NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS BENEFITS STUDENTS

Local Program Opens the Door to Recovery

Adam is 35 years old and married.

He has received his bachelor's degree in counseling and development
from Slippery Rock University and is currently attending graduate school.

He is also an addict.

Although Adam has had neither drugs nor alcohol since Aug. 29, 2000,
he understands the scope of student drug and alcohol abuse.

It is because of this understanding that Narcotics Anonymous is making
its debut on campus.

"We felt that there was a need for NA in the area, especially for
students.

A lot of them are stuck on campus without a car and have no way to get
to a meeting," Adam said.

According to Adam, who chose to withhold his last name to remain true
to NA's tradition of anonymity, students have already shown an
interest in the group.

NA has had several calls from students who believe that they have a
problem with alcohol or drugs, and several calls from students who
don't know how to cope with loved ones that do.

"Maybe they are in trouble and they don't know where to go," Adam
said.

"And a lot of students don't really know what recovery
is."

What makes NA unique from other rehabilitation programs is that there
are no non-addict members.

It is through this method that NA promotes its message that no one
will judge.

Members frequently tell life stories during meetings, recalling
difficulties experienced during the recovery process.

"That's how the NA works. It's one addict helping another," Adam
said.

Students have noticed the many flyers on campus and realize that
alcohol and drug abuse is a problem.

"I've noticed that drug abuse has been a problem for people since high
school, and it seems like it has only increased since college.

Not just in Slippery Rock, but at all universities," said Laura
Malinak, a 22-year-old secondary education-history major. "People
don't realize how close to home it really is."

Student concern about attending the meetings has revolved around one
central topic, Adam said. That topic is surveillance.

"Students seem to be worried about surveillance and police
activity.

They ask questions like 'What if I get there and someone is taking
names?'" Adam said.

NA is not sanctioned by the university and has no connections with the
police.

While a popular notion is that 12-step programs force those recovering
to accept religion, Adam said that this is entirely not the case with
NA.

The focus is instead on spirituality and belief in a higher
power.

Gerard Love, an associate professor and chairperson for the Department
of Counseling and Development, points out that sometimes people have
had very bad experiences with religion when it concerns addiction.
However, not all people share this opinion.

"Most of the time, people who are addicted have a hard time moving on,
and the higher-power aspect gives them something to hold on to.

Sometimes the higher power is the good feeling that they get from the
group itself," Adam said.

NA does not only cater to those who are addicted themselves.

Other programs include Adult Children of Alcoholics, which is
comprised of friends, family members and other loved ones of alcoholics.

NA is similar to other 12-step programs in dealing with addiction,
such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

However, it was designed in the 1940s for people addicted to drugs of
all kinds, not just alcohol.

"It's all drugs. It's all an addiction," Adam said.

NA does not accept any financial contributions from non-members to
make sure that it can prevent any outside influence.

"It's just one addict helping another stay sober," Adam said.