Our message – that any addict can stop using drugs, lose the desire to use and find a new way of life – is all we have to give and it's enough to change the lives of addicts around the world.
Guiding principles, 11th delivery, Introduction
Simplicity is a core principle of the 11th Tradition and our entire program. Our PR approach is to let people know about NA and let our simple message of freedom from active addiction lead the way. We think that's pretty attractive. NA does not run special promotions: Stay clean for a year and all your dreams will come true! We do not promise financial stability or a happy marriage. Perpetual trouble-free peace is not guaranteed as a result of attending gatherings, working steps and service.
Our simple offering of hope and freedom is enough. According to one member. “We don't need a complicated message to attract people. We are already complicated enough! Our message is not simple for simplicity's sake. It just works.” Both NA's message and our primary purpose are recognizable, understandable, and digestible. They are also flexible, unbound by the particularities of a language or culture. Since our message is applicable to drug addicts around the world, dare we say it's universal?
The simplicity of the 11th Tradition is a relief to most of us. When we do public relations, we let people know who we are, what we do and how we do it. With Hospitals & Foundations, the support relationship, or speaking from the podium, we don't need to do more than share what has worked for us. We share the message just as it was shared with us. We lean forward and witness its impact – on our own lives, on those close to us, and on those far away.
Our message is working. So how am I going to share it today?
A P L O T H A
