Any one who wants to stop using drugs may become a member of Narcotics Anonymous. Membership is not limited to addicts using any particular drug. Those who feel they may have a problem with drugs, legal or illegal, including alcohol, are welcome in N.A. Recovery in N.A. focuses on the problem of addiction, not on any particular drug. The basic premise of anonymity allows addicts to attend meetings without fear of legal or social repercussions. This is an important consideration for an addict thinking about going to a meeting for the first time.
Anonymity also supports an atmosphere of equality in meetings.
It helps insure that no individual's personality or circumstance will be considered more important than the message of recovery shared in N.A. Addicts helping each other recover are the foundation of N.A. Members meet regularly to talk about their experiences in recovery. The core of the N.A. programme is the 12 Steps. By following these guidelines and working closely with other members, addicts learn to stop using drugs and face the challenges of daily living. 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.