Essay Exampel on Attending Narcotics Anonymous: My Experience and Shocking Reality

Having attended the Narcotics Anonymous meeting, the reality of the event was far from my expectations. I have heard many myths and misconceptions behind NA meetings. As such, while going into the meeting, I had my mind made up of everything contained in the group. In my mind, NA meetings consisted of individuals addicted to drugs, homeless people, and writers with the interest of picking another storyline. To my surprise, the NA meeting seemed legitimate with the goal of improving people’s lives. The NA meeting had five female and seven male attendees, summing up to twelve individuals. I had been fed from myths about NA meetings and had my attitude aligning with the view that they are a scam to people. The topic of discussion in the meeting centered on recovery (DeLucia et al., 2015). Recovering from being a Narcotics addict requires huge help and a personal decision for the effort to suffice. There are five steps to recover as a Narcotics addict. Awareness and acknowledgment that the use of Narcotics is a problem is the first step to recovery. Recognition and acceptance are successful with the help of family and friends or an individual’s realization of the adverse effects the drugs impact him/her.

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Consideration is the second step involving an individual’s ability to see how their abuse of Narcotics affects other people in their environment. Since the impacts are generally negative, one can learn about the Narcotics and find suitable ways to stop abusing the drug. In the third step, the individual is past his/her denial phase and is ready to take action towards recovery. This step consists of exploring recovery whereby an addict learns about reclamation and invests in living a sober life. With the help of family, friends, and attending NA meetings, one can successfully find the best treatment methods and live a sober life. (DeLucia et al., 2015) The fourth step is vital since it can help an individual stop being an addict or backslide into worse conditions of addictiveness. During early recovery, since relapse can quickly happen, it is crucial to have a supporting and accountability partner. The best way is through nurturing healthier habits, developing coping skills, and mending broken relationships. After passing the fourth stage, individuals are no longer vulnerable, reducing chances of relapse, allowing one to move to the final stage. Maintenance and active recovery cover the fifth step whereby an individual has worked on any issues they had with themselves. Due to learning, understanding, and applying all skills during recovery, one can lead a healthy life without using Narcotics. The story of a lady who uses Narcotics to calm her nerves due to the traumatic events in her life during her teen years stood out to me. The story about the lady is similar to my use of Narcotics to help calm me down. The rush effect of nicotine provides a calming effect. There are various Bible Verses that reflect the recovery of patients in NA meetings. The verses identify that despite the problem, once an individual seeks help, he/she can find the solution.

‘Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.’ (Jeremiah 17:4, The New King James Version).

‘Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,’ (Jeremiah 29:12-13, The New King James Version).

‘Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.’ (Psalms 107: 19-20, The New King James Version).

Conclusion

Having had an adverse attitude before the meeting, attending the meeting changed my perception. During the session, the discussion had direct similarities to my case; hence, it acted as a personal guide to quitting Narcotics abuse. The privacy in the meeting helped me feel safe, listen, and express myself (DeLucia et al., 2015). All the attendees were welcoming, encouraging, and understanding. My fears of judgment from other people in the meeting faded immediately. I stayed. I learned that NA meetings are exemplary for any addict, they help build one’s confidence, and the recovery process is likely to be successful due to the support of all individuals in the meeting.

References

DeLucia, C., Bergman, B. G., Formoso, D., & Weinberg, L. B. (2015). Recovery in Narcotics Anonymous from the perspectives of long-term members: A qualitative study. Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery, 10(1), 3-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/1556035x.2014.969064