Most people who decide to go to 12-step meetings like NA or AA have some apprehension before going the first time. It’s important to remember that everyone had to go to their first meeting at one point, and that members of NA or AA are all recovering addicts who are there to get help and to help others who want to stop using substances. NA groups provide a welcoming, caring, and nonjudgmental environment for fellow addicts. 

The meetings in NA are typically either discussion meetings or speaker meetings. In discussion meetings, there is often a topic that’s brought up by a member who needs help in a certain area or by the chairperson of the meeting. Members share if they have something that they want to contribute, but no one is required to share. In speaker meetings, a member of NA usually shares their story of addiction – what it was like, what happened, and what it’s like now – for the majority of the meeting time. 

In NA meetings, everyone is welcome to share their experience, strength, and hope with the group, sharing as much or as little as they are comfortable with. The sharing is done one at a time, and crosstalk (talking directly to another member) isn’t allowed. Rather, if someone wants to talk to another member, they can do so before or after the meeting. Meetings are usually an hour long and they begin and end on time.