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NA Message Board -> Narcotics Anonymous Message Board -> Looking for some help finding an online group
Post Info TOPIC: Looking for some help finding an online group
john_w


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Looking for some help finding an online group
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Hello friends,
Why do I say friends?  Because we are all in this together and we can't do it alone.  I am a medical professional and I am looking to find an NA group online that is for medical professionals or a group that is mainly geared for people who are addicts that are in the medical field.  I would appreciate any help or links you could provide.  I currently attend 5 meetings a week here around my home area but I would like to be able to get online and talk to people in my line of work as well.  NA has saved my life and has given me back something I lost when I started using.  I look forward to hearing from anyone and if you ever need to talk, please feel free to drop me a line.  Thank you and may your God bless and keep you and remember Just For Today, I don't have use.

JW


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The Theraputic Value of One Addict Helping Another Addict is Without Parallel!
MiracleMe


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Hi John,

Have you checked the meeting locator info on the NAWS website? Here's the link:

http://portaltools.na.org/portaltools/MeetingLoc

There are a number of NA meetings online, but I'm not aware of any closed meetings or any specifically geared to medical professionals.  If you visit various meeting sites and keep asking, I'll bet you run into a few medical types. :)

In addition to meetings here, check out
-- EarthGroupNA.org
-- NARecoveryChat.org
-- NA-Recovery.org
-- UKNA.org

Jeanne


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betc


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Hi John,

have you had any luck in locating the meeting you are wanting?

you might try to see if there is a Caduceus meeting in your area.  you can probably google this as well...these are usually for medical people, however, if anonymity is your concern, check to see if they will be taking roll.  The one where I live does. 

I am curious though.....for what reason do you need a meeting just for medical personel?  Are we unique or something? 

let me know if you locate what you are looking for.

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john_w


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Hello betc, thank you for your response to my question. I currently attend 3 NA and 1 AA meeting during the week each week. All are wonderful programs and I devote a lot of time to helping the groups and my recovery. There is a Cadeuceus meeting about 1 1/2 hours from where I live and right now I just can't afford to drive that far all the time.

In response to your other question: "Are we unique or something?" In a way, we are unique. Medical personnel see a side of humanity that most people do not. Death and dying, sickness, emotions and situations that are not often dealt with by the lay public. I am not at all discounting anyone for anything here, what I am saying is that after 22 years in the medical fieldI suffer from severe depression and I quenched that depression with drugs. I also have a chronic kidney disease that will eventually see me on dialysis and during the past year my function has dropped substantially and I have been experiencing a lot of pain with my back. While that has nothing to do with Cadeuceus the point I am trying to make is that as a medical professional and like a lot of other medical professionals I have met in NA, most of these people like myself had to hide their addiction from their peers and families and co-workers. I wasn't into going out to a social event or club and using, I started out legally with prescribed meds and progressed to addiction through that. My job allowed me access to a variety of completely legal substances and had I not had access to them I probably wouldn't be in the spot I'm in today.

I am so very glad I found this online forum and I look forward to participating in it a lot in the time to come. Again, I'm not knocking anyone for anything when it comes to addiction, i'm an addict just like everyone else here and I'm not out to insult or hurt anyone, I just feel that meeting with people that are oriented in the medical field can somewhat better understand some of my circumstances. I have been to several Cadeuceus meetings and they are very powerful and a great way for me to talk about things I don't normally get to talk about in my regular NA meetings. If I can help anyone here, please feel free to post here or write a note on my white board and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. betc, thank you for writing, MiracleMe, thank you as well, I will check into those links you have posted.

John_W

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The Theraputic Value of One Addict Helping Another Addict is Without Parallel!
betc


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John,

do not worry, no offense taken from my end.  I usually ask that question to anyone looking for a "special interest group".  It has been my experience that sometimes ego's allow us to believe we are better or different. 
I do understand what you experience however....it is true that in our profession, being open can be a bit dangerous.  I find it amazing that so many in the medical profession have such negative and actually ignorant thinking and ideas about addiction.
Perhaps, the beginning of your topic can produce some other folks who visit this site who experience the same thing.  I would hope they would also comment and talk about how this effects recovery for them.

stay in touch, let us know how you are doing.  I have found this place to be one of comfort a peace.  I may not post everyday but do try to visit and read others comments. 

betc

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john_w


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Hi Betc,
good to know you're in "the field" too. I would love to start a board for medical people where we could come and share stories and learn more about our addiction, our lives and ourselves.

I am in complete agreement with you when it comes to the ego thing. I know a lot of people in medicine that are so egotistical they feel you should bow in their presence (ha ha). I know all about the ignorance and the "it can't happen to me" attitude about addiction. I learned and am learning a valueable lesson about addiction. For many years I thought I knew all about addiction and "drug addicts" only to find out that I didn't know ANYTHING about either. We can and do get complacent in our thinking and it comes back to haunt some of us. I have a whole new view and respect of addiction now. I've earned my seat in the room and i want to do anything I can to keep others from ending up here. I am considering putting together a lecture/educational series and presenting to medical people for CE's. I have taught for many years and enjoy it immensely. I look forward to sharing with a lot of people here and maybe even making some online friends in the process. Hope to talk to you soon,

John_W

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The Theraputic Value of One Addict Helping Another Addict is Without Parallel!
betc


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Hi John,

Helping others is one primary way we stay clean ourselves.  I would make a suggestion however:  work on yourself first.
you only have a short time being clean.  there are lots of things we need to learn in the beginning. 

sounds like your thinking is on track.

betc 



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