Resources for Secular Recovery from Addiction
Organizations, Websites, & Social Media
The Secular NA Coffee Shop (Facebook Group) A relatively new community of NA members and others interested in secular recovery who struggle with the language and culture of NA with particular regard to the religious content.
AA Agnostica is an exceptional site for 12-step recovery. It’s based on AA, but it’s highly relevant and useful for us all!
Secular Alcoholics Anonymous (Secular AA) is an organization whose mission is, “…to assure suffering alcoholics that they can find sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous without having to accept anyone else’s beliefs or deny their own. Secular AA does not endorse or oppose any form of religion or belief system and operates in accordance with the Third Tradition of the Alcoholics Anonymous Program: “the only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.” https://aasecular.org
Secular Al_Anon – “This web page is for people interested in recovery from the effects of someone else’s drinking in their lives, who want Al-Anon to be a comfortable place for people of no religion, any religion, or any uncertainty on such issues. It offers contacts and resources.” http://rivenwoodbooks.com/secularAlanon/
Secular Recovery Meetings – An extensive list (with links) of online secular recovery meetings. Meetings listed include Secular AA, Secular NA, Secular Al-Anon, Recovery Dharma, or simply secular recovery meetings without any other associations or affiliations. https://secularrecovery.online/secular-recovery-meetings
Another website of a collection of different affiliates all that focus on secular recovery. https://www.worldwidesecularmeetings.com/
Secular AA Online Meetings spreadsheet – includes NA meetings too. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AuWy7FKCG-R_pyRZzEjFXkH-Rw_0VEzi/view
Secular Overeaters and Friends – an interesting recovery community that is relevant to us! https://secularovereaters.org/so-art/?fbclid=IwAR2y0-bN3OSwr1_6ePYb-o0IOY5cgfCUn-Yb_x0JcLO9Ez4Bxwr7O_RHusU
NA Agnostica – http://www.naagnostica.org/
https://recoverydharma.org/meeting-list Recovery Dharma is an organization that has meetings that focus on healing trauma and addiction. Whilst this is a Buddhist organisation they take a more secular approach while using Buddhist practices and insights.
Readings Used in Secular NA Meetings (posted by Eli) – https://readings.secna.org
Pamphlets, Articles, and Short Readings
Secular 12 Steps – Beyond Belief Seattle Group – 2021 Developed by the Beyond Belief Seattle NA Group in 2021. One interpretation of the NA 12 Steps from a secular, non-religious perspective.
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous Revised by ChatGPT
initiated by Michael E., April 27, 2023. ChatGPT is the most popular of the new artificial intelligence programs. It was directed to “rewrite the NA 12 steps to remove any references to god or a higher power.” The response to this initial query was posted on April 27, 2023 to the Secular NA Coffeeshop Facebook group. Based on feedback, two minor edits were made to remove inclusion of the terms “prayer” and “spiritual.”
By Young Addicts, For Young Addicts
This official NA pamphlet does not emphasize the “higher power” aspects of non-secular NA. A good intro for younger addicts seeking help in NA. https://secularna.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/By-For-Young-AddictsEN3113_2008.pdf
Secular NA – Connecting Globally Amid a World in Crisis Secular NA – Connecting Globally Amid a World in Crisis
originally published 2021 in the AA Agnostica website
by Michael E from Beyond Belief Seattle, this article shares experiences as an atheist in recover, explains how the Beyond Belief Seattle and Beyond Belief International groups were formed, and the emerging global secular NA community.
Books or Longer Readings
Secular 12 Step Handbook Seattle-Everett Beyond Belief NA Group (April 2021)
The Secular 12 Step Handbook was created by members of the Seattle-Everett Beyