BETTY'S STORY ... NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS PROVIDES SUPPORT TO BEAT DRUG
ADDICTION

Betty (not her real name) was near the end of her rope when she found out
about the help available through Narcotics Anonymous.

"If it wasn't for Narcotics Anonymous I might not be here today because I
was almost at a point of overdosing on prescription drugs," explained Betty.
"It wasn't until I started attending the N.A. meetings that I was able to
receive help and support. I feel now that I am being trusted again and that
people have started to give me a second chance in life."

Betty and her fellow Narcotics Anonymous members meet at Grace Lutheran
Church every Saturday evening from 7:30 to 8:30 to help each other stay
clean through the complete abstinence from all drugs. The only requirement
for membership in the program, which is not affiliated with any other
organization, has no initiation fees and dues, and is open to anyone
regardless of age, race, sexual identity or religion (or lack of a
religion), is the honest desire to stop using.

"The most important thing it has done for me is show me that I am not alone
with my addiction," stated Trudy (not her real name), who joined the
Narcotics Anonymous program at about the same time as Betty. "Because we
each share our own experiences, we know there are others we can completely
identify with concerning the disease of addiction. We feel our approach to
the disease of addiction is completely realistic, for the therapeutic value
of one addict helping another is without parallel. Our way is practical, as
one addict can best understand and help another addict. Rather than focusing
on a specific drug we focus on the disease of addiction, which encompasses
all drugs, including alcohol."

Narcotics Anonymous is not interested in what or how much its members used
or who their connections were, only in what they want to do about their
problem and how it can help. The newcomer is the most important person at
any meeting because those who have attended before can only keep what they
have by giving it away. They (members) have learned from group experience
that those who keep coming to meetings regularly stay clean.

Though persons do not have to be referred to Narcotics Anonymous, the
program provides information to doctors about addictions and its meeting
times so that anyone who needs assistance may be able to receive it.
Volunteers also provide literature about drugs and alcohol usage to schools
when a request has been made. According to a Narcotics Anonymous pamphlet,
the program should remain forever nonprofessional, but service centres may
employ special workers.

Further information about Narcotics Anonymous may be obtained from the
official web-site at www.na.org.