Narcotics Anonymous Meeting Analysis

Meeting
Location
The narcotics anonymous (NA) meeting was located in West Los Angeles less than two miles from my home. The address given for the meeting was a church, but the actual meeting was held across the street in a small “store” that had been converted into a meeting room, located amongst a series of businesses. The “store” had no sign above it indicating what it was used for. This effectively adds to the anonymity, as unless one already knows what the “store” is used for, it is unlikely that he/she would notice it at all. Nonetheless, it has the duel effect of making it hard to recognize as the correct location when one is looking for it.
Time
There are a series of meetings held in this location throughout the week, serving different functions and catering to slightly different populations. The one attended was an open meeting held on Sunday evenings. The meeting was open to all recovering addicts and their family members, but it was specifically catered to newly recovering young addicts.
Composition
There were quite a few people who attended the meeting, about 20, evidenced by multiple comments indicating so, by several regulars to the group. The group was split pretty evenly between males and females. There did not appear to be an over or

under representation of any one race or ethnicity, but was fairly diverse. It was difficult to ascertain information about class, as almost all of the individuals were early into recovery, living in shelters, rehabilitation centers, or newly establishing themselves in apartments. A few people talked about being in college, but commented on feeling removed and different from peers because of the non-traditional route taken to college as a result of their addictions. From this it is assumed that everyone was of roughly the same class currently, despite what class differences may or may not have existed before their addictions. The class was predominantly comprised of younger adults, probably about 75% under the age of 30 and some still in their teens. There were three new people to the group other than myself.
Story
In this meeting, the first person shared about their current experience with loss and how it feels going through loss as an addict and while in recovery. This sparked the rest of the group to also reflect on loss, focusing particularly on loss that was prevalent within the last week. However, one young man who was new to the group chose to share what has led him to join this group. Kamal is 24 years old. He has a four year old son, which his mother currently cares for. This is his third time going to rehab and his fifth attempt at going to NA meetings.
Progression
Kamal started drinking early in his adolescences and began to use narcotics at the age of 16. Consistent with the literature about the progression phase, he began to use socially with friends (CITE). He maintained that in the beginning he used only socially, meaning as a recreational activity amongst a group of friends. He began to use more frequently, but justified to himself that he could stop whenever he wanted so it was not a problem. This phase is marked by the equation of substance use with relief, and an increase in use of the substance (Jellinek, 1946). Thus, Kamal transitioned from Progression to the Crucial phase.
Crucial Phase
Early in this phase, he believes that he was able to hide his use, or what he know labels as addiction. However, as his need for the substance increased, his ability to function and hide his use decreased. His mother was the first to notice, through changes in behaviors, lies, and inconsistent behaviors. In this phase, he was forced into rehab twice and attended several NA meetings. Nonetheless, he did not yet recognize the consequences of his drug use, he did not perceive the use as a problem, and he did not have a desire to get clean. This phase is marked by obsessive use, money and employment difficulties, and conflicts with family and friends (Jellinek, 1946). As he entered the Chronic phase of his addiction, his mother took over caring for his son, and kicked him out of the house.
Chronic Phase
He expressed spending at least three months living on the streets, stealing and panhandling, and spending all of his money on drugs. He describes it as his rock bottom, because it made him forget about his child, and forget about his needs for shelter. He expressed being content with his living on the streets because finally no one was bothering him about his drug use. One night, coming down from his high, he expressed thinking about life and it just hitting him that he wanted more than this. He wanted to be the type of father who was there for his son, who could teach him sports, and care for him. He recognized that his living situation was not what he wanted for himself. He did not use again and entered an outpatient rehabilitation center. This cycle of consistent drug use, despite negative consequences, and the realization of wanting something else for life exemplifies the chronic phase of addiction (Jellinek, 1946)..
Rehabilitation
Kamal is currently in the Rehabilitation stage. This was his third day of sobriety and his second NA meeting. He described being committed to the program. His voice was filled with hope, determination, and confidence in his ability to maintain a sober lifestyle. Hope and starting self-help programs are hallmarks of the beginning stage of rehabilitation (Jellinek, 1946)..
Recovery
Kamal has not yet reached recovery, but is working towards it daily. When he reaches this stage, he would recount his changes in his lifestyle that have helped him maintain sobriety. He was also probably express better relationships with his mother and his son (Jellinek, 1946).

**I MIGHT WANT TO EXPAND ON THESE SECTIONS A COUPLE SENTENCES –ALSO I NEED TO FILL IN THE CITATION PART***************
Theoretic of 12 Steps
At a broad theoretical level, substance treatment programs can be divided into either harm-reduction or abstinence programs. 12 Step programs, such as Narcotics Anonymous, operate from an abstinence framework, meaning the goal is for the individual to create a lifestyle, completely free of substances use, of any kind, not just their drug of choice (Ferri, Amato, & Davoli, 2006).
The theoretical underpinning of Narcotics Anonymous, a branch off from Alcoholics Anonymous, is that through group support from other addicts, the individual will be able to recognize their own addiction and build a sober lifestyle (NAWS.

Inc., 2008). The approach points to the belief that addiction is caused because of a lack of attachment, where the individual has become attached to the substance (Walant, 1995). Narcotics Anonymous and other 12 Step programs extrapolate from this knowledge, creating a pathway, through the 12 steps, for the individual to decrease their attachment with the substance and build healthy relational attachments to supportive addicts in recovery and/ or other members of

society.
There is evidence to suggest the efficacy of the 12 Step programs in helping individuals maintain a sober lifestyle. Studies evaluating the likelihood of an individual maintaining sobriety in the long term under different conditions consistently shows that increased involvement with 12 Step meetings is linked to higher rates of maintained sobriety (Fiorentine, 1999; Gossop, Stewart, & Marsden, 2008; Krentzman, et. al., 2011).