Akron NA Meetings

What is Narcotics Anonymous?

Narcotics Anonymous is a 12-step based program that began in the early 1950s. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) started in Los Angeles, California and is now a global organization.

NA has meetings available to people in the Akron, Ohio area each week.

The support group is a nonprofit fellowship of people who have had major drug problems. The goal is to help each other stay clean and completely free from drug use.

NA membership is based on the desire to stop using drugs, there are no other requirements. NA considers alcohol to be a drug, so those who want to quit drinking alcohol are also welcome. There are no fees or monthly dues to be part of a group.

NA is not associated with any other group or medical program. There are no professional services offered at the meetings.

What to Expect at a NA Meeting

The first time someone goes to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting they are probably very nervous. The Welcome to Narcotics Anonymous pamphlet says that this is a normal feeling. They recommend continuing to come to the meetings.

Types of NA Meetings

There are two basic types of NA meetings, open meetings and closed meetings. There are different formats within the two types of meetings.

Open meetings allow for people who have not had a drug problem to attend the meeting to support a loved one, or to learn more about NA.

During closed meetings, only addicts or people who think they might have a drug problem are allowed to attend.

NA Meeting Formats

There are several formats that each NA group can use for the meetings:

• Participation Meetings: the group leader allows members to share on any topic related to addiction recovery.
• Topic Discussion Meetings: one particular recovery-related topic is chosen and discussed.
• Study Meetings: A study meeting can be discussing a particular portion of an NA-approved book. It could also be focused on the Twelve Steps or the Twelve Traditions.
• Speaker Meetings: During this meeting, one or more speakers share their recovery experience or talk about a specific aspect of recovery.
• Newcomer Meetings: these meetings give addicts new to the NA group an introduction to how the group works and they can ask questions.
• Question and Answer meetings: During these meetings, people write down recovery-related questions and put them in a basket. The leader pulls a question and one or two people share their experience. Then another question is pulled. This continues until the end of the meeting.

Each local NA group decides what format to use and how often to have meetings. Members are there to encourage each other to continue to stay clean.

Some local NA groups may have meetings for special interests, or common needs. This could be a women’s or men’s only group. There could be groups that are specifically geared towards a particular profession, or gay or lesbian groups.

This is determined by the groups themselves if the group feels there is a need in the local area.

Why is Attending Addiction Recovery Meetings Important?

Recovery meetings are very helpful for people recovering from an addiction. Having a support system makes a positive difference in the recovery process.

NA is a peer support group, which means everyone has experienced drug-related problems. They understand what it is like to need help. Members can offer personal insight that could help another person stay sober.

There is a real need in Akron for drug addiction support groups.

Drug Use Statistics in Akron

Data collected by the Summit County Public Health Department shows there were 1,285 drug overdoses treated in hospital emergency rooms from January 1, 2019 to October 31, 2019. This does not include people who may have had an overdose but did not make it to the hospital.

The Akron police department reported 60 overdose deaths in the first four months of 2021. There were 25 deaths for the same time period in 2020. That is a 140% increase in just a year’s time.

During February 2021, Akron police seized drugs, guns, and $87,000 from two homes. There were several arrests for trafficking and possession. Police recovered 10 grams of methamphetamines at one location. At the second there was one pound of cocaine, an ounce of fentanyl, and half an ounce of methamphetamines.

Traveling to SpringBoard Recovery in Arizona for Drug and Alcohol Rehab

Traveling to a different state for drug and alcohol recovery is a common choice, even for people in Akron, Ohio. There are multiple reasons for someone to choose to travel for the help they need.

These reasons can include:

• Some people might be looking for treatment options not available near them, like holistic options.
• Some people in recovery may need to be far away from home so it is not easy to quit rehab.
• Some people might need a higher level of privacy because they have public positions or jobs.
• Sometimes local rehab centers are not in-network for their insurance, and they can not afford out-of-pocket expenses
• For some people being far away from bad influences helps them recover without being tempted to start using again.

Arizona is a great place for a fresh start. SpringBoard Recovery also has sober living homes available for people who come from out of state.

At SpringBoard Recovery, our goal is to help anyone who wants to break free from drug and alcohol addictions. We treat each person with the respect and dignity that they deserve.

We can check your health insurance benefits to make sure what is covered before you travel to Arizona.

There is no shame in asking for help to overcome an addiction. Please contact us today for more information.