It might help to remember why NA was started by a member of AA.
"I found A.A and in that Fellowship met addicts who had also found the program to be the answer to their problem.
However, we knew that many were still going down the road to disillusion, degradation and death, because they were unable to identify with the alcoholic in A.A. Their identification was at the level of apparent symptoms and not at the deeper level of emotions or feelings, where empathy becomes a healing therapy for all addicted people.
With several other addicts and some members of A.A. who had great faith in
us and the program, we formed, in July of 1953, what we now know as
Narcotics Anonymous. We felt that now the addict would find from the start
as much identification as each needed to convince himself that he could
stay clean, by the example of others who had recovered for many years.
That this was what was principally needed, has proved itself in these
passing years. "
Jimmy K