Nickibaby;1464108]The newest issue of the NA Way magazine has nearly two pages of articles(not opinion pieces) about this whole issue. The main theme of the articles is that this is a tenth tradition issue and that people that have strong negative opinions making it seem that their opinions are NA's opinion only harms our fellowship as a whole.
Sorry Nickibaby,
I think you misinterpreted what you read in the NA Way (unless I get a different magazine than you). The focus on the article was on the public image of NA - not drug replacement therapy. It talks about prescribed medication and how some members may share their opinions about these medications as if they were the opinion of NA as a whole. Well...this kind of sharing has a way of getting back to medical professionals (and the public) and can hinder our efforts to attract people with medical issues.
That's why, when we share, it is so very important that we make it clear that our opinions are our own, and not those of NA. No single member can speak for the entire fellowship, yet we are entitled to develop our own personal opinions about anything and express them just as freely.
But, getting back to the issue of what is or isn't an outside issue (or what NA has or does not have an opinion about) - It goes right back to what has already been discussed here: there's a difference between coming to NA while still using methadone and suffering an illness or injury that requires prescribed medication AFTER YOU'VE BEEN CLEAN. Below is an excerpt from that NA Way article, and I'll highlight what I believe is being overlooked.
NA has no opinion on outside issues
We continue to hear from professionals that, at some NA meetings, our members share their individual opinions regarding medication, and professionals perceive these opinions to be those of NA as a whole. Expressing our individual opinions affects our public image. It also affects addicts who are referred to our program of recovery as well as members who need to take prescribed medication once abstinence has been achieved. To effectively carry our message of recovery to all addicts, we want to embrace our Tenth Tradition and truly adhere to the principle that “NA has no opinion on outside issues.”
Medication
NA is a program of recovery with a fundamental principle of complete abstinence. In the course of daily living, some NA members are confronted with physical and mental health issues that may require medication. Other members interact with healthcare professionals on behalf of our fellowship, carrying the message of recovery. Unfortunately, both healthcare professionals and members who take prescribed medication often hear individual opinions from NA members about the use of medication, rather than the message of NA’s traditions —that NA, as an organization, has no opinion on outside issues, like the use of medications.
You see...NA has no opinion on whether you should or shouldn't take medication, what kind of medication you should take, how much or how little, or for how long. These decisions are best left up to the individual member and healthcare professionals. Although some members may feel very strongly about taking medication of any kind for specific ailments or conditions, their views are not the views of NA as a whole - nor should they be taken as such.
What NA does have an opinion about is substitution, drug replacement, clean-time guidlines for service, and the level of participation of members who are still using. These things aren't mentioned in the NA Way article, so it wouldn't be correct to say the article was about
"this whole issue"...now would it?