Narcotics Anonymous Meetings to Begin Oct. 10 at A&M-Commerce

Beginning Oct. 10, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) will hold support group meetings at A&M-Commerce every Thursday at 7 p.m. in room 120 of Binnion Hall. Participation is open to community members seeking assistance in recovery from addiction, and attendance is free of charge.

Founded in 1953, Narcotics Anonymous is a global, community-based organization that holds more than 61,000 meetings weekly in 129 countries. The organization, which does not focus on any particular drug, offers a peer counseling environment to help its members recover from the effects of addiction through a 12-step program. With regular attendance, members become a part of a support network for addicts seeking drug-free lifestyles.

The meetings at A&M-Commerce are a part of the drug, alcohol and addiction research lab that began earlier this semester in the Department of Psychology, Counseling and Special Education.

“Research continues to show that those who are in recovery benefit immensely from attending support group meetings. The NA meetings will provide an excellent service to our students and communities,” said Dr. M. Lavelle Hendricks, associate professor of counseling. “Also, our graduate students who are trained in the field of addiction will have a wonderful opportunity to take classroom knowledge and skills to a practical environment to assist those in recovery.”

According to Narcotics Anonymous, membership is voluntary, and the organization does not retain attendance records. Hendricks ensures the same for the meetings occurring at the university.

“Anonymity and confidentiality will remain at the forefront for those participating in NA meetings,” Hendricks said.

For more information about A&M-Commerce's weekly Narcotics Anonymous meetings, contact Dr. M. Lavelle Hendricks via email or by phone at 903-886-5632. More information about the global organization is available at its website: http://www.na.org.