https://nicotine-anonymous.org
info@nicotine-anonymous.org

Nicotine Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women helping each other to live our lives free of nicotine. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop using nicotine. Nicotine Anonymous World Services (NAWS) and the regional Intergroups exist to support all Nicotine Anonymous groups and individual members. The volunteer staff works to provide services, undertakes new projects and facilitates ways to carry the message of recovery to nicotine addicts who still suffer. NAWS and Intergroups function in a capacity that individual groups would find difficult, if not impossible.

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Nicotine Anonymous World Services has been granted permission from Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. to reprint and adapt the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. This allows groups and individual members to use the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions to support their recovery from nicotine addiction. The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions have helped guide individuals and groups and free millions of people from various addictions. The spiritual awakening that occurs as a result of working this program of recovery also brings a new joy and serenity into many lives. Becoming nicotine free is just one of the gifts a member can receive through this program.

Providing Starter Kits

Our World Services organization can provide a Starter Kit to anyone setting up a new meeting. The kit includes a copy of each pamphlet, meeting format suggestions, and a sample meeting flyer. In addition to offering this support for new meetings, existing members benefit when there are more meetings available when traveling. World Services helps provide a continuity and consistency to our Fellowship so that any member can expect to find familiar words of recovery worldwide.

Literature

NAWS supports all members by publishing the books Nicotine Anonymous: The Book, and Our Path To Freedom, as well as several other books and many pamphlets, each with valuable information and inspiration. These materials have been written by recovering nicotine users who have volunteered their services. The path of recovery has shown that when we give of ourselves, we receive. Offering service is just one of our tools of recovery. NAWS provides its members with many ways to practice the principle of service on a worldwide level.

Seven Minutes

Volunteer staff at Nicotine Anonymous World Services also organize and publish our quarterly newsletter, Seven Minutes. Subscribing to Seven Minutes lets you know about NAWS' activities as well as the business addressed at NAWS board meetings and conferences. Intergroups can contribute news to announce their upcoming events (such as recovery weekends) and submit stories on what occurred there. Members also send in their personal recovery stories, poems, cartoons, etc., so they can be shared. Seven Minutes can be like receiving a meeting in the mail.

Pen Pal and Networking Lists

NAWS volunteers organize worldwide Pen Pal and Networking Lists for people who do not have access to a meeting in their area. Members are encouraged to use these lists to share their messages of recovery with the people on these lists.

The Dipper, Chewer and Vaper

Nicotine is the addictive drug from which we seek recovery. NAWS supports all nicotine addicts seeking freedom from active addition, including the dipper and chewer of tobacco, and also those who vape. Too often these dangerous methods of using nicotine have been overlooked.

Worldwide Meeting Directory

Nicotine Anonymous World Services also maintains a Worldwide Meeting Directory that volunteers continuously update and publish. Fortunate members may discover that there are several meetings in their area. This list is also a valuable tool for members who are traveling and want the support of the Fellowship. Many members who use this list report that it is great to meet other recovering addicts from different regions or cultures. Nicotine Anonymous also offers telephone and on-line meetings, and information for those meetings is also available on the World Services website in the "Find a Meeting" section.

Online and Phone Line Services

Our website, https://nicotine-anonymous.org, is another way that NAWS serves and carries the message. The website has NAWS literature (some available in non-English languages), the Worldwide Meeting List, and other valuable information for members and groups. For those who would prefer to leave a message and receive a call-back from a live Nicotine Anonymous volunteer to find out more about NicA works or ask a question, a toll-free number is available. Call 1-877-TRY NICA (1-877-879-6422).

Funding and Finances

Although there are no dues or fees for members, the Seventh Tradition of Nicotine Anonymous explains that we are self-supported through the voluntary contributions of our members. NAWS is funded through literature sales, Seven Minutes subscriptions, and the donations of groups, Intergroups and individual members. Please remember when the basket is passed around during your meeting that you are supporting your recovery by helping to maintain your home group, Intergroup, and the World Services Office. This is a "we" program!

How is Nicotine Anonymous World Services Structured?

Each year, at a selected city, willing members and delegates meet for a World Service Conference. We discuss the operating business of the Fellowship, as well as nominate and elect three new officers to three-year terms of service: Chairperson-Elect, Secretary-Elect, and Treasurer-Elect. These three have specific assigned duties and learn from the three current and three emeritus board members serving in these respective positions. Service continues when last year's Elects rotate at each annual conference become current active officers. The previous active officers rotate to become emeritus officers, before leaving the NAWS board after completing their third year of service. These nine volunteers work together, sharing their experience, strength, and hope to maintain the principles of the Fellowship and to provide continuity as they oversee all the services previously described.

NAWS board members oversee the efforts of the Staff Coordinators who work at providing many of these services. There is also a Traditions Committee, whose members provide guidance to ensure that our trusted servants stay within the guidelines of our Twelve Traditions.

What is an Intergroup?

An Intergroup consists of representatives from individual groups in a local region. Intergroup representatives are volunteers who meet regularly to exchange ideas, news, and organize Intergroup events. As of 2018, there are approximately nine active Intergroups, supporting their member meetings. If you are interested in organizing an Intergroup in your area, please contact NAWS, Attention: Intergroup Liaison.

What Services Can an Intergroup Provide?

One of the main priorities for Intergroups is to get the word out about Nicotine Anonymous at the local level. Intergroup representatives also help get new meetings started and support them by coming to share their experience at new meetings. They help organize speaker exchanges between groups to enhance the sense of fellowship and widen the circle of shared experience, strength and hope.

An Intergroup can organize an "Info-line." This is a phone number listed under the Intergroup's name so that anyone looking for help can call and get the number of a volunteer who, using a local meeting list, can assist them in finding a meeting.

When donations from the groups are sufficient, an Intergroup may have the funds to buy literature at a volume discount and provide this benefit to their local groups. Intergroups can organize special events. Several Intergroups sponsor annual recovery events in their region. Intergroups also act as a liaison with the World Services Office.

A Final Note: This is a "We" Program

"Your Impossible Is Our Possible" is one of our slogans because this is a "we" program. Together, we change. The strength of the Fellowship gives more strength to each member. Recovery and service go hand in hand. We don't look to graduate. Instead, we look to maintain our gratitude. Service is gratitude in action. Donations from individuals, groups, or Intergroups are also important ways to serve, express gratitude, and help carry our message of hope. If you are interested in getting involved on a World Service level, there are many ways to do so. We are always seeking volunteers to answer telephone calls and e-mails from people requesting meeting or program information. We need contributors and editors for our publication Seven Minutes. People can serve on various committees such as the Outreach Committee that helps carry our message of recovery to those who have not heard about Nicotine Anonymous. Translating literature into other languages is necessary, especially for our website. If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact NAWS, Attention: Chairperson.

We realize the truth of Our Promises and that "we haven't given up anything at all." By letting go of nicotine we have received a precious gift. The spiritual awakening we receive as a result of practicing the Twelve Steps offers us a life that is more joyous, happy, and free living without nicotine.