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Nar-Anon

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Nar-Anon is a 12-step program that is specifically for the loved ones of those who suffer from drug or alcohol addiction. Nar-Anon compliments the similar 12-step program that is for individuals addicted to drugs known as Narcotics Anonymous. The traditions of Nar-Anon state that the entity should, “always cooperate with Narcotics Anonymous.”

Nar-Anon was founded by Alma B. however her first attempt at launching the program failed. In 1968, the plan for Nar-Anon was revived in Palos Verdes Peninsula and the articles of incorporation were later formed for the group in 1971. By 1986, the Nar-Anon World Service Office (WSO) was formed in Torrence, California.

The Purpose of Nar-Anon

Nar-Anon is a 12-step program that was originally designed to cooperate with Narcotics Anonymous and provide help to relatives and the friends of addicts to recover from the negative effects that have occurred as a result of living with an addicted friend or relative. The program uses a series of 12-steps and 12-traditions similar to other 12-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous.

There is only one requirement for a member to attend a Nar-Anon 12-step meeting – the individual must have a friend or relative that has a problem with drugs or addiction. Nar-Anon is not affiliated with any other organization or entity besides their close relationship with Narcotics Anonymous. Meetings are always provided free of charge to those who have friends or family members who are struggling or whom have struggled with addiction.

The 12-Steps of Nar-Anon

All 12-step programs are focused on a series of steps that guide them in their recovery. These 12-steps and the 12-step program was originally developed for Alcoholics Anonymous but many different groups have now altered the steps in order to make them more suitable to their unique cause. The Nar-Anon 12-step program employs the following 12-steps for the recovery of families and friends of those addicted to drugs or alcohol:

  1. We admitted we were powerless over the addict – that our lives had become unmanageable.
  2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
  3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
  4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
  5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
  6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
  7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
  8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
  9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible except when to do so would injure them or others.
  10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
  11. 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.
  12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of all these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

The 12-steps provide a goal for the individual to gain freedom from the struggles that they themselves have endured as well as those struggles that their loved ones or friends are having as a result of addiction.

Nar-Anon’s Twelve Concepts

In addition to the 12-steps of Nar-Anon, the group also employs 12-traditions that govern how the group operates and creates freedom for the group. The 12-traditions of Nar-Anon are similar to the traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other 12-step groups. Further, the structure of the services of Nar-Anon are governed by the Nar-Anon 12-Concepts which are as follows:

  1. To fulfill our fellowship’s primary purpose, the Nar-Anon Family Groups have joined together to create a structure that develops, coordinates, and maintains services on behalf of Nar-Anon as a whole.
  2. The final responsibility and authority for Nar-Anon services rests with the Nar-Anon Family Groups.
  3. The Nar-Anon Family Groups delegate to the service structure the authority necessary to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to it.
  4. Effective leadership is highly valued in Nar-Anon. Leadership qualities should be carefully considered when selecting trusted servants.
  5. For each responsibility assigned to the service structure, a single point of decision and accountability should be clearly defined.
  6. Group conscience is the spiritual means by which we invite a loving Higher Power to influence our decisions.
  7. All members of a service body bear substantial responsibility for that body’s decisions and should be allowed to fully participate in its decision making processes.
  8. Regular, two-way communications are essential to the fulfillment of all these concepts, and to the integrity and effectiveness of our services themselves.
  9. All elements of our service structure have the responsibility to carefully consider all viewpoints in their decision-making processes.
  10. Any member of a service body can petition that body for the redress of a personal grievance without fear of reprisal.
  11. Nar-Anon funds are used to further our primary purpose to carry the message, and must be managed responsibly.
  12. In keeping with the spiritual nature of Nar-Anon, our structure should always be one of the service, never of government.

How Nar-Anon Helps Family Members and Friends of Addicts

The Nar-Anon Fmaily Groups are a companion entity that is separate from Narcotics Anonymous but which works in close conjunction with the friends and family members or those in Narcotics Anonymous. Weekly meetings help relatives and friends of drug users to both avoid rejection and being over protective. Drug or alcohol dependence is considered a “family disease” meaning that it not only affects the user or the addict but also has a very serious impact on those who care about the addict.

When an individual is addicted to drugs, the needs of the family are not adequately met which means that children and loved ones also suffer as a result of the addiction. Nar-Anon is a self supporting group that provides a major source of help for friends, family members and relatives of drug addictions.

In Nar-Anon groups, members learn how they can be at peace with themselves and restore hope for the future, despite their loved one’s addiction to drugs or alcohol. During these groups, members learn how to accept that addiction is a disease. They also learn how to reduce tension that is felt between themselves and the addict as well as the family, and they learn how to encourage the drug abuser to get help for their problem. Nar-Anon provides support for families and friends of addicts in the form of emotional support, guidance and comfort in this time of need.