In service to Narcotics Anonymous in Pasco County, Florida including Holiday, Hudson, New Port Richey and Port Richey Narcotics Anonymous Volume 1, Issue 3 May - June 2011 SEARCHING Frank W., Clean Date: 6-25-10 I have spent my whole life searching; searching for something to make me feel different then I had always felt on the inside. From my earliest memories as a small child I was searching for acceptance from people, with the death of my mother as a child and the mental abstinence of my father, it left me with the need for attention. I believe that s where my addiction started for me doing things as a small child for attention, and the overwhelming feeling of love and acceptance that I received for acting silly always left me wanting to keep feeling that way. I believe that s why I never made it to high school because of things I did for attention in middle school was nothing short of total chaos now reflecting back on that time I feel sorry for the hell that I put the teachers through. Already a full blown addict at fourteen I thought I had found what I was searching for in drugs, the drugs allowed me not to feel that emptiness I had always felt on the inside, so numbing myself on a daily basis is how my next addiction started for me, and would end up leading me down some of the darkest paths anyone could ever travel in life. After thirteen years of using drugs I found my way to Narcotics Anonymous and was able to put some stability back into my life for over five years, and from not working the program by the way it was suggested, like getting a sponsor and working the steps, it left me searching to fill this emptiness once again. So with five years clean my addiction shifted to working and money, but that never seemed to fill the void inside of me always leaving me searching for something else in my life. Then my addiction took me to food and sexual behaviors which worked as a quick fix to a long term problem, but once again my searching lead back to my addiction of drugs. Now relapsing I thought it would be different this time, so I switched drugs which only worked in short success and when that failed, I switched states which again failed shortly afterwards, so with a few near death experiences and jail terms my addiction was so bad that I had no desire to live anymore. So after detoxing in county jail the last time I got clean, for the first time in over eleven years, facing prison I decided to search out recovery one more time and found my way back to Narcotics Anonymous picking up my second white key chain in sixteen years I vowed to learn from my mistakes that I made the first time around. You know that I spent my whole life searching for what I have now found in Narcotics Anonymous, people who are just like me with the same feelings and problems and the same issues in life. Through helping each other in the program I have found love, friendship and a new way of life. I think after twenty four years of active addition I have finally found what I was SEARCHING FOR ALL ALONG. Inside this issue: Personal Stories Activities Word Search Comics Anniversaries Service Committee Meetings Florida Region Help Lines It doesn t matter how you got here You got here. The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual contributors, and not the opinions of the Recovery Coast Area Literature Subcommittee, or Narcotics Anonymous as a whole.
Page 2 STEP AND TRADITION OF THE MONTHS Tradition 5 Each group has but one primary purpose to carry the message to the addict who still suffers. The key words in this tradition are the addict who still suffers. Being observant and listening to what is shared in the rooms it has been clear to me that all addicts are suffering when they come into Narcotics Anonymous. As we get clean from the drugs and work the steps, the more of life s reality comes into focus. Our past becomes our present and we hurt as we chose to use the steps to get through it. How do we handle it when someone who has suffered a relapse returns to meetings seeking recovery and support from fellow addicts? Or what about the old timer that comes into a meeting in pain because of a physical injury or an emotionally devastating situation occurs? We share our experience, strength, and hope with one another. We don t minimize what a person feels. We allow the fellow addict to walk through their own experience at their own pace and love them. It really is that simple. Then again, we addicts sure do know how to complicate things don t we? Tradition 6 An NA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the NA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, or prestige divert us from our primary purpose. This basically says we need to keep ourselves separated from any facility we hold our meetings in. Let us keep the focus on the suffering addict. Money needs to be used to help carry the message by purchasing books, key tags, IP s (Information Pamphlets), and helping maintain each area, region, and the World Service office (WSO). To divert the use of money collected is just not appropriate. Our relationships begin to change after this step, including the one we have with the God of our understanding. Throughout the process of the Fifth Step, we turned to that Power when we were fearful, and we received the courage we needed to complete the step. Our belief and our faith grew as a result. Because of this, we re willing to put more of ourselves into building a relationship with God. Just like any other relationship, the one we develop with our Higher Power calls for openness and trust on our part. When we share our most personal thoughts and feelings with our Higher Power, letting down our walls and admitting we are less than perfect, intimacy develops. We develop a certainty that our Higher Power is always with us and that we are being cared for. It Works How and Why, Step Five, page 57 * NA is not affiliated with any of the above facilities
