is desire enough? · 2017-06-22 · is desire enough? 2 narcotics anonymous ... also, newer members...
TRANSCRIPT
June 2017 Volume 1, Issue 9
Inside this Issue
1 Is Desire Enough?
2 Article Con’t
&
Vision For NA Service
3
Serenity By The Lake #28
4 Events / Celebrations
&
Service Calendar
NA WAY
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current
Reaching out
https://www.na.org/?ID=reaching
-out-index
NA NAWS News
https://www.na.org/?ID=reports-
nawsnews-nawsmain
CAOSC Newsletter Chair, G.J.
http://coascnarcoticsanonymous.
ca/events-newsletters
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Is Desire Enough? Our last Area meeting had some discussion about Our Fellowship and its public relations with professionals who are dealing with Addicts, Addiction and more specifically the Fentanyl crisis that is plaguing our society. Our discussion involved the perception of NA and the opinion or experience around Drug Replacement Therapies (DRT) or Opiod Agonist Therapies (OAT) such as Methadone and Suboxone maintenance programs. While we in NA can have each our own opinion about the use of such therapies, it came into question
“Do local professionals and
Agencies feel comfortable
referring or directing Addicts
on OAT to NA Meetings?”
I came across this article and some interesting content. http://atforum.com/documents/2011NAa
ndMedication-assistedTreatment.pdf
“Narcotics Anonymous and the
Pharmacotherapeutic Treatment of
Opioid Addiction in the United
States William L. White, MA
n 2010”
The Author had worked on this and another project on the history and culture of Narcotics Anonymous. He stated “These separate projects
reached a point of confluence when
many readers of the monograph
responded that one of the greatest
barriers to enhancing the recovery
orientation of medication-assisted
treatment programs was the
attitudes toward opioid addiction
treatment medications experienced
by many of their patients who
sought support from recovery
mutual aid groups, particularly
Narcotics Anonymous (NA).”
The author, William L. White, presents more than a cursory knowledge of the inner workings and challenges n NA when it has come to these issues and identifies right away that the paper’s “...purpose is NOT to influence
NA’s views on these issues., but to
help explore ways in which
addiction professionals and recovery
support specialists can enhance the
peer-based recovery support
available to patients in medication-
assisted treatment, and ways in
which medication-assisted treatment
programs might increase their
patients’ participation in NA or
alternative recovery mutual aid
societies.”
We have no affiliation to the Professionals, but We have a responsibility to the “patients” or as we call them, Addicts. Have We let Professionals and Agencies know that We are here to help any addict? Or have We inadvertently created some conditions that exclude or at the least blur the
line as to who is welcome at a meeting of Narcotics Anonymous?
.
.
.
THE COANA ESH
The COANA ESH is a local Area Newsletter and the opinion(s) expressed are of the Author(s) not
on behalf of Narcotics Anonymous or the Central Okanagan Area of Narcotics Anonymous.
It’s my understanding that The NA group’s primary purpose is to carry the message to the ´Addict who still suffers.” Can “We” carry the message of Hope if there are things that exclude a newcomer from being at or participating in our Meetings? Each Group is Autonomous but must take the impact of its decisions and actions on NA as a whole.
I came across this work done by the Northern New York Region of NA in a power point and feel it has some good points to remember. http://web.na.org/admin/include/spaw2/
uploads/pdf/FTP/English/PR-
PI%20Resources/DRT%20Workshop%
20-%20Norther%20New%20York.pptx
“Tradition 3
The only requirement for
membership is a desire to stop
using.
NA’s Third and Tenth
Traditions are essential to these
discussions. We need to
remember that we cannot
assess anyone’s desire to get
clean and that NA has no
opinion on drug-replacement
therapies.
However, the experience of NA
members is that being clean
means complete abstinence
from all mood- and mind-
altering drugs, including those
used in drug-replacement
therapies. As our Basic Text
states, “Complete abstinence is
the foundation for our new
life.””
“Raising awareness about our
Third Tradition—that the only
requirement for membership in
NA is a desire to stop using
drugs—can benefit discussions
about drug replacement.
Anyone is welcome at NA
meetings, even if they seem as
though they don’t know if they
want to stop using drugs. A
group must always maintain its
primary purpose of carrying
NA’s message of recovery to
addicts. Although NA is a
program of complete
abstinence, nowhere does NA
say a person has to be clean to
attend NA meetings; we need to
be aware of this when
interacting with drug
replacement clients. Sometimes
meeting formats ask those who
have used drugs not to speak—
but it is not our job to judge or
evaluate if someone is clean or
not. Our Third Tradition
cautions us from judging
another member’s desire and
encourages us to welcome any
addict who comes into an NA
meeting.”
“We can share that some
members have tapered their drug
use to abstinence through
replacement methods ….We can
also share that drug replacement
may seem to help today, but our
experience with recovery in NA
means that we are able to live
free from all drugs without the
need to substitute one drug for
another.”
A VISION FOR NA SERVICE
All of the efforts of Narcotics
Anonymous are inspired by the
primary purpose of the groups
we serve.
Upon this common ground we
stand committed.
