NA Membership NA is a community-based organization that holds more than 72,200 weekly meetings in 143 countries.* NA was founded in 1953, and our membership growth was minimal during our initial twenty years as an organization. Since the publication of our Basic Text in 1983, the number of members and meetings has increased dramatically. NA is comprised of people who come from many backgrounds. Our membership is diverse across indicators, including age, race, gender, culture, and profession. The only requirement to become an NA member is the desire to stop using drugs. The decision to become a member of the NA Fellowship rests with the individual. The group atmosphere provides help from peers and offers an ongoing support network for addicts who wish to pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle. Our name, Narcotics Anonymous, is not meant to imply a focus on any particular drug; NA’s approach makes no distinction between drugs, including alcohol. There are no annual dues or fees for membership. We are self-supporting through member contributions and the sale of recovery literature. We have no affiliation with any organizations outside of NA, including governments, religions, law enforcement groups, or medical and psychiatric associations. NA is not a religious organization and does not require any particular belief system. It teaches basic spiritual principles, including honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness. The practical application of these principles is determined by the individual member. Through all of our service efforts and our cooperation with others seeking to help addicts, we strive to reach a day when every addict in the world has an opportunity to experience our message of recovery in his or her own language and culture.