New Narcotics Anonymous group opens in Belvidere

BELVIDERE – Recovery is what happens in Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings.

A new NA group called “One Primary Purpose” opened recently at 401 North Main St. in Belvidere, on the corner of East Madison and North Main Streets in the facility of St. John’s Church.

Meetings take place at “One Primary Purpose” Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Meetings last one hour and doors open 30 minutes before the start of each meeting and stay open 30 minutes after the meeting is over for fellowshipping.

The meeting is handicapped accessible and includes ample parking in a well-lit parking lot. NA meetings also take place at the “It Works” group at 521 South State St. in Belvidere, at the rear entrance on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. These meetings also last one hour.

Additionally, many NA meetings take place every day and every night in Rockford.

For meeting times and additional information, visit www.rragsna.org. Click on the tab “Find a Meeting.”

Anyone who wants to stop using drugs may become a member of NA. 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.

Recovery in NA focuses on the problem of addiction, not on any particular drug. Narcotics Anonymous is a non-profit, international, community-based organization for recovering addicts in over 116 countries. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) members learn from one another how to live drug-free and recover from the effects of addiction in their lives.

How to contact NA for local help

To contact NA for local help, please call the local 24-hour Helpline at (815) 964-5959, or anyone can log on to www.rragsna.org.

Additional information about NA services in Belvidere can be obtained by emailing the Rock River Area Group Services (RRAGS) of Narcotics Anonymous public information chair at [email protected] or a PR Subcommittee member at [email protected], or call (815) 299-2803.

Anonymity

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 NA.

NA meetings primary approach to recovery is its belief in the therapeutic value of one addict helping another. Members take part in NA meetings by talking about their experiences and recovery from drug addiction.

NA meetings are formally structured, held in space rented by the group, and are led by members who take turns opening and closing the meeting.

NA meetings and other services are funded entirely from donations by addict members. Financial contributions from non-members are not accepted. The function of any meeting is always the same: to provide a suitable and reliable environment for personal recovery.

How Does NA work?

Addicts helping each other recover is the foundation of NA. Members meet regularly to talk about their experiences in recovery. More experienced members (known as sponsors) work individually with newer members.

The core of the NA program is the Twelve Steps. These ‘steps’ are a set of guidelines outlining a practical approach to recovery. 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.

Recovery in NA 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.