In Times of Illness - Narcotics Anonymous

We remember that the primary purpose of ourgroups is to carry the message to the addict who stillsuffers. There may be times during our experiencewith chronic pain when we are the addict suffering.During such times, we may find it beneficial to listento the experience of others, allowing them to carrythe message of recovery to us.“Today, I have to get honest with myself and turn tomy Higher Power for help. Each time pain medication isprescribed for me, I explore my motives for taking it. Am Itaking medication to get high? Am I imagining or magnifyingthis pain? Is this medication necessary right now? If it isnecessary, a network of safeguards can be set up among mysponsor, recovering friends, family, and medical personnel.”Our experience shows that many NA members havebeen successful in taking medication as prescribedfor chronic pain and keeping their recovery intact.Some of the actions that these members have incommon are regular meeting attendance, closecontact with their sponsor and NA support network,and having another addict who knows all the detailsof their medical treatment. Unfortunately, many ofus also have experience with a member who abusedtheir pain medication and relapsed. The reality isthat treatment of chronic pain with medicationcan be very dangerous for addicts. Members whorelapse from pain medication may harbor feelingsof shame, guilt, and remorse. We can offer theseaddicts compassion and understanding. Providingmeetings with a caring, loving, and nonjudgmentalatmosphere where members can honestly admitIn Times of Illness35