In Times of Illness - Narcotics Anonymous

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We commit to work closelywith our sponsor and medicalprofessionals and to drawstrength from our Higher Power.Sharing honestly with our medical care providersthe fact that we are addicts in recovery is helpful.We ask that this be taken into consideration whenmedications are prescribed. Being honest withour NA friends about our pain and fears is equallyimportant. We strive to remain open-minded andask our doctors about alternative treatments forpain. Seeking out the experience of other addicts inrecovery who have faced similar situations is oftenbeneficial. These members have the opportunity toshare with us what worked for them with chronicpain while maintaining their recovery. Being openmindedto experience from those we trust andrespect will help us in our decision making. Weremain willing to explore all treatment optionsavailable to us. We commit to work closely withour sponsor and medical professionals and to drawstrength from our Higher Power.In Times of Illness“With a few years clean I was diagnosed with a diseasethat required a few surgeries and resulted in chronic pain. Ihave learned many things from this process, but none moreimportant than the lesson that it is far easier to fi nd ways tomanage my pain than it is for me to manage medication.”32
Living with chronic pain gives us an opportunityto experience a new level of responsibility for ourpersonal recovery. We may need to question ourpain and our motives using an inventory in thesame way we inventoried our character during ourFourth Step. Our sponsor can help with this. We askourselves questions about the pain we are feelingand answer them as honestly as we can in orderto assess whether we need medication. Addicts areespecially vulnerable to our old ways of thinkingwhen we are in pain. Sharing honestly with oursponsor or trusted NA friends will help us keep ourpain in perspective. In this situation, we are oftensurprised to discover how much discomfort we cantolerate without medication. If we take prescribedpain medication, we should remember that ourbodies and minds may react. Our experience showsthat we may need to ask for extra help when thetime comes to stop taking pain medication, in casewe experience withdrawal symptoms. With courage,we reach out and accept the love and support of oursponsor and NA friends.“We do not diagnose anyone’s condition or trackthe progress of our patients—in fact we have no patients,only members. Our groups do not provide professionaltherapeutic, medical, legal, or psychiatric services.We are simply a fellowship of recovering addicts whomeet regularly to help each other stay clean.”IT WORKS: HOW AND WHYIn Times of Illness33
Page 3 and 4: ContentsPreface 5Background informa
Page 6 and 7: practical suggestions for living a
Page 8 and 9: our recovery. This will helpthem pr
Page 10 and 11: trusted NA friends can help us make
Page 12 and 13: Cleantime is an issue for eachof us
Page 14 and 15: and other trusted NA friends offer
Page 16 and 17: our motives and seeking the suggest
Page 18 and 19: The primary purpose of our groups i
Page 20 and 21: has the desire to experience the NA
Page 22 and 23: NA promises us freedom from active
Page 24 and 25: Emergency Care“The steps are our
Page 26 and 27: make decisions that will enhance ou
Page 28 and 29: A renewal of our commitment to main
Page 30 and 31: After a period of illness or treatm
Page 34 and 35: The disease of addiction is progres
Page 36 and 37: when they have abused their medicat
Page 38: surrender and help us break through
Page 41 and 42: Supporting Memberswith Illness“Lo
Page 43 and 44: professionals. We take care to focu
Page 45 and 46: ConclusionComing to accept an illne
Page 47 and 48: Suggestions to Followwith Illness a

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