My sister is adamant that NA is counter-productive, because "you expand your network of users and suppliers, and most of them don't stop, so the result is you have even more friends who are druggies like you." She says it's better to go to AA than to NA, even if the problem is drugs.

I go to both. I've seen great things and problems in both fellowships. I see more people with time in AA (maybe due to the program being more established - maybe because alcohol is more prevalent), but I also see people in both programs who work from a revolving door position. Constantly going in and out. There are also the fellowship/services junkies who lose themselves in activities and don't use or drink but are miserable because they aren't working the steps.

As far as 'expanding the network of suppliers' It states in What is the Narcotics Anonymous Program? -
"We are not interested in what or how much you used or who
your connections were, what you have done in the past, how
much or how little you have, but only in what you want to do
about your problem and how we can help."

Many people have trouble 'sticking with the winners'. And for me it comes back to do you want this? I know many people who are required to attend (nudge from the judge) and are just there to fulfill the commitment to the court. But if they are really at a bottom and want it they stay, and some of them get it.

When I first came in it was hard to believe these people who said they had time. I had the doubts of whether this was a cult, were these people lying about not using and drinking - I didn't trust them. As things became clearer to me I saw the people who continued to hang around people who drank and used continued to drink and use, and the people who hung around people who didn't stayed clean.

And as far as one fellowship over another... I get recovery where ever I can. If there are 12 steps, I can get something out of it. But this is how it works for me.

AC *10/19/03*