{"id":4693,"date":"2025-11-20T15:37:48","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T13:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gekkodev2.co.za\/wc\/?page_id=4693"},"modified":"2026-01-06T14:09:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T12:09:38","slug":"common-na-terminology","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/na.org.za\/wc\/common-na-terminology\/","title":{"rendered":"Common NA Terminology"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=&#8221;Common NA Terminology&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_font=&#8221;Montserrat|800|||||||&#8221; title_font_size=&#8221;46px&#8221; title_line_height=&#8221;1.1em&#8221; content_font=&#8221;Montserrat|700|||||||&#8221; content_font_size=&#8221;30px&#8221; content_letter_spacing=&#8221;1px&#8221; content_line_height=&#8221;2em&#8221; subhead_font=&#8221;Montserrat|&#8211;et_global_body_font_weight|||||||&#8221; subhead_font_size=&#8221;25px&#8221; subhead_letter_spacing=&#8221;1px&#8221; subhead_line_height=&#8221;1.6em&#8221; background_enable_color=&#8221;off&#8221; use_background_color_gradient=&#8221;on&#8221; background_color_gradient_type=&#8221;circular&#8221; background_color_gradient_stops=&#8221;rgba(0,0,0,0.74) 0%|rgba(255,255,255,0) 100%&#8221; background_color_gradient_overlays_image=&#8221;on&#8221; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/na.org.za\/wc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/high-angle-arrangement-with-speech-bubbles-scaled.jpg&#8221; parallax=&#8221;on&#8221; custom_button_one=&#8221;on&#8221; button_one_text_size=&#8221;25px&#8221; button_one_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_one_border_width=&#8221;2px&#8221; button_one_border_radius=&#8221;2px&#8221; button_one_font=&#8221;Montserrat|900|||||||&#8221; button_one_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_one_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_one_custom_margin=&#8221;40px||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;100px||100px||true|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; title_font_size_tablet=&#8221;46px&#8221; title_font_size_phone=&#8221;35px&#8221; title_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_css_content=&#8221;margin-top: 30px;&#8221; custom_css_subtitle=&#8221;margin-top: 30px;&#8221; title_text_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; content_text_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; subhead_text_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; button_one_text_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; box_shadow_style_button_one=&#8221;preset3&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; title_text=&#8221;high-angle-arrangement-with-speech-bubbles&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#224091&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||true|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Montserrat|700|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;25px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.6em&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]Feel more at home in the fellowship. Here\u2019s a simple guide to the most common terms you\u2019ll hear in NA.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset3&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;15px&#8221; box_shadow_color=&#8221;rgba(0,0,0,0.11)&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; text_font=&#8221;Montserrat|&#8211;et_global_body_font_weight|||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;2em&#8221; link_font=&#8221;Montserrat|700|||||||&#8221; link_text_color=&#8221;#224091&#8243; link_line_height=&#8221;2.3em&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;Montserrat|700|||||||&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;30px&#8221; header_2_line_height=&#8221;1.7em&#8221; header_3_line_height=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>H&amp;I<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">Hospitals and Institutions Subcommittee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>PR<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">Public Relations Subcommittee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>FD<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">Fellowship Development Subcommittee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>GSR<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">Group Service Representative (read more in the ASC section)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>ASC<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">Area Service Committee (read more in the ASC section)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>ALT<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">Alternate (Alt GSR or Alt Secretary, etc.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>Home group<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">In some NA communities, it has become customary for members of the fellowship<br \/>\n                to make a personal commitment to support one group\u2014their \u201chome group.\u201d For the individual member, it can<br \/>\n                provide a stable recovery base, a place to call \u201chome,\u201d a place to know and be known by other recovering<br \/>\n                addicts. For the group, it ensures the support of a core of regular, committed members. Our home group<br \/>\n                gives us a place in which to participate in NA\u2019s decision-making processes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>Closed Meeting<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">These are NA meetings for only addicts or those who think they might have a<br \/>\n                drug problem. Closed meetings provide an atmosphere in which addicts can feel more certain that those<br \/>\n                attending will be able to identify with them. Newcomers may feel more comfortable at a closed meeting<br \/>\n                for the same reason. At the beginning of a closed meeting, the leader or chairperson often reads a<br \/>\n                statement explaining why the meeting is closed and offering to direct nonaddicts who may be attending to<br \/>\n                an open meeting.