NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) helps people recover from drug addiction through a twelve-step program.
What is Narcotics Anonymous (NA)?
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a global, community-based organization that offers recovery from drug addiction through a twelve-step program. It’s modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), but is open to anyone with a drug problem, regardless of the specific substance.
NA is non-professional, non-commercial, and self-supporting through member contributions. It’s open to people of all races, religions, genders, and backgrounds.
What is NA World Services (NAWS)?
Narcotics Anonymous World Services (NAWS) is the central administrative body that helps keep the worldwide NA fellowship functioning smoothly. It exists to support, not control, local NA groups and regions.
NAWS is based in Los Angeles, California, but has branch offices in other parts of the world, such as:
- Toronto, Canada
- Brussels, Belgium
- Bangalore, India
What Does NAWS Do?
Here are the core roles and responsibilities of NAWS:
1. Literature Development and Distribution
- NA literature (like the Basic Text, Just for Today, and Living Clean) is a major tool in NA recovery.
- NAWS creates, edits, approves, translates, and distributes this literature.
- Literature is available in over 55 languages, making recovery accessible worldwide.
- This is also a source of funding for NA, since literature sales help cover operating costs.
2. World Service Conference (WSC)
- Held every two years, the WSC is where delegates from NA regions meet to make major decisions affecting the whole fellowship.
- NAWS facilitates this conference and implements the decisions made there.
- It’s a bottom-up process: ideas often originate in local groups, go through regional bodies, and are ultimately discussed and voted on at the WSC.
3. Fellowship Support
- NAWS supports new and growing NA communities globally, especially in places where NA is still developing (e.g. Africa, Asia, and the Middle East).
- It provides guidance, training, resources, and technical assistance to regional service bodies and local groups.
- This helps ensure consistency in how NA operates around the world, while respecting cultural differences.
4. Technology & Communication
- NAWS maintains the official NA website: www.na.org
- They provide online tools for:
- Finding meetings worldwide
- Accessing literature
- Submitting ideas for new service materials
- NAWS also manages a database of worldwide meetings and helps keep it updated.
5. Financial and Administrative Oversight
- NAWS is responsible for managing the financial health of the organization.
- It ensures that NA’s operations remain transparent, accountable, and aligned with spiritual principles.
- Funding comes primarily from:
- Literature sales
- Member/group donations
- Fellowship contributions
6. Public Relations and Advocacy
- While NA avoids affiliation with other organizations, NAWS helps inform the public and professionals (e.g. doctors, courts, treatment centers) about NA.
- It provides information packages, presentations, and liaison services to institutions who refer people to NA.
- NAWS makes sure NA is represented fairly and accurately in the public eye.
How NAWS Fits into NA’s Structure
NA has a bottom-up service structure:
- Group Level – Local NA meetings
- Area Service Committees (ASCs) – Serve multiple groups in a region
- Regional Service Committees (RSCs) – Oversee several ASCs
- World Service Conference (WSC) – Delegates from RSCs meet every two years
- NA World Services (NAWS) – Implements the decisions of the WSC and coordinates global services
Think of NAWS as the administrative engine, while individual members and groups are the heart of the fellowship.
Why Is NAWS Important?
Without NAWS:
- Literature wouldn’t be unified or translated
- New regions might struggle to start or grow NA communities
- There would be no consistent, central place for communication
- Global coordination of service efforts (like during disasters or pandemics) would be nearly impossible
Summary
NAWS = Narcotics Anonymous World Services
- It is the central, global service office for the NA fellowship
- It provides literature, structure, support, and guidance to NA communities worldwide
- It does not govern NA groups but serves them
- It ensures NA remains unified, accessible, and effective as a worldwide recovery community
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