Getting clean and sober is among the most rewarding things that can occur in the life of someone who is struggling with addiction. There are two main organizations that exist to serve and support people who are on a path toward recovery. Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, is a program focused on assisting alcoholics, while Narcotics Anonymous, or NA, is focused on assisting those who struggle with drug addiction. Often, people have issues with both drugs and alcohol, and are unsure which program would be best for their needs. The team at my12stepstore.com would like to share some information about the differences between these programs, in the hopes of making that decision a little bit clearer.
Different Literature
Both programs rely heavily on readings, but they use varied materials, with different service symbol logos and meanings. Alcoholics Anonymous uses http://www.my12stepstore.com/aa-big-book-hard-cover.html The 12 Steps and 12 Traditions, and the “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous. Narcotics Anonymous makes use of The Narcotics Anonymous Step Working Guide and the “Basic Text” Narcotics Anonymous along with whole collections of literature for each program. http://www.my12stepstore.com/NA-CA-CMA.html
Milestone Markers and symbols are Different
Celebrating important milestones in sobriety is an important component of both programs, but the chips, key tags, coins and medallions used in each differ especially because of the program symbol. Alcoholics Anonymous is a circle enclosing a triangle. The circle stands for the entire world of A.A., and the triangle stands for A.A.’s Three Legacies of (sides of the triangle) Recovery, Unity, and Service. Within our wonderful new world, we have found freedom from our fatal obsession. The logo is not always apparent on chips and key tags, but is on coins and medallions to commemorate important milestones. http://www.my12stepstore.com/aa-medallions.html
Narcotics Anonymous uses a service symbol appearing as a square inside a circle. The outer circle denotes a universal and total program that has room within it for all manifestations of the recovering person. The square base denotes Goodwill, the ground of both the Fellowship and the members of our society. Good will is best exemplified in service; proper service is “Doing the right thing for the right reason.” When Good will supports and motivates both the individual and the Fellowship, we are fully whole and wholly free. Probably the last to be lost to freedom will be the stigma of being an addict. It is the four pyramid sides that rise from the base in a three-dimensional figure that represent Self, Society, Service and God. All rise to the point of Freedom. All parts are closely related to the needs and aims of the addict who is seeking recovery, and to the purpose of the Fellowship which is to make recovery available to all. The greater the base (as we grow in unity, in numbers, and in fellowship) the broader the sides of the pyramid, and the higher the point of freedom.” http://www.my12stepstore.com/NA_Medallions.html