Na Meeting.

I decided to attend a meeting based first (and almost solely) on convenience of the location. So I decided to attend a meeting right here in Batavia. The “Batavia 12 & 12” at the Holy Trinity Church down on 6th & Wood St. They hold meeting on Mondays around 11:00am. The main focus is to follow the 12 steps in order and work on them in a more traditional fashion. They do have the big book, but follow it more in a step by step focus. However karma decided to rear its head and make it a Closed Meeting, meaning that it is not as open to the public to sit on and they only allow members who are coming with a problem related to alcohol. So at first I was turned away but, I was lucky enough to know a person

Lastly, the chairperson recounted her own personal story with addiction. I was surprised how the group handled her story in a positive way. I noticed at times members laughed and even smiled and others making brief supporting comments. Rather than judge the events of her life, the group members seemed to connect in a personal way. I liked how the meeting was honest and open. Afterwards different members of the meeting read brief AA literature, "How it Works," the "Twelve Traditions" and "The Promises." I listened to each of them very closely

Furthermore, as I stated previously Sunday night I attended was a NA meeting. This meeting included one woman and approximately eight men, all the attendees

When I walked into the meeting, I was a little apprehensive. It was only a small group of about ten people, which was held at a local hospital. Knowing that I had to explain I was there to observe as a student studying social work, I was worried that the participants would hold back from their real behaviors in the group and that they would be cold to me. However, that assumption could not have been farther from the truth. All my apprehension flew out the window, as the members of the small group all welcomed me with open arms. Apparently, these were regulars. Most in the group attended every meeting, and continued to use the support of the group to deal with the continuous chaos and trauma of living with an addict. I was welcomed to sit and observe the behavior of the individual members of the group express their grief, fear, and

Approximately every four years, high-ranking members of each tribe form public gatherings. The public gatherings appear to be completely random as there is hardly any structure to them. For instance, the number of representatives from each tribe and the location of the gatherings change after each conference. The content of these meetings vary widely as well. Every aspect of Nacirema society is up for discussion at these meetings including natural medicines, monetary regulation, and other various civic issues. At the beginning of these gatherings, all of the tribe officials, the peacemakers, and all of the tribe members that are present stand in lines with their right hands crossing over to the left side of their bodies and collectively chant an incantation that is representative of the tribe. Afterwards, a topic is introduced and every official is given a small amount of time to talk about it. The other officials may comment on what has been said, and for the most part it is peaceful discussion. If the officials talk for too long, or if the discussions get too heated, the peacemakers may step in and change the subject or direct the conversation into

The meeting consisted of twenty-five people including myself. The leader began by welcoming all returning addicts and non-addicts to the NA meeting. The meeting started with a moment of silence followed by everyone reciting the serenity prayer. After the prayer, the leader asked for volunteers to read the short messages about what the meeting is about and why they were there. Each person that volunteered to read one of the short messages began by saying, “Hi my name is (blank) and I’m an addict.” This was something that the group members did so that they could face the truth and admit that they had an addiction. The meeting continued by a volunteer reading the Twelve Step Traditions. This was a list that the members followed to achieve recovery from their addiction to narcotics. The leader then spoke aloud to the group about which of the twelve steps they were focusing on for the night. The leader then left it open for any group member to share a personal story about where they were on their road to recovery. Everyone who shared their story was open with the group and shared very personal experiences that they had. Everyone listened to each personal story that was shared. No one judged anyone from where they came from or what they had done in the past. Everyone was there to receive help and support those who were on their way to recovery as well. The meeting ended with

I talked to the man, who asked to go by “Richard”, after the meeting concluded. We sat outside the conference room and drank coffee while he told me about his lifelong battle with alcohol and drugs. I think what struck out the most to me was just how sad and regretful his tone of voice was as he told his story to me. He recalled how he first shot up with heroin at the age of fourteen, and how his life was a vicious cycle of drugs and depression afterwards. “Richard” told me that he was in and out of juvenile halls throughout his teenage years and how, when he was supposed to be in school, would skip classes to drink on the curb or inject himself with heroin in some dirty gas station bathroom. “I was in and out of prisons too, once I got old enough.” I remember him telling me. After two three year stints in prison on drug and alcohol related charges, the correctional