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>Open Meeting<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">These are NA meetings that are open to anyone who wants to attend. Some groups<br \/>\n                have open meetings once a month to allow nonaddict friends and relatives of NA members to celebrate<br \/>\n                recovery anniversaries with them. Groups that have open meetings may structure their format in such a<br \/>\n                way that opportunities for participation by nonaddicts are limited only to short birthday or anniversary<br \/>\n                presentations. Such a format allows the meeting to retain its focus on recovery shared one addict to<br \/>\n                another. It should be made clear during the meeting that NA groups do not accept monetary contributions<br \/>\n                from nonaddicts.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>Business Meeting<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">The purpose of the group business meeting is fairly self-explanatory: to<br \/>\n                conduct the business of the group in such a way that the group remains effective in carrying the<br \/>\n                recovery message. Some groups hold business meetings on a regular basis; others only call them when<br \/>\n                something specific comes up that needs the group\u2019s attention.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>Express Meeting<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">An Express meeting is normally shorter than a normal meeting. Usually only an<br \/>\n                hour long, has no comfort break and usually less readings. This can vary from meeting to meeting.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>12 Step Program<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">A twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of<br \/>\n                action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioural problems. These recovery support<br \/>\n                groups tend to follow the general 12-Step ideology as outlined by AA. Individuals are encouraged to work<br \/>\n                through the steps one by one, with the end result being to maintain sobriety, achieve a spiritual<br \/>\n                awakening through these steps, and then carry the message on to others battling addiction.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>12 Steps<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">A set of 12 steps that are worked through. It consists of readings and<br \/>\n                questions for each step \u2013 and should preferably be worked through with your sponsor. If you want what we<br \/>\n                have to offer and are willing to make the effort to get it, then you are ready to take certain steps.<br \/>\n                These are the principles that made our recovery possible.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>12 Traditions<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">We keep what we have only with vigilance, and just as freedom for the<br \/>\n                individual comes from the Twelve Steps, so freedom for the group springs from our Traditions. If the<br \/>\n                ties that bind us together are stronger than those that would tear us apart, all will be well. By<br \/>\n                following these guidelines in our dealings with others, and society at large, we avoid many problems.<br \/>\n                That is not to say that our Traditions eliminate all problems. We still must face difficulties as they<br \/>\n                arise: communication problems, differences of opinion, internal controversies, and troubles with<br \/>\n                individuals and groups outside the Fellowship. However, when we apply these principles, we avoid some of<br \/>\n                the pitfalls.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>12 Concepts<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">The Twelve Concepts are guiding principles for our service structure. The<br \/>\n                concepts summarize the hard-won experience of our fellowship\u2019s first forty years with such things as<br \/>\n                responsibility, authority, delegation, leadership, accountability, spiritual guidance, participation,<br \/>\n                communication, open-mindedness, fairness, and finances. The Twelve Concepts, together, help ensure that<br \/>\n                our fellowship\u2019s service structure remains forever devoted to service, not government.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>RD<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">Regional Delegate (read more in the area service section)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>IP<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">NA Information Pamphlets, IPs, and Service Pamphlets, SPs. (See IP\u2019s explained<br \/>\n                for more information on each IP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>Preambles<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">Set of readings done during the meeting that are standard but may vary from<br \/>\n                meeting to meeting.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>Comfort Break<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">This is a small break taken usually before the main share of the meeting. Time<br \/>\n                for you to have a cigarette, go to the bathroom, fellowship and make a cup of coffee. Not all meetings<br \/>\n                have a comfort break.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%;\"><strong>First Aid Round<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">This is the same as an introduction round at the beginning of the meeting<br \/>\n                where members have a chance to briefly express how their day or week has been.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Feel more at home in the fellowship. Here\u2019s a simple guide to the most common terms you\u2019ll hear in NA. H&amp;I Hospitals and Institutions Subcommittee PR Public Relations Subcommittee FD [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4693","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/na.org.za\/wc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/na.org.za\/wc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/na.org.za\/wc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/na.org.za\/wc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/na.org.za\/wc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4693"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/na.org.za\/wc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4861,"href":"https:\/\/na.org.za\/wc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4693\/revisions\/4861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/na.org.za\/wc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}