Pubdate: Sat, 07 Aug 2004
Source: Arusha Times, The (Tanzania)
Copyright: 2004 Arusha Times.
Contact:  http://www.arushatimes.co.tz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2943

STAYING CLEAN FROM ALL DRUGS

About this time many of us in the East Africa and across the country
made a commitment to recovery in Narcotics Anonymous (NA). It sounds
funny now, but I can remember when people in NA thought that if we
went to NA only, we would end up drunk!

Our basic text does not state anything about going exclusively to NA,
but during those early years, many of us came to believe that if we
attended NA regularly and actively participated in our NA recovery, we
would and could stay clean over time from all drugs including alcohol.
And there it was in print: "Our identification as addicts is all
inclusive with respect to any mood-changing, mind-altering substance.
Alcoholism is too limited a term for us; our problem is not a specific
substance, it is a disease called addiction."

During this time some members including myself, became NA "purist". We
talked about our identification as addicts, and we said and did a lot
of things to promote NA. While our intentions were in the right place,
these beliefs and practices were sometimes counter-productive,
especially when exercised without compassion, common sense or
maturity. I keep the focus on me. NA is my home.

Is your addiction a problem to you? Try it out in their weekly
meetings held at:

* The Arusha Community Church:
- - AA Swahili meetings on Mondays and Saturdays at 5:00pm and 10:00 am
consecutively.
- - AA English meetings on Tuesdays at 1:00pm and 5:00pm and Thursdays at
1:00pm.
- - NA Swahili meetings on Mondays and Thursdays at 5:00pm.

* The Monduli Roman Catholic Church:
- - AA Swahili meetings on Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:30pm and on Saturdays
at 10:00am.

* The Christ Church Cathedral (Diocese of Mt. Kilimanjaro): - AA
English meetings on Fridays at 11:00 am. - AA English meetings on
Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11:00am and 6:30pm consecutively.

* The Edmund Rice Secondary School - Sinon:
- - AA Swahili meetings on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2:00pm
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MAP posted-by: Josh