Our vision is that one day:
Every addict in the world has
the chance to experience our
message in his or her own
language and culture and find
the opportunity for a new way
of life;
Every member, inspired by the
gift of recovery, experiences
spiritual growth and fulfillment
through service;
NA service bodies worldwide
work together in a spirit of
unity and cooperation to
support the groups in carrying
our message of recovery;
Narcotics Anonymous has
universal recognition and
respect as a viable program of
recovery.
Honesty, trust, and goodwill
are the foundation of our
service efforts, all of which rely
upon the guidance of a loving
Higher Power.
“That no addict seeking
recovery need ever die from the
horrors of addiction without
knowing that there is a better
way of life, my gratitude speaks
when I care and when I share
with others the NA way.”
Gratitude prayer
Serenity By The Lake
(Poolside) #28
June 16, 17, 18, 2017
How many times have you been to
Serenity by the Lake?
6 -Carrie S
Once 2017 -Joe T
This is my first time! -James H
Once for every year I have clean. First
time I was around 90 days clean in 2010
–JS
16 –Helene W
What is your favorite part of the
Convention?
Speakers –Lester M
Magic that happens with Newcomers
–Bonnie T
Seeing my family from all over
–Connie B
So far the history of NA but I really love
this location& everything about this
convention –Sarah M
Watching people in their elements
–Tracy T
What do events like this do for your
recovery?
Fill me up –Patti K
This Convention is the “We” in “We do
Recover” –JS
Makes meeting new people “fun” –
Beverly-Ann L
Enhance my recovery by promoting
unity –Al W
Connection –Jim W
What does a newcomer need to know
about coming to a Convention like
Serenity by the Lake?
That we are welcomed –Beverly-Ann L
Fellowship in NA is fun –Lester M
You “ARE” the most important
ingredient in the Convention –JS
Relax & Listen & Make new friends.
Conventions are a gift, an opportunity to
put the disease far away –Joe T
Nothing, just show up and we will take
care of it –Jim W
That you’ll experience a wide range of
emotions over the weekend –Helene W
Where are you from
Patti K East Vancouver
Beverly-Ann L East Vancouver
Jim W Vancouver/Playa
Joe T Indiana USA
Bonny T Kelowna
JS NA Greater Consciousness
Helene W West Kelowna
Carrie S Kelowna
Tracy T Maple Ridge
James H Pitt Meadows
Al W Penticton
Sarah M Vernon
Connie B Maple Ridge
James H Edmonton
Lester M Oliver
Some things to Consider
“To fulfill our fellowship’s
primary purpose, the NA
groups have joined together
to create a structure which
develops, coordinates, and
maintains services on behalf
of NA as a whole.”
1st Concept.
In order to keep NA as
visible, respected, useful, and
attractive community
resource consistent
information must be made
readily available to the
communities in which we
live and recover.
It should not be difficult for
those who may want or need
our help, or wish to refer
addicts to NA to find our
meetings and services.
From IP # 29
Our program of recovery
begins with abstinence from
all drugs, including alcohol.
Sometimes people come to
NA meetings while still
using drugs, detoxing from
drugs, or on drug
replacement therapy.
Regardless of what you may
be taking when you first
come to NA, you are
welcome. Also, newer
members often have
questions about prescribed
medications. We encourage
you to read NA literature
including the Basic Text and
the booklet In Times of
Illness, which will explain
NA’s approach to recovery. It
also helps to talk to NA
members who have faced
similar situations about what
worked for them.
The COANA ESH is a local Area Newsletter and the opinion(s) expressed are of the Author(s) not
on behalf of Narcotics Anonymous or the Central Okanagan Area of Narcotics Anonymous.
Service Committee’s
Central Okanagan Area Service Committee Meeting
(COASC) July 6th 6:30pm 721 Bernard ave.
(First United Church)
Public Relations
July 11th
7 pm Kalano Club 2108 Vasile Rd
Activities Subcommittee
July 10th 6:30pm Kalano Club
2108 Vasile Rd
2017 Convention Subcommittee TBA- contact
Chair @
250-859-9498
Be sure to submit your subcommittee or Group Function
Or on the webpage
http://coascnarcoticsanonymo
us.ca/events-newsletters
STILL Seeking Newsletter distributors!! If you’d be willing to take a stacks of newsletters to meetings
Contact G. @ [email protected]
PNWCNA October 6-8, 2017 in
Vancouver.. more
details soon!
Thank you for taking the
time to invest in your
recovery; and in doing so
supporting the
COANA ESH
Newsletter!
Please make all submissions to the
[email protected] address in
word or in the body of an email. Or at
http://coascnarcoticsanonymous.ca/events
-newsletters
All submissions are subject to editing.
Celebrate
Karina D Spiritually Speaking June 17 2 yrs
Leslie M Good Clean Living June 30 22yrs
Sky T Words of Wisdom July 5 7yrs
Jake D Words of Wisdom July 5 1 yr
Lester M Oliver (South Okanagan) July 5 21 yrs
Sylvie A Words of Wisdom July 12 2 yrs
NEW MEETING----
Saved by the Twelve- Open meeting Tuesday @ the Kalano
Club 2108 Vasile Rd 6
Be a part of the
Team!!!
The positions of Area
Treasurer and Policy
and Procedure are
available!
It’s BBQ TIME!
July 16th
@ 11 am
Ben Lee Park
COANA Activities