Narcotics Anonymous (NA)is a global organization dedicated to helping people addicted to substances pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle via a12-step program.
If you are considering undertaking the 12 steps of NA, you’re not alone. According to a 2020 study, approximately 45% of Americans who haverecovered from substance addictionhave used 12-step programs to do so.Like AA, NA is a free, community-based resource that anyone can access.
Going to Your First 12-Step Meeting
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous
The 12 steps of NA are listed and explained below.
Step 1
We admitted we were powerless over our addiction and that our lives had become unmanageable.
It can be hard for people who are addicted to a substance to recognize their addiction.Thefirst stepis critical because it requires you to admit you have an addiction that needs to be treated. This can also make it easier for your friends and family members to accept and admit that you have a substance abuse problem.
Step 2
We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Thisstepinvolves putting your faith in a higher power that can help you heal. The higher power can be God, or any other spiritual entity or concept you believe in. While you may struggle with this step if you’re not religious, it’s intended to be an opportunity to let go of the things beyond your control and start working on the things within your control.
Step 3
We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God.
Thisstepis a form of surrender that is intended to help you develop a more positive attitude. For instance, if you find yourself drinking to relieve feelings of anger, pain, frustration, or depression, you can turn those feelings over to a higher power. Doing so can help reduce the compulsion to drink or use drugs and help you feel more capable of dealing with life’s challenges.
Step 4
We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Substance abuse can have negative repercussions on your work, family, relationships, and community.Thisstepinvolves being honest with yourself about the harm done to the various aspects of your life and taking responsibility for your actions.
Step 5
We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Step 6
We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
The focus of thisstepis accepting your faults and being prepared to let them go. As you confront your past, you may find yourself feelingguilty or ashamedof your actions. This step helps you build the willingness to change your behavior.
Step 7
We humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.
Thisstepinvolves praying or employing other spiritual ormindfulness techniques. Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses and asking for assistance in dealing with your flaws can be both humbling and empowering. This step can help improve your self-awareness and spirituality.
Step 8
We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Step 9
We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Thissteprequires you to actually reach out to the people you’ve hurt and make amends with them. The only exception is when trying to make amends in situations that could do more harm than good, such as opening up old wounds or causing fresh pain, in which case it is better left alone.
Step 10
We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
There may be times during the recovery process when you make mistakes or relapse. Thissteprequires you to stay vigilant on a daily basis and admit to any faults you make along the way so you can maintain your spiritual progress.
Step 11
We sought throughprayer and meditationto improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out.
Thisstepencourages you to find a higher purpose. If you’re religious or spiritual, you can do thissoul-searchingthrough your prayers to God or a higher power. If not, you can do it through your community or the NA group you’re part of.
Step 12
Step 12Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Thisstepasks you to apply these principles to every aspect of your life and carry them forward to help others struggling with addiction as well.
‘Just for Today’ in Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
Final Thoughts
12-step programs are designed to help people who are addicted to substances like alcohol and drugs. If you or a loved one have a substance abuse problem and want toget help, you should go to an AA, NA, or CA meeting near you. If you’re already undergoing treatment, talk to your healthcare provider about whether a 12-step program can be beneficial to you.
What to Expect From Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs
7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Narcotics Anonymous.Information about N.A.Alcoholics Anonymous.What is A.A.?Donovan DM, Ingalsbe MH, Benbow J, Daley DC.12-step interventions and mutual support programs for substance use disorders: An overview.Soc Work Public Health. 2013;28(0):313-332. doi:10.1080/19371918.2013.774663Nash AJ.The twelve steps and adolescent recovery: A concise review.Substance Abuse. 2020;14. doi:10.1177/1178221820904397Michigan Narcotics Anonymous.The 12 Steps.Rogers S, Pinedo M, Villatoro A, Zemore S.“I don’t feel like I have a problem because I can still go to work and function”: Problem recognition among persons with substance use disorders. Subst Use Misuse. 2019;54(13):2108-2116. doi:10.1080/10826084.2019.1630441Daley DC.Family and social aspects of substance use disorders and treatment.J Food Drug Anal. 2013;21(4):S73-S76. doi:10.1016/j.jfda.2013.09.038
7 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Narcotics Anonymous.Information about N.A.Alcoholics Anonymous.What is A.A.?Donovan DM, Ingalsbe MH, Benbow J, Daley DC.12-step interventions and mutual support programs for substance use disorders: An overview.Soc Work Public Health. 2013;28(0):313-332. doi:10.1080/19371918.2013.774663Nash AJ.The twelve steps and adolescent recovery: A concise review.Substance Abuse. 2020;14. doi:10.1177/1178221820904397Michigan Narcotics Anonymous.The 12 Steps.Rogers S, Pinedo M, Villatoro A, Zemore S.“I don’t feel like I have a problem because I can still go to work and function”: Problem recognition among persons with substance use disorders. Subst Use Misuse. 2019;54(13):2108-2116. doi:10.1080/10826084.2019.1630441Daley DC.Family and social aspects of substance use disorders and treatment.J Food Drug Anal. 2013;21(4):S73-S76. doi:10.1016/j.jfda.2013.09.038
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Narcotics Anonymous.Information about N.A.Alcoholics Anonymous.What is A.A.?Donovan DM, Ingalsbe MH, Benbow J, Daley DC.12-step interventions and mutual support programs for substance use disorders: An overview.Soc Work Public Health. 2013;28(0):313-332. doi:10.1080/19371918.2013.774663Nash AJ.The twelve steps and adolescent recovery: A concise review.Substance Abuse. 2020;14. doi:10.1177/1178221820904397Michigan Narcotics Anonymous.The 12 Steps.Rogers S, Pinedo M, Villatoro A, Zemore S.“I don’t feel like I have a problem because I can still go to work and function”: Problem recognition among persons with substance use disorders. Subst Use Misuse. 2019;54(13):2108-2116. doi:10.1080/10826084.2019.1630441Daley DC.Family and social aspects of substance use disorders and treatment.J Food Drug Anal. 2013;21(4):S73-S76. doi:10.1016/j.jfda.2013.09.038
Narcotics Anonymous.Information about N.A.
Alcoholics Anonymous.What is A.A.?
Donovan DM, Ingalsbe MH, Benbow J, Daley DC.12-step interventions and mutual support programs for substance use disorders: An overview.Soc Work Public Health. 2013;28(0):313-332. doi:10.1080/19371918.2013.774663
Nash AJ.The twelve steps and adolescent recovery: A concise review.Substance Abuse. 2020;14. doi:10.1177/1178221820904397
Michigan Narcotics Anonymous.The 12 Steps.
Rogers S, Pinedo M, Villatoro A, Zemore S.“I don’t feel like I have a problem because I can still go to work and function”: Problem recognition among persons with substance use disorders. Subst Use Misuse. 2019;54(13):2108-2116. doi:10.1080/10826084.2019.1630441
Daley DC.Family and social aspects of substance use disorders and treatment.J Food Drug Anal. 2013;21(4):S73-S76. doi:10.1016/j.jfda.2013.09.038
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