance, and motivation on their journey to recovery from drug addiction.