CrackQuack

ABH, I do know there is a CA "sub group" known as Cocaine Annonymous and I think one for Marijuana too, I am unsure. Anyway, I don't identify with pill poppers, slammers, nor people who snort cocaine. I put that stuff down, along with alcohol and pot, easily. It was crack that got me. Why I could put the powder down but not the crack, IDK. And, at first, I just felt I HAD to be different, in addiction, and the idea that I did not identify with these people, I really believe, helped my addiction to convince me I didn't have a problem and I continued using on and off for 6 more months.
BUT, I kept going back to NA and it clicked. Stop looking at the differences and focus on the similarities. These other people, they were ADDICTED to something.
And even though we can identify more, with others who share the same drug of choice, it doesn't mean we all go through the same process. Some physical withdrawals are WAY different for opiate addicts. From whom I've talked too, I had worse physical withdrawals from crack than anyone else I've met who is addicted to crack. Many people were put in NA via the court system. I was never arrested. Many females, I've talked to, in and out of the rooms, sold themselves for their drugs. I never did. Many people stole, and so did I! Many people sold their things. So did I. Many people neglected their friends and family. So did I. Many people lost jobs due to their drug abuse. So did I.
See where I am going with similarities? I started out focused on the differences. I ended up seeing, and am still learning and seeing, the similarities.
WE all got to those rooms in many different ways, addicted to something different. We come together when we share and relate in other ways, listen to each other, and don't forget that hug!
And, of course, stick around long enough and you WILL hear your story, repeated from another person's mouth. I believe that!
Like I said, I don't believe in the seperatist thing. I believe we all should welcome each other. Be respectful, like Augustwest said.
And AAboston, what you said was beautiful. Thank you for letting us know that people try. Not always succeed, but progress and try. I appreciate that.
What you and Augustwest have stated means far more and is far better than I can put into words. It means a lot. Thank you!

AlonebutHopeful

I cannot, in a million years, be able to express my gratitude for everyone's thoughtful, meaningful replies. Never did I think that an online board about recovery could hold such introspective, caring and sensitive people. I obviously had a lot of preconceived judgments. . . as I do about meetings. I can only hope I find a meeting in my town that comes close to the people I have found here.

Thank you.

augustwest

You're very welcome. It is my pleasure and honor to share and care about my fellows. I leave you with two important passages from the NA basic text that eloquently outline that which you reference above.

The newcomer is the most important person at any
meeting, because we can only keep what we have by giving it away


There is one thing more than anything else that will defeat us in our recovery; this is an
attitude of indifference or intolerance toward spiritual principles. Three of these that are
indispensable are honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness. With these we are well on our
way.

There's so much more that i could say, but i have work to do and it is best learned by the newcomer through the experience of the fellowship. As it says in the basic text, more will be revealed...

Namaste

keithj

[QUOTE=CrackQuack;2504777I will never believe separation is necessary.[/QUOTE]

Necessary for whom? It's not like there is some big committee that decides these things. We decide for ourselves. A while back, a bunch of addicts who were finding the solution in AA felt that newcomers were having trouble identifying with all the drunks. They felt the newcomer addict could be better helped by a fellowship that had a more specific drug problem, and they started NA. Same with CA. Those cocaine addicts in NA couldn't relate to the junky opiate addict. So they started their own fellowship to better meet their needs and the needs of newcomers.

The separation may not be necessary. It's just that the addicts themselves thought it was useful.

Look at all the other 12 Step fellowships. Same obsessive compulsive, irrational behavior toward something, and the same solution (the 12 Steps). But is an over eater or a sex addict really going to identify with the drunk? They don't. So they, themselves, feel it more useful to have their own fellowship.

fenster67

I do hate this - when some guys come into an AA meeting and say they are an addict anbd they don't understand why they can't drink. An AA meeting is not the place to voice that complaint.
Also, NA'ers still drink, so what is the point of going to an AA meeting?

AlonebutHopeful

I have to admit that it seems rather foolish for someone to say that out loud in an AA meeting. I would be quite scared to do that in fact.

fenster67

It was actually a group of kids who were more or less fresh out of high school.
I certainly don't mind the AA'ers who say I am an alc and a drug addict.

I do, though get a little annoyedwhen they said i am juust an 'addict' at an aa meeting.

augustwest

Na'ers, at least those working the program honestly, absolutely do not drink.

From the basic text:
Thinking of alcohol as different from other drugs has caused
a great many addicts to relapse. Before we came to NA many
of us viewed alcohol separately, but we cannot afford to be
confused about this. Alcohol is a drug. We are people with the
disease of addiction who must abstain from all drugs in order
to recover.