Narcotics Anonymous is a global, multilingual, multicultural, and community-based organization that helps people struggling with drug abuse through a total abstinence program. Through regular face-to-face peer group counseling meetings, speaker seminars, and literature discussions, people suffering from substance abuse can help one another stop taking addictive substances and maintain their recovery.

In addition to in-person meetings, NA has established virtual meetings to ensure that members stay on track with their abstinence goals. According to its website, there is only one requirement to join any NA meeting: the desire to stop using drugs.

There are thousands of NA meetings in Maryland. Baltimore, for instance, lists over 400 NA meetings, while there are around 30 in Annapolis. Those interested to participate only need to find the meetings offered in any Maryland city or those that offer virtual sessions though its Meeting Finder page. Locations and schedules could change from time to time, so it's best to get in touch directly with the groups you'd like to join for full details.

Please be aware, however, that many NA meetings are intolerant of medication assisted treatment. That means that if you share that you are prescribed medication to treat your addiction, the other folks at the meetings may be less than supportive. Many MATClinics patients choose AA or SmartRecovery meetings to avoid being judged at a meeting that should be supportive.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people helping each other recover from alcoholism through the 12-step total abstinence method. Similar to NA, it is composed of people suffering with alcohol abuse with the shared desire to stop drinking again. AA is a non-profit organization, and efforts are funded through its members' contributions.

There are thousands of face-to-face and virtual AA meetings in Maryland. Those interested only need to browse the group's Meeting Schedule page to find AA sessions. If you're a Baltimore resident, the site lists over 100 AA meetings with various schedules. Meanwhile, there are only a few listed in Annapolis, but you are most welcome to join virtual meetings offered in other Maryland locations.

Both Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous adopt the 12-step program of total abstinence, which emphasizes choice and behavior modification as the main drivers toward success. There is little to no evidence that abstinence-based treatment is effective, and more importantly, there is a significantly elevated risk for relapse and overdose. For those who are uncomfortable with the 12-step method, the SmartRecovery program might be ideal.

Some patients find the traditional NA and AA meetings challenging and want a more evidence-based, medical approach to succeeding in recovery. Participating in Suboxone® programs can sometimes feel like it’s opposed to groups that preach abstinence and a more spiritual route to recovery. SMART Recovery provides an alternative.

SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) is more science-based than the traditional 12-step programs. It applies best practices in cognitive behavioral therapy and recognizes that medications such as Suboxone® are an important aid in recovery. The program differs from AA and NA in that it emphasizes self-reliance in the recovery journey. It does not use sponsors and does not refer to those suffering from substance abuse as “addicts” or “alcoholics.”  

If you are interested in finding a face-to-face or virtual meeting in Annapolis, Baltimore, or any other area in Maryland, feel free to browse through its website to check updated schedules.