I was wondering if anyone goes to AA meetings instead of NA especially if you are not an alcholic. There are more AA meetings around where i live. Does AA mind if you go there when you are just a drug addict.
Amy

A drug is a drug is a drug. But,depending on the locale, and the group..some could take an issue. But it's your program.

Personally, I quit drinking years before my opiate abuse....but call AA home. (As well as other programs)

__________________

Hi Ali
In my area some AA meetings are open to me saying drugs but others just don't want to hear it. I just pass or say things like "when i was wasted" because like Jdude & joplin say a drug is a drug is a drug...Joplin goes to AA so hope she pops in to talk to you. We have 2 NA meetings & it is usually court ordered people there who don't care or or not on the same page as us (as in really stopping 4ever).
You sound even better today..how is it going?

I am a full-blown addict and ONLY attend AA. I feel no need to talk about drugs...even from the podium. "i got loaded"....seems to work. the substance is not important...the identification w/the malady is. I completely identify with everything in AA. (plus....nearly everyone in those meetings is both addict/alcoholic).

Regretfully, the NA meetings I've been to in Jersey just aren't very strong.

peace
janice

I've only been to NA, and CA...I plan on my first AA meeting tomorrow night. I did pick up my white chip tonight at my NA meeting since my relapse 5 days ago...felt really good

From what I hear here, every seems to really like AA...I think it's up to you, where ever YOU feel you are getting what you need for your recovery.

-Shawn

Was going to in-patient rehab. Part of the program was to go out on Saturdays (or was it Sundays...) as a group (we were maybe fifteen (15) to twenty (20) individuals -most of them were Ice freaks, I was part of the very small (3-4) opiate contingent plus maybe two or three alchi's) to a 'public' AA meeting. This meeting had a core of elder alchi's, mostly army background.

The first few times went fine but as our stories within the meetings unfolded it became clear to the core that we were mostly DRUG addicts. This chemical difference grew into a major question of fundamentals culminating with the core boycotting the meeting if we attended and finally escalated to a walk-out by them. Very drama it was, leaving many of us with sadness, bitterness and not without some anger.

True story and I share it merely as an anecdote (this is years ago) - no agenda or axe to grind - just another thing that happened along my trip through drug/rehab/whatever heaven and hell.

Sincerely.
Alex

Try to picture a room full of Alcoholics turning a Pain Med addict out on the street .. it makes no sense..

If AA is easier for you, just go to a meeting and listen..

I admit I have only been to one NA meeting.. I had no idea what was going on.. Nobody really pressured me to say, do, or admit anything.. I could have been anybody.. nobody would have cared..

I can tell you that in that group, if and Alcoholic had been present, he or she would have been welcome..

I attend AA meetings in my area because the sobriety is stronger there than in local NA meetings. That said, more and more people in my AA groups are cross addicted and every time I speak, I'm hearing about people who are alcoholic "going out" on pills because they thought they could handle it; it's just freeze dried alcohol.
In the beginning, I found a few people who didn't feel comfortable with me in "their" meetings, but now I know it's their ego, these "bleeding deacons" as we call them that feel the need to make their opinion known and in some cases, ask people to leave that weren't alcoholic. I was at a meeting last summer that got violent. See, AA is not a hotbed of mental health and anywhere you go, there will be jerks. More often than not, you'll be completely accepted. It's the healthy ones who know that we're all in this together. When you go and listen to the speaker, don't compare. Identify. Stick with the winners and remember that the length of someone's sobriety doesn't equate with "good sobriety".
A very wise person told me once: "Carolyn, if you're confused about whether you're an addict or an alcoholic..if you come to AA, work the steps, work with my sponsor and stay sober...YOU'RE AN ALCOHOLIC". Apparently, I'm that, too. If I wasn't..I wouldn't get what I need from the group. I prided myself on being a junkie and a pill popper and not an alcoholic because the latter, to me were gross. Now I know that a rose by any other name...
Give it a chance. It works. Believe me.

__________________
Listen: for this addict, the rooms of AA were the last thing I tried and the first thing that worked, but it only works if you work it.

Yep...AA is where it is at for me. Around here the Program is much stronger..I am an opiate addict, used to be garbage head..myAA sponsor was a crack addict....As Sluggo said recovery has NOTHING to do with the substance that we used. Good meetings never even really talk bout alcohol or drugs. They have discussions about the solution to the addiction/alcoholic malady.

GO TO THE MEETING...Best thing I ever did was show up at AA, humble, asking for help...I will be at AA tonight..Nowadayz for hte most part I look forward to going..I get to chill for anhour, get outta my head.and STAY CLEAN!

__________________
PEACE

I will have to disagree here.....I only went to NA meetings because everyone there was either addicted to some form of Opiate or Powdery substances!! There are fantastic meetings here at the jersey Shore, and I for one am grateful. I am not saying there is anything wrong with AA at all, the message is the same.....but I chose NA because I was more comfortable being around addicts who walked the walk like I did. I have been drug-free now over 2 years-2 months, so it worked for me :-) Whatever makes you feel more comfortable is the choice you should make....try them both and then make your decision! All the best.

Bobby

__________________

I went to aa for 15 years and never heard one person say anything to anyone about not being welcome because their drug of choice wasn't alcohol. If someone did say something I can assure you the people in the room that have something important for you would not agree with that type of "A" hole. To me it's like going to an na meeting and only being a pot smoker. Just go and and identify as an addict/alcoholic. If you don't think you're an alcoholic you just haven't played with it enough. Very few people are only addicted to one drug.

Thank you for your guys help.
Amy