Narcotics Anonymous is “a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem . . . recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean.” Membership is open to any drug addict, regardless of the particular drug or combination of drugs used. There are no social, religious, economic, racial, ethnic, national, gender, or class-status membership restrictions. Narcotics Anonymous membership is completely voluntary; no membership rolls or attendance records are kept, either for NA or anyone else. Members live in the community and attend meetings on their own time. There are no dues or fees for membership; members may contribute very small sums to help cover expenses at group meetings, but contributions are not mandatory.
Narcotics Anonymous encourages its members to observe complete abstinence from all drugs, including alcohol, even substances other than the individual’s drug of choice, though NA’s only stated membership requirement is “a desire to stop using” drugs. It has been the NA members’ experience that complete and continuous abstinence provides the best foundation for recovery and personal growth.