| NORTHEAST GEORGIA AREA OF NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS |
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| NEGA SC PO BOX 545 Gainesville, GA 30503 |
Region H & I Minutes / Reports
H & I Handbook
Institutional Group Guide
Behind the Walls
IP #20 - H&I Service & the NA Member
IP #23 - Staying Clean on the Outside
Reaching Out
We encourage written contributions for Reaching Out from members and H&I
subcommittees. Please consider that we are more likely to publish articles that focus
on how NA has helped an individual to recover while incarcerated, rather than those
that concentrate on the horrors of addiction. Thank you for helping us carry our
message of hope!
For help writing your story, download a Reaching Out contributor worksheet here
Worksheet for incarcerated members
Worksheet for members who were formerly incarcerated
Worksheet for members of local H&I committees
Send your stories or subscription forms to:
Reaching Out; NAWS, PO Box 9999; Van Nuys, CA 91409-9999; USA, or to
HandI@na.org.
WHY IS AN H&I MEETING/PRESENTATION NEEDED?
The purpose of an H&I meeting is to carry the NA message of recovery to addicts who
do not have full access to regular Narcotics Anonymous meetings. H&I
meetings/presentations, except for those in longer-term facilities, are intended to
simply introduce those attending to some of the basics of the NA program.
WHO IS BEST SUITED TO CARRY THE NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS MESSAGE IN A
HOSPITAL & INSTITUTION MEETING?
In our experience, it is best for members to have three months clean before attending
an H&I meeting, and six months clean before speaking at one. It is not important
whether or not we have been in a similar facility ourselves. Anyone with a clear and
consistent Narcotics Anonymous message who is willing to share is well suited for H&I
work.
WHEN DOES THE H & I SUB-COMMITTEE MEET?
The Area H & I Sub-Committee meets from 11am - 1pm during the regularly scheduled
ASC meeting.
Here are some do's & don'ts
Do’s and Don’ts for H&I Work
Do follow the guidance found in the WSC H&I Handbook
Treatment Facility Rules
Do Attempt to get the treatment facility agreements in writing
Do Clarify the rules with whomever you bring into the facility
Do Adhere to the security regulations at all times
Do Arrive early to set up meeting
Do Keep the staff informed of your whereabouts
Do Obey the dress code, exercise common sense
Panel Leaders and Members
Do Screen all panel members, speakers, and chairpersons
Do Adhere to the clean time requirements of the treatment facility
and the H&I committee
Do Ensure that a clear NA message of recovery is carried by all panel members
Literature
Do Make directories of outside meetings available to the residents
Do Use the literature recommended for H&I work
Do Stamp all literature with the local phoneline number
Do Provide facilities with literature order forms and encourage the
facility to supply its own NA literature
Treatment Facility Meetings
Do Start and end on time
Do Explain briefly, during the meeting, what H&I is
Do Clearly state that Narcotics Anonymous is separate from the treatment
facility and from other fellowships
Do Emphasize that NA recovery is available to all addicts, regardless
of drug(s) used
Do Explain the language that we use (addict, clean, recovery, clean time)
and why we use it (the First Step of NA and Sixth Tradition of NA)
Hospitals & Institutions Handbook 29
Residents Meeting Participation
Do Involve residents with the meeting, especially those in long-term
treatment facilities (readings, etc.)
Do Emphasize the importance of getting to an NA meeting the first day
out of the treatment facility
Do Emphasize the importance of a sponsor, regular NA meeting
attendance, and group commitments after release
Panel Leaders and Members
Don’t Bring any contraband items or weapons into the treatment facility
Don’t Take messages and carry letters in or out of the facility
Don’t Show favoritism to any resident(s)
Don’t Bring an NA member who has friends and/or family in the
treatment facility
Don’t Wear flashy jewelry and don’t carry excessive cash
Don’t Use excessive profanity
Don’t Attend H&I facilities alone.
