NA: A Resource In Your Community
Narcotics Anonymous values building relationships with those in government, first responders, the clergy, the helping professions, and private voluntary organizations. We believe that the maintenance of successful relationship involves ongoing dialogue and mutual communication. Our experience shows that we have many non-addict friends that can advocate for NA.
The American River Area of Narcotics Anonymous cooperates with professionals and organizations, by providing information about recovery through the NA Fellowship. Additionally, NA members are often available to make panel presentations in educational facilities, treatment centers and correctional facilities as well as other public venues. The Northern California Region also makes available Narcotics Anonymous literature for sale to professionals and facilities. If you need literature for your facility please order from the Northern California Region of Narcotics Anonymous.
What is Narcotics Anonymous?
Narcotics Anonymous is a global, community-based organization with a multi-lingual and multicultural membership. NA was founded in 1953 with the support of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. Although our growth was minimal during our initial twenty years as an organization, now over 60-years old, the number of members and meetings has increased dramatically. Today, NA members hold more than 67,000 meetings weekly in 139 countries. We speak 65 different languages and recovery literature is now translated in 49 of them. We offer recovery from the effects of addiction through working a twelve-step program. Successful members build community through regular attendance at group meetings. The group atmosphere provides help from peers and offers an ongoing support network for addicts who wish to pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle.
Our name, Narcotics Anonymous, is not meant to imply a focus on any particular drug; NA’s approach makes no distinction between drugs which includes alcohol. Membership is free, and we have no affiliation with any organizations outside of NA including governments, religions, law enforcement groups, medical facilities, or psychiatric associations. We maintain a spirit of cooperation with others seeking to help addicts and strive to reach a day when every addict in the world has an opportunity to experience our message of recovery in their own language and culture.
What We Offer Your Clients
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Peer-led recovery support meetings (in-person and virtual) across the American River Area, including Sacramento and surrounding communities.
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A program of complete abstinence from all drugs, one day at a time, for any person who has a desire to stop using.
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No fees, dues, or insurance; meetings and services are free of charge.
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A welcoming environment for people with diverse backgrounds and a wide range of substance use histories.
NA is a complement to, not a replacement for, clinical care. Many members attend NA while also participating in counseling, outpatient services, residential treatment, or other professional supports.
How Clients Connect With NA
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24-hour helpline: 800‑600‑4673 (800‑600‑HOPE), offering meeting information and basic NA information.
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Text-based meeting finder: Clients can text their city or ZIP code to the helpline to receive a list of nearby meetings.
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Website meeting list: Up-to-date meeting schedules for the American River Area are available at the Sacramento NA website (meeting list section).
You can provide these contacts on discharge plans, referral forms, court documents, and resource lists so clients can access support immediately when they are ready.
Collaboration With Professionals
NA World Services provides materials specifically for professionals, including “NA: A Resource in Your Community” and information on NA and medication-assisted treatment. These resources can help you understand how NA can support your clients while they follow your clinical recommendations.
Local NA public relations committees can provide:
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Presentations or Q&A sessions for treatment programs, courts, schools, and agencies
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Literature and meeting directories for your clients
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Information about bringing NA meetings or presentations into your facility
To explore local collaboration options, you can contact the American River Area via the helpline or the contact information listed on our website or sending email to prchair@sacramentona.org. To request a Presentation about how we can help, email presentations@sacramentona.org.
Additional Resources about NA
For more information about our program, we invite you to review some of the items described below.
Membership Survey – Our 2024 survey of 32,398 NA members.
Information about NA – Includes facts about the history of NA, organizational philosophy, and membership demographics.
NA: A Resource in Your Community – This pamphlet provides information about local NA services that may be available such as public service announcements, phonelines, literature sales, and NA presentations for health fairs, schools and professional conferences.
In Times of Illness – This relied-upon booklet was revised in 2010 to reflect members’ experiences with challenges such as mental health issues, chronic illness and pain, and supporting members with illnesses. It includes section summaries in the table of contents.
NA Groups and Medication – Our Twelve Traditions remind us that medication use is a member’s personal decision, and is an outside issue for NA groups. This piece is intended for groups as they consider this issue. It does not address members’ personal decisions, nor does it try to change members’ opinions about medication. Groups are often better able to carry the message and welcome everyone when members come together to discuss this issue.
For Those in Treatment – This pamphlet offers some suggestions and a basic plan of action to help recovering addicts in the transition from treatment to continuing recovery in Narcotics Anonymous.
By Young Addicts, For Young Addicts – This pamphlet was developed by young members of Narcotics Anonymous to illustrate the fact that young addicts around the world, speaking many different languages, are getting and staying clean in NA.
An Introduction to NA Meetings – Offers a welcoming introduction, and explains practices unfamiliar to those at their first meetings, and provides tips for groups to preserve an atmosphere of recovery.
Narcotics Anonymous and Persons Receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment – This pamphlet is intended for professionals who prescribe medication to treat drug addiction. The service pamphlet NA Groups and Medication contains a broader discussion of NA Members and other medications.
Mental Health in Recovery – This piece of literature reflects the shared experiences of NA members, including those who have found it necessary to seek outside help for mental health concerns and other members who are recovering alongside them.