Issue Discussion Paper #1
Western New York Region

What is NA's Definition of Abstinence? How does this definition apply to our members who need medication in recovery?

About the only common thread in our discussion of this controversial topic is that this is an intensely personal issue-an issue on which NA should offer no opinion or definition.

While we agree that this topic certainly merits fellowship-wide discussion, it is our collective opinion that NA is a program of complete abstinence. The definition of abstinence, however, should be left as a self-defining measure. We reached this conclusion after much dialogue about what constitutes a mind-or-mood altering substance. Of course, nicotine, caffeine, sugar, St. John's wort and even vitamins were introduced into discussion. This topic revealed itself to be loaded and multi-layered. Opinions ranged across a gamut and a point of consensus was reached that abstinence from all drugs need not be any further defined. Indeed, to state that NA is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs is quite likely erroneous. We believe that everyone is welcome in NA and to begin to dictate the terms of abstinence would severely limit our message of hope and promise of freedom.

Since our only conclusion of the definition of abstinence is that it is self-defined, our application is equally simplistic. We have no opinion on the use of medication by our members. As non-professionals, we believe that it would be dangerous to formulate any set mandate on this issue. During the course of our discussion, we were provided with a myriad of horror stories of individuals told to stop taking their medications who consequently suffered severe ramifications as well as examples of members whose continued existence is directly related to their use of medication. Again, we must express that this discussion topic was laden with thought provoking controversy. In the end, we maintain that it is up to our members to determine their own definitions and that the use of medication is similarly personal, and as such should not be set forth in a potentially dangerous edict.

Issue Discussion Paper #2
Western New York Region

What Action Do We, as a Fellowship, Need to Retain Our Experienced Members With Substantial Clean Time?

In order to retain experienced members with substantial clean time, as a fellowship we need to continue thinking about this-not merely as an issue discussion topic-but as a facet of the function of NA.

Interestingly, the central theme to our answer to this question is that there is no easy, set, specific answer. In many ways, there is not a whole lot that we as a fellowship can do. Some suggestions that are most tangible and achievable are as follows. We believe that we can take specific actions to engage experienced members who are currently unengaged. For example, similar to the manner in which we welcome newcomers-taking them for coffee after the meeting-we can make the same offer for experienced members. We can also reinvent our current "clean time countdown" etiquette. Just as everyone cheers and hugs the very newest of newcomers, we can do the same with "oldtimers." (We can even rush over to them with a World Pool resume!) This twist has the potential to change the dynamics of the situation. Other suggestions we offer are making a concerted effort to select experienced members for speaking engagements and holding special events or meetings geared toward experienced members.

Another common theme which surfaced was that service work was often a critical component in retaining experienced members. Service work often serves the function of creating relationships and friendships which form a bond among experienced members. This humanizing aspect often constitutes a reason why experienced members retain themselves. Herein lies another of our contentions-that the answer to this issue discussion topic is an individual responsibility. As one participant stated, "NA can't retain me…I retain me." Similarly, experienced members can practice this responsibility and broaden it by reaching out to other experienced members. In many ways, an "each one, reach one" campaign!

A practice used by many organizations is to solicit feedback from their membership. This customer driven approach is generally designed to elicit suggestions from a core membership base. Perhaps a survey could be disseminated to home groups asking questions in the vein of this issue discussion topic.

On a final note, we believe that the World Pool and its subsequent use can be used as a tool for retaining experienced members. All people-not just NA members-experience positive feelings when asked to provide input and assistance. The World Pool can serve that purpose by seeking the input of experienced members.