February 18

Some say that the most dangerous place for an addict to be in, is not in the club or the bar. The most dangerous place for an addict to be in, is in a doctor's office. Ironic as that sounds, it's been proven over and over that a number of our members returned to active addiction after receiving medication from doctors.

Addiction is a Physical, Mental, Spiritual and Emotional disease. Trained professionals learned about medicine and diseases, but addiction is mostly a Spiritual disease that affects us Physically and Mentally. Today's doctors still have very little knowledge about addiction, a ten-hour course cannot make anyone an expert. We in Narcotics Anonymous who have Recovered from this state of hopelessness, are experts in our Recovery.

We spent years and years in active addiction, so we have plenty of experience in the disease as well. Our histories as addicts in Recovery shows that addicts can help addicts. Our experience shows that a Spiritual malady needs a Spiritual Solution.

We can't treat a Spiritual disease with chemicals. Although doctors mean well, they actually contribute more to the problem than the Solution.

Related facilities and treatment centers often treat only the symptom of the disease, which is the use of drugs. Their cure is not abstinence; its partial abstinence or harm reduction. We can't use drugs to get off drugs, and we can't treat our Spirits if our bodies and minds are still clouded with drugs.

Narcotics Anonymous has been proving itself for decades, as the best treatment for the disease of addiction. Our Program offers more than just abstinence, it offers a Spiritual Awakening with every Step. One of our founders wrote that only addicts can help addicts.

That's our Responsibility, that's our Primary Purpose. The relationship with others and our Higher Power, the Program of Narcotics Anonymous, proves to be our Greatest Blessings.