March 17

Relapse is not part of Recovery; it's a lack of it. Our Literature tells us that relapse is never an accident, but it is a reality, and it does happen. Relapse is a result of not working our Program, or being complacent after long periods of Abstinence.

Our Basic Text says, "If we remain complacent for long, the recovery process ceases. " By not working the Program, we are actually reserving a place for the relapse process to begin. At any given day we are walking toward a drug or away from it. It's our actions that determine whether we are arresting our disease, or arresting our Recovery.

We suffer from a fatal, progressive disease, from which there is no known cure. Our Literature also says that, "We have never seen a person who lives the Narcotics Anonymous Program relapse.' The last thing we do in the relapse process is use drugs. We can actually safeguard against the relapse process by recognizing its beginning.

Spiritually we stop asking our Higher Power for Guidance and Strength. We stop Praying and Meditating as much.

We begin to dislike the other humans around us. We begin to lose Patience and Tolerance in our everyday activities.

We then start reacting instead of acting. Meanwhile, our meeting attendance lessens. We start disliking ourselves and operate on our own self-will, our Hope starts to leave us, and we question our powerlessness.

Some of us are lucky to return; some of us die in active addiction. Our Literature says that we should return as soon as possible, otherwise we can be gone beyond recall. Our egos tell us we should be ashamed, and we would be criticized or judged if we come back.

Those of us that are lucky enough to come back, show a Courage that's not of our own.