Facility Guidelines
Don’t Debate any issue involving the treatment facility’s rules, regulations,
programs, or other fellowships with residents and staff
Don’t Discuss conditions within the treatment facility
Don’t Discuss treatment staff members with resident(s)
Don’t Discuss resident(s) with the treatment facility staff
Don’t Sponsor resident(s) in the treatment facility that you are attending
as an H&I member
Don’t Accept money or gifts from, or give money or gifts to, any resident
Meeting Guidelines
Don’t Give anyone within the facility your address or telephone number
Don’t Provide anyone with another NA member’s address or
telephone number
Don’t Bring in anyone who is not supposed to be there (sponsee(s),
friends, guests)
Don’t Break another person’s anonymity
Don’t Emphasize ‘using days’ while sharing an NA message of recovery
The purpose of an H&I meeting is to carry the NA message of recovery to addicts who
do not have full access to regular Narcotics Anonymous meetings. H&I
meetings/presentations, except for those in longer-term facilities, are intended to
simply introduce those attending to some of the basics of the NA program.
WHO IS BEST SUITED TO CARRY THE NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS MESSAGE IN A
HOSPITAL & INSTITUTION MEETING?
In our experience, it is best for members to have three months clean before attending
an H&I meeting, and six months clean before speaking at one. It is not important
whether or not we have been in a similar facility ourselves. Anyone with a clear and
consistent Narcotics Anonymous message who is willing to share is well suited for H&I
work.
WHEN DOES THE H & I SUB-COMMITTEE MEET?
The Area H & I Sub-Committee meets from 11am - 1pm during the regularly scheduled
ASC meeting.
Here are some do's & don'ts
Do’s and Don’ts for H&I Work
Do follow the guidance found in the WSC H&I Handbook
Treatment Facility Rules
Do Attempt to get the treatment facility agreements in writing
Do Clarify the rules with whomever you bring into the facility
Do Adhere to the security regulations at all times
Do Arrive early to set up meeting
Do Keep the staff informed of your whereabouts
Do Obey the dress code, exercise common sense
Panel Leaders and Members
Do Screen all panel members, speakers, and chairpersons
Do Adhere to the clean time requirements of the treatment facility
and the H&I committee
Do Ensure that a clear NA message of recovery is carried by all panel members
Literature
Do Make directories of outside meetings available to the residents
Do Use the literature recommended for H&I work
Do Stamp all literature with the local phoneline number
Do Provide facilities with literature order forms and encourage the
facility to supply its own NA literature
Treatment Facility Meetings
Do Start and end on time
Do Explain briefly, during the meeting, what H&I is
Do Clearly state that Narcotics Anonymous is separate from the treatment
facility and from other fellowships
Do Emphasize that NA recovery is available to all addicts, regardless
of drug(s) used
Do Explain the language that we use (addict, clean, recovery, clean time)
and why we use it (the First Step of NA and Sixth Tradition of NA)
Hospitals & Institutions Handbook 29
Residents Meeting Participation
Do Involve residents with the meeting, especially those in long-term
treatment facilities (readings, etc.)
Do Emphasize the importance of getting to an NA meeting the first day
out of the treatment facility
Do Emphasize the importance of a sponsor, regular NA meeting
attendance, and group commitments after release
Panel Leaders and Members
Don’t Bring any contraband items or weapons into the treatment facility
Don’t Take messages and carry letters in or out of the facility
Don’t Show favoritism to any resident(s)
Don’t Bring an NA member who has friends and/or family in the
treatment facility
Don’t Wear flashy jewelry and don’t carry excessive cash
Don’t Use excessive profanity
Don’t Attend H&I facilities alone.
Facility Guidelines
Don’t Debate any issue involving the treatment facility’s rules, regulations,
programs, or other fellowships with residents and staff
Don’t Discuss conditions within the treatment facility
Don’t Discuss treatment staff members with resident(s)
Don’t Discuss resident(s) with the treatment facility staff
Don’t Sponsor resident(s) in the treatment facility that you are attending
as an H&I member
Don’t Accept money or gifts from, or give money or gifts to, any resident
Meeting Guidelines
Don’t Give anyone within the facility your address or telephone number
Don’t Provide anyone with another NA member’s address or
telephone number
Don’t Bring in anyone who is not supposed to be there (sponsee(s),
friends, guests)
Don’t Break another person’s anonymity
Don’t Emphasize ‘using days’ while sharing an NA message of recovery
| NA Helpline 706-974-9990 Area 888-947-7262 Region |