Show:
Traditions
FAQ by the Public
Relations
In the Field
100
Which tradition states: “Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.”
Tradition Eleven
100
Is someone who is still using drugs welcome to attend NA meetings?
Yes, they are more than welcome to attend meetings. Many of our members actually came to meetings while still using drugs and are now drug-free and recovering today. Often if a member is still using, he or she will be asked to refrain from speaking during a meeting. Instead, these addicts are encouraged to speak with members during break or before or after the meeting.
100
What tends to serve as our strongest public relations message - our actions, our literature, or our message?
Our actions – the actions we take in forming relationships with the public can have a profound effect on whether or not an addict find NA.
100
You are at a regional narcotics anonymous convention and decide to check out the merchandise room. You notice that at one of the tables there is an array of ‘narcotics anonymous jewelry’, some of which has the NA symbol on crosses. Do you think this is in disharmony with any of our traditions? If so, which one and why?
Tradition six: An NA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the NA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, or prestige divert us from our primary purpose. Our NA literature talks about the difference between direct endorsements and implied endorsements. Even though it is not specifically stated, when we place our symbol with the symbol of other organizations a connection between the two organizations is implied. By establishing boundaries, the Sixth Tradition helps our groups avoid some of the problems that commonly arise between organizations. If we endorse an organization that later runs into trouble, our reputation will be damaged along with theirs. If we boost an outside enterprise that some find obnoxious, addicts seeking recovery may be discouraged from coming to our meetings. If we voice support for another organization, the public, the addict who still suffers, even our own members might confuse that organization’s purpose with ours.
200
As members of Public Information, our job is to let others know that Narcotics Anonymous is a simple, spiritual, twelve-step recovery program that can help any addict find freedom from drug addiction. What tradition most directly supports this mission?
Tradition Five: “Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry the message to the addict who still suffers.”
200
What are your criteria for calling someone and “addict”?
We don’t have any criteria it is for the individual to decide that they are an addict. This helps NA to be inclusive and nonjudgmental concerning anyone’s level of drug usage. However, we do offer a pamphlet titled Am I an Addict? with questions designed to help people decide for themselves.
200
While doing public relations work, who is it exactly that we are working to develop and maintain relationships with?
“Public relations” refers to all of the relationships we create and maintain with the general public, professionals, potential members, and each other in our groups and service communities.
200
A local public information committee hung flyers all over town. Is this an example of attraction or promotion? Please explain your answer.
Attraction. Informing the public that we are a credible program of recovery is a principled action, whereas comparing NA to other programs or approaches, offering recovery incentives, or making claims about our effectiveness can all be considered promotion. The only promise we make is the opportunity for addicts to experience freedom from active addiction; guaranteeing any other outcome is promotion.
300
Each group has but one primary purpose, to carry the message to the addict who still suffers. Our traditions tell us what our message is and therefore determines for us what we must communicate to the world about NA. What is our message?
Our message is that an addict, any addict, can stop using drugs, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live. Our message is hope and a promise of freedom.
300
Is help only available for narcotics addicts?
No. NA’s focus is not a particular class of substances, but is on recovery from the disease of addiction. It is also worth noting that when NA was founded, drugs such as marijuana were referred to as “narcotics” in the United States. Today, as indicated in our Membership Survey, our members used a variety of drugs, including alcohol. Interestingly 89% of those surveyed list alcohol as one of the drugs used on a regular basis.
300
When we are preparing for presentations or other interactions with the public, we must consider factors that may affect an addicts’ ability to find NA's message, such as age, geography, culture, religion, ethnicity, language, or physical accessibility. Why is this important?
In NA Diversity is our strength. Addiction crosses all cultural boundaries; the absence at our meetings of individuals from a certain cultural group doesn’t mean that no one from that culture suffers from addiction or needs what we have to offer. Our public relations efforts can be more effective if we acknowledge the various factors that affect an addict’s ability to find NA’s message.
