What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. It is a support group for those struggling with drug addiction, available in cities across the United States and around the world. NA is a free program that offers regular group meetings held in Maryland https://www.methadone.org/na/maryland/ and other locations.
- Community-based support for individuals recovering from drug addiction
- No fees or dues required for membership
- Open to anyone with a desire to stop using drugs
- Based on the 12-step model of recovery
What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. It is a support group for those struggling with drug addiction, available in cities across the United States and around the world. NA is a free program that offers regular group meetings held in Maryland and other locations.
- Community-based support for individuals recovering from drug addiction
- No fees or dues required for membership
- Open to anyone with a desire to stop using drugs
- Based on the 12-step model of recovery
Meeting Locations in Maryland
Baltimore – Hampden
Address:
1111 W 36th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211
Meetings:
- Monday, 7:30 PM – Speaker Meeting
- Wednesday, 7:00 PM – Literature Study
- Friday, 8:00 PM – Open Discussion
Silver Spring – Downtown
Address:
8818 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Meetings:
- Tuesday, 7:00 PM – Newcomers Meeting
- Thursday, 8:00 PM – Step Study
- Saturday, 10:00 AM – Women’s Meeting
Annapolis – West Street
Address:
80 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
Meetings:
- Monday, 6:30 PM – Beginner’s Meeting
- Wednesday, 7:30 PM – Topic Discussion
- Sunday, 5:00 PM – Speaker Meeting
About Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous was founded in the 1950s as an offshoot of Alcoholics Anonymous. It has since grown into a worldwide organization with over 70,000 meetings held weekly in more than 140 countries. NA follows a 12-step program adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous and is open to people of all ages, races, sexual identities, creeds, religions, or lack of religion.
- Founded in 1953 in Los Angeles, California
- Expanded rapidly throughout the 1970s and 1980s
- Now holds over 70,000 meetings globally each week
- Literature translated into 55 languages
NA meetings in Maryland offer a supportive environment where individuals can share their experiences, strengths, and hopes with each other. The primary purpose of NA is to carry the message of recovery to addicts who still suffer. Meetings typically last 60 to 90 minutes and may include readings from NA literature, personal sharing, and group discussions.
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous
The Steps
- We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable.
- We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
- We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
- We 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.
- 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.
Motivating Positive Change
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous aim to motivate members toward positive change across Maryland by:
- Encouraging self-reflection and honesty
- Promoting personal responsibility
- Fostering spiritual growth
- Building a support network
- Developing coping skills
- Repairing damaged relationships
- Cultivating a sense of purpose through service
These steps provide a structured approach to recovery, guiding individuals from acknowledging their addiction to actively participating in the recovery of others. The process is designed to be worked at one’s own pace, with the support of sponsors and fellow NA members throughout Maryland.
Getting Started with NA in Maryland
Finding Local Meetings
To find Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Maryland:
- Visit methadone.org and use their meeting search function
- Enter your location or zip code to find nearby meetings
- Choose from in-person or online/virtual meetings
- Select a meeting time and format that suits your schedule
Attending Your First Local NA Meeting
Open vs. Closed Meetings in Maryland
| Meeting Type | Description | Who Can Attend |
|---|---|---|
| Open Meetings | General meetings open to the public | Anyone interested in NA, including family and friends |
| Closed Meetings | Meetings for those with a desire to stop using drugs | Only individuals who identify as addicts or those unsure if they have a problem |
What to Expect
- Arrive early to familiarize yourself with the surroundings
- Introduce yourself as a new member if you feel comfortable
- Listen to others share their experiences
- Share your own experiences if you wish (not mandatory)
- Receive a welcome keychain tag at your first meeting
Keychain Tag Milestones
NA celebrates recovery milestones with keychain tags:
- Welcome (White): Given to newcomers and those returning
- 30 Days (Orange)
- 60 Days (Green)
- 90 Days (Red)
- 6 Months (Blue)
- 9 Months (Yellow)
- 1 Year (Moonglow)
- 18 Months (Grey)
- Multiple Years (Black/Gold)
These tags serve as tangible reminders of progress in recovery. They are typically distributed during meetings when members celebrate their clean time milestones. The act of receiving a tag often involves sharing briefly about one’s journey in recovery, though this is not mandatory. Many NA members in Maryland find these tags to be motivational tools that help them stay committed to their recovery journey.
