January 29

If we have no control over our addiction, how can we tell ourselves that one day we can use drugs safely again. One of the ways the disease of addiction manifests itself is in our drug use. We're not addicts because we use drugs, we use drugs because we are addicts.

Drug use is one symptom of the disease. This disease affects our Spirits, emotions, and our mental state.

Drug use usually comes at the end of the relapse process. The relapse process begins after we're in Recovery and are Clean. Chapter Seven in the Basic Text describes the events that can lead us to active use of drugs.

It also describes the process that starts the Spiritual, emotional, mental decay that occurs before the actual physical relapse. Addiction is a progressive, incurable and fatal disease that affects every area of our Lives. The most obvious sign of our disease is the uncontrollable obsession and then usage of drugs.

In Narcotics Anonymous we're granted a Daily Reprieve from this active use and obsession of drugs. This Daily Reprieve is dependent on our Daily Spiritual Maintenance. Our Spiritual Maintenance consists of Daily Practice of Actions and Steps that are suggested in the Narcotics Anonymous program.

In the First Step our ideas that we can ever return to safely using drugs, must be shattered. These reservations sometimes hidden beyond our knowledge in the back of our minds, can only be accessed by our Actions in Practicing the Spiritual Principles and following suggestions. These Actions we take in Narcotics Anonymous is the Process that relieves our obsession and reservations to use drugs. These Actions also keep our Spiritual Awakening and Recovery progressing.

Finally, we can only keep what we have been given, by giving it away.