300
If members live in a community where the largest population is made up of retired citizens or those confined to convalescent homes, it would be beneficial to help this population realize two important realities about NA: that there are older people clean and recovering in NA, and that those members participate in a fellowship with a diverse membership. One approach for attracting potential members to NA is to create service projects specifically designed to reach those potential members. What is one example of a service project that could help these potential members hear the NA message?
This could be accomplished by asking some older members in the local area to participate in a presentation with a diverse group of NA members. These steps can illustrate both the diversity and the unity of our fellowship. Our public relations efforts are likely to be more valuable and effective when we take some time to plan the best ways to approach potential members.
400
Each of us as individual members needs to be mindful of the public visibility of our online interactions. Some members are not very concerned about sharing personal information in a very open and accessible manner, but our ______ Tradition reminds us that when it comes to membership in NA, the credibility of our program of recovery can be greatly affected by the actions of individual NA members.
Eleventh tradition: Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
400
What sort of research demonstrates your efficacy?
The anonymous nature of our program has historically made scientific research difficult. However, we do take a survey of attendees at our biennial world convention that offers statistics on membership demographics, such as: quality of life improvements, years drug free, employment status, age, gender, ethnicity, etc.
400
“’Public relations’ implies an ongoing relationship. We have many opportunities to build and sustain ongoing relationships with the public… Our ability to respond and participate in relationships with the public can only help to strengthen the public’s trust in our ability to help addicts”. What are two ways we can build and sustain ongoing relationships with the public?
We can follow up after a presentation, ask for feedback from an institution, and check in with facilities where our meetings are held.
400
A radio station offers us a free 30 second spot to air a public service announcement about NA. They offer this to all not-for-profit organizations. Is this in conflict with our seventh tradition that states we ought to be fully self-supporting? Why or why not?
No, this is not in conflict with our seventh tradition. Public service announcements are often available to charitable organizations. In these situations, the media is providing the public with a service through these announcements. Public service announcements do not compromise or jeopardize our principle of self-support. These are opportunities that the public creates for community service organizations. What we offer the still-suffering addict in NA has a benefit to society. Accepting charitable rates and discounts that are offered to other similar community service organizations is keeping with the principle of self-support.
500
What two traditions guide us to cooperate, not affiliate, with outside organizations?
Tradition Six: An NA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the NA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, or prestige divert us from our primary purpose. And... Tradition Ten: Narcotics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence, the NA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
500
I referred someone to NA who was taking drug replacement medication (such as methadone or suboxone) , and NA members said they were not clean. Is this true – why or why not?
NA is a program of complete abstinence, and members refer to time (days, weeks, months, years) without using drugs as “clean time.” Since Narcotics Anonymous is an abstinence-based recovery program, persons who are taking drug replacement medication are not considered drug-free. These persons are encouraged and welcome to attend NA meetings; however, they are asked to listen rather than speak at meetings, and it is suggested they talk to members on a break, or before or after the meeting. Meetings that follow this format do so to preserve the atmosphere of recovery.
500
Name one of the four goals of Public Information (as outlined in the PR Handbook).
1. We clarify what services NA can and cannot provide to the community. 2. We make NA members more aware of their role in NA’s public image 3. We aim for the public to recognize NA as a positive and reliable organization 4. We develop valuable relationships with professionals and the general public
500
The volunteering of services by non-addicts may be considered a typical part of their community service. For example, a healthcare professional may offer to volunteer time to NA by sitting in on an inventory session to discuss challenges both parties are facing in finding ways for addicts to easily reach NA. Is this compromising our 7th tradition which states that every NA group ought to be fully self supporting?
In this example, there is a distinction between services that are normally billable (such as a non-addict accountant offering to manage a local committee’s bank records) and a relationship that benefits both NA and the outside party. When both parties are benefiting from the cooperative interaction, and are closer to reaching their mutual goals, then both parties involved equally support the relationship. NA is not being given any special treatment by accepting this volunteer service from a nonmember. Instead, NA is merely one of many not-for-profit organizations that can obtain a volunteer’s time.