If not asked to do this, I would never have had the opportunity to meet these wonderful men and women and heard about their story over their powerlessness of addiction. I enjoy going to meetings, and make a strong effort to attend once a week. I have found that everyone has a completely different story but we only found refuge in filling that hurt with numbness, which soon led to our

Having thought about which non-substance disorder support group meeting I would like to attend, I originally choose Sex Addicts Anonymous (SA) because I knew someone decades ago who became a member, and knowing the person well, I have been curious about the meetings for some time now. However, the SA meetings are closed, in retrospect this makes sense for a variety of reasons, and since I could not tell them that I considered myself to qualify as a sex addict, I had to make another choice. My next choice was an Overeaters Anonymous meeting because there was one at the Atonement Church, of which I am familiar. Once again plans changed, and I was destined to arrive at the Wyomissing Church of the Brethren at 2200 State Hill Road.

I interviewed Takisa Smith, Director of the Center for Human Development’s (CHD) Watershed Recovery Center for women in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Her facility accommodates twenty-five women at the beginning stages of recovery and can also accommodate those who have been civilly committed, are pregnant, or post-partum and their infants (http://chd.org/adult-services/addiction-recovery-services/watershed-recovery-center-women/). I was lucky enough to know Takisa through my significant other (Leshawnda Underwood’s mother). Because of our preexisting relationship the interview was very laid back. Though I have known her for some time, it wasn’t until recently that I discovered she was a director of a substance abuse program. Once I knew

The Narcotics Anonymous meetings I attended were held in community centers, the meeting formats were the same, the environments were clean however sterile concerning anything on the walls that referenced N.A. In the back of the room, a portable table was setup for literature, and coffee and tea. The seating arrangement was a huge circle; about 25-30 individuals attended each meeting. The members were all ages and from all socio-economic status’. They were welcoming, friendly, and everyone hugged everyone! Initially, I thought it maybe it was just the culture of Central Texas (as I am new here), conversely, in my research I came to understand that this is part of the DNA of N.A. (Narcotics Anonymous, 1992).

The meeting was held at the St. Paul Lutheran church in Penn Yan and was an hour long. The number of participants will vary every week, that night there were twelve members present. One member stated that during the summer, more come to the meetings after returning from warmer weather. Members, not facilitators lead Al-Anon groups, they take turns on being the chairperson; starting and ending the meeting. There is also a person who leads a discussion of Al-Anon approved literature. The only formal role is the treasure of the Al-Anon group.

Upon entering the NA meeting I had mixed feelings. I didn’t know how to come to the meeting knowing my intentions were neither to give nor receive help. I felt like I was an intruder. I didn’t understand why I should betray others or act as if I was an addict who chose not to interact in the healing and recovering process. All of those things pushed me into the door of a meeting and open my mind to the hurt behind the physical appearance of these people. Their stories were heart wrenching. They all wanted help or do be noticed at some point of their lives before they became addicts. Never knowing the decisions they chose to take that first hit would turn their

In this week’s assignment we as a group, were to watch the two videos “Planning a Playground” and “Politics of Sociology”, discuss them as a group and write a summary. Being that this is my first online class that I have had to work with a group in I was very nervous about it. When doing discussions online, without prior physically meeting and getting to know one another, things can always take a turn that is not intended or needed. My team/group was great! Not only was the intent of our discussion clear but I also liked how we all posed questions within our discussions that made you really think. We challenged and

What an amazing story of God’s grace and redemption! Thank you for sharing so honestly. I think people get caught up in trying to forget who they used to be when the story of who they used to be can really help someone. I am a runner. I had the pleasure of running with a lady not long ago who struggled with a meth addiction for 14 years and it wasn’t until she had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ that her life was changed. She is an amazing inspirational speaker and truly shows how God can heal. God bless you, Lisa, for using your story to help other. Best of luck to you this semester.