Page 3 How responsible are your trusted servants? When a person is voted into a position as a trusted servant I often wonder where their level of spiritual fitness is. Everyone wants to be a part of a group and yet I think that we need to really look at the reason we want to be of service. First, is there knowledge of the position? Has a sponsor been asked for input? Does the person really know what the spiritual principles are to fulfill the position? Do they have secretary skills, handle their own money well, or know how to be neutral for the good of the group as a whole? These are important things to keep in mind when choosing trusted servants. Why are there clean time requirements for trusted servants positions? So they can learn and not do before their time. This is why a resume of their service work is required. Anonymous because I can be. I have found that you are just like me. I am no longer better than or less than. I feel a real love and camaraderie in the N.A. Fellowship. My great spiritual awakening has been that I am an ordinary addict. I am not unique. There are still those who refuse to join us and take the path that we have chosen, because they feel that they are unique. They may die. But may God bless them too. Basic Text, 5th Edition, page 128 ACTIVITIES KARAOKE/SPEAKER MEETING In Conjunction with the SASTO s Group Friday, June 24th 8:15pm 11:30pm St Marks Presbyterian Church 7922 State Road 52 Hudson, FL 34667 Refreshments for sale No Addict Turned Away * NA is not affiliated with any of the above facilities
Page 4 * NA is not affiliated with any of the above facilities
Volume 1, Issue 3 Page 5 How many addicts does it take to change a lightbulb? One and the rest of their friends to complain and gossip for the next week because it wasn t done their way. Joel D. May & June Anniversaries Name: Clean Date: Years Clean: Chris A. 05-13-07 4 years Albin 05-14-08 3 years Joel D. 05-15-89 22 years Erin 05-26-10 1 year Glenn S. 05-28-09 2 years Rob V. 06-01-09 2 years Charlie W. 06-10-85 26 years George 06-16-10 1 year Eddie I. 06-23-88 23 years Frank W. 06-25-10 1 year Lyn 06-25-10 1 year If you would like your anniversary in the newsletter please e-mail: recoverycoastnews@yahoo.com
Narcotics Anonymous Mailing Address: P.O. Box 964 New Port Richey, FL 34656 Call the 24-hour Helpline for Meeting Updates Phone: 727-842-2433 We re on the web: www.napasco.org 13 Steps of NA originated at the YMCA in NYC in 1950. From NA Text Miracles Happen. AREA SERVICE COMMITTEE (ASC) 2nd Sunday of every month Community Congregational, 6533 Circle Blvd., New Port Richey 1:00 Policy & 2:00 ASC Subcommittee Meetings 1st Sunday of every month St Stephens Episcopal Church, 5326 Charles St., New Port Richey 2:00 Public Relations & Help Line 3:00 Activities 4:30 Hospitals & Institutions (H&I) Newsletter 1st Monday of the month at 10am Panera Bread Little & 54 1. Admit the use of narcotics made my life seem more tolerable but the drug had become an undesirable power over my life. 2. Came to realize that to face life without drugs I must develop an inner strength. 3. Made a decision to face the suffering of withdrawal. 4. Learn to accept my fears without drugs. 5. Find someone who had progressed thus far and who is able to assist me. 6. Admit to the nature and depth of my addiction. 7. Realized the seriousness of my shortcomings as I know them and accept the responsibility of facing them. 8. Admit before a group of NA members these same shortcomings and explain why I am trying to overcome them. 9. List for my own understanding all the persons I have hurt. 10. Take a daily inventory of my actions and admit to myself those that are contrary to good conscience. 11. Realize that to maintain freedom from drugs, I must share with others the experience in which I have benefited. 12. Determine a purpose in life and try with all the spiritual and physical power within me to move toward its fulfillment. 13. God help me. Florida Narcotics Anonymous Help Lines We ask that the NA members of this area please join us in this wonderful journey by sending any stories, poetry, comics, jokes, etc. Everything must be recovery related. In Loving Service, The Newsletter Subcommittee All submissions, inquiries, and comments are welcome at any time. Please forward submissions to: recoverycoastnews@yahoo.com. Articles will be printed anonymously upon request. YOU can receive a FREE electronic copy of this Newsletter by forwarding your e-mail address to: recoverycoastnews@yahoo.com.