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 N.A. 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.
N.A's primary approach to recovery is its belief in the therapeutic value of one addict helping another. Members take part in N.A. meetings by talking about their experiences and recovery from drug addiction. N.A. meetings are informally structured, held in space rented by the group, and are led by members who take turns opening and closing the meeting. N.A. meetings and other services are funded entirely from donations by addict members and the sale of recovery literature. Financial contributions from non-members are not accepted.