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12 Traditions

12 Traditions

The primary service of Narcotics Anonymous is provided through the NA meetings. Each group is autonomous; however, the group and NA as a whole function on the basis of the principles that apply to all of Narcotics Anonymous. These are set forth in the 12 Traditions of NA. They reflect the accumulated experience that can help NA groups maintain their unity.

The term “God” is used in the wording; this does not refer to any religion or creed, but rather each person can use what suits him or her personally in the sense of a power greater than ourselves.

Der hauptsächliche Dienst von Narcotics Anonymous ist durch die NA-Meetings gewährleistet. Jede Gruppe ist eigenständig; die Gruppe und NA als Ganzes funktionieren jedoch auf der Basis der für ganz Narcotics Anonymous gültigen Prinzipien. Diese sind in den 12 Traditionen von NA festgehalten. Sie geben die gesammelten Erfahrungen wieder, die NA-Gruppen helfen können, ihre Einigkeit zu bewahren.

Im Wortlaut kommt der Begriff „Gott” vor; dies bezieht sich nicht auf eine Religion oder Glaubensrichtung sondern es kann hier jede*r selbst einsetzen, was für ihn oder sie persönlich passt im Sinne einer Kraft, die größer ist als wir selbst.

The 12 Traditions of NA

We keep what we have only with vigilance, and just as freedom for the individual comes from the Twelve Steps, so freedom for the group springs from our Traditions. As long as the ties that bind us together are stronger than those that would tear us apart, all will be well.

  1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on NA unity.
  2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority— a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
  3. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using.
  4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or NA as a whole.
  5. Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry the message to the addict who still suffers.
  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.
  7. Every NA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
  8. Narcotics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
  9. NA, as such, ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
  10. Narcotics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the NA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
  11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
  12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

© Narcotics Anonymous