Tafakari ya Kitabu cha Kijivu
There is only "One" requirement for membership, the honest desire to stop using.
Gray Book, p. 15 (Chapter Two, Header)
When we talk about using, we're talking about using drugs. An addict is a man or woman for whom drugs controlled and made their Lives unmanageable. The symptom of our disease is what usually brings us to N.A.
It also Helps us with our identification. Our Gray Book states, "We are Narcotics Anonymous and our problem is addiction, " The honest desire to stop using drugs cannot be measured. It's left up to the individual whether the honest desire to stop using is a wish or a real desire.
Usually, our level of desire can equal to our level of Willingness to try. Before coming to Narcotics Anonymous, some of us wished we had a desire to stop using. The bottom line is that we didn't have a choice; we had to use.
One way or another we had to get stopped. Some of us just got tired of being tired and sick.
Whatever the case we were Accepted into Narcotics Anonymous. Our Third Tradition is focused more on the Spiritual Principle of Equality. We can become members no matter what age, race, sex or sexual preference, creed, religion or lack of it.
We all can be members if we choose to. We all have the equal opportunity to have access to this Program. Our literature also reminds us that membership is not automatic when the addict walks in through the door, or stops using. It's an actual decision that has to be followed by Embracing the Spiritual Principles of Narcotics Anonymous. "The choice of membership rest with the individual. " An example is like meeting the requirements for membership to be a firefighter.
Once you meet the requirements and you're a firefighter, you're expected to fight fires. That's if you're planning to stay.
In our Program you can stay as sick as you want that's up to the individual member. Requirements do not necessarily equal membership. Not using any mind altering or mood changing chemicals is the First Step in our Program.
To get all the Benefits this Program has to offer, we need to follow this Decision with action. Our desire can be measured by our Willingness to take that action. Aligning our actions to the truth, that's the Honest part.
In This Moment: We will Welcome all at the end of their road, as we were Welcome. We will also Share with others who seek Recovery, the Narcotics Anonymous Message.