AA,NA or both

[boxerfan]

I'm an alcoholic and also developed a prescription drug problem about a year ago. Right now I just go to AA. If I'm active in AA and working the steps with a sponsor, do I need to go to NA too? Lisa

[admin]

Hi Lisa, You can ask your sponsor about this if you like. There are some here who go to both AA and NA meetings. The choice is up to you.

[docwill]

There's no hard and fast rule, boxerfan. kiti offers a good suggestion, to talk with your sponsor. I went to AA for years, got sober and stayed clean, and could never begin to express my gratitude adequately for the program. But NA is where I have really found a home and have been an active member for a long time. Still go to AA at times, and my sponsor is AA. I'm sitting here right now, looking at my bookshelf, and there they both are, the Big Book and the Basic Text. (and One Day at a Time in Al-Anon, just to keep it interesting!)
Talk to your sponsor and you'll figger out what's right for you.
doc

[janbear]

Being addicted to drugs and alcohol i found a home in both fellowships. I started out in AA but found NA compliments it for me. In my parts AA frowns on mention of any drug addiction other than alcohol. I respect it therefore i was fortunate a NA group formed a few years ago. NA doesnt separate drugs and alcohol.
I encourage you like others did to talk to your sponsor

[Crankie Yankee]

Hi Lisa, Hi all,
Fortunately for me, at the AA meetings in my area, most people don't get upset when people share about drugs other than alcohol. The chairperson always asks at the beginning of a meeting that we keep our sharing focused on our problems with alcohol, but it's a simple request rather than a demand. Some people choose to share about thier problems with life in general and who am I to say what or why anybody shares about anything! I have seen some people get up and leave an AA meeting because people choose to share about drugs other than alcohol or other issues, but I have never seen anybody get kicked out of an AA meeting for sharing anything they wish to. I see it like my friends in NA say, "a drug is a drug is a drug", and maybe AA should take a good look at that, but that's an entirely different debate. I believe the people that have replied to you before I have "hit it on the head" or "nailed it" when they suggested you talk to your sponser about it and you will figure out what's best for you. I have debated the whole AA or NA thing in the past and have since found a solution that works for me. I believe you will too. Thanks for sharing, take it easy and do whats best for you. :smile:
Mike

[mellotripp]

I myself do both fellowships also. In NA they will tell you that alcohol is a drug, in AA they won't tell you that Cocaine is a drug, but if you don't know that you're in the right place. Here in Eagle Pass, some of us do both fellowships, others decide to do one, the help I can get from anyone is as important to me as any, for I know I suffer from both diseases and everyone is entitled to their own wishes. Between you and me, when I found God, I found the answer to all my problems and both fellowships leave that up to the individual, it all falls under who I can help.