Narcotics Anonymous offers hope to addicts all over the world, regardless of any real or imagined differences that separate us.
Guidelines, First Delivery, Introductory Essay
“Addiction doesn’t discriminate. Fortunately, neither does hope,” shared a speaker during an international marathon meeting held online. “And neither should we.”.
Our hope lives at the intersection of anonymity, unity, acceptance, and inclusion. We believe that any addict can become and stay clean in NA, no matter who we are, what we have done, where we live, or any aspect of ourselves that, on the surface, seems to separate us. To help us feel like we belong, we encourage each other to look for similarities, not differences—to focus on the message, not the messenger. We strive to carry this message to our group visitors, as well as to the NA meetings and events we are fortunate to attend in unfamiliar environments with unfamiliar settings, in other regions, in other countries, in other languages.
The universality of hope in our program and message does not diminish the fact that there are differences among us, real ones. As important as it is for us to take responsibility to see beyond our own differences, we have perhaps an even greater responsibility to include those who may have experiences or identities that diverge from the majority group. The active participation of others secures a place for each of us and increases hope for all of us in the rooms.
To give hope to those who feel intimidated or unheard by the majority, some of us find it important to establish gatherings that embrace a commonality of experience or identity. There is room for this diversity of expression of hope within NA—autonomy also ensures that addicts are able to find each other in ways that are welcoming and safe—and recognize and honor the similarities that lie within our differences.
NA's message of hope is heard all over the world. I am an integral part of that whole. Today I try to receive this message from whoever offers it and take on the responsibility of carrying it to whoever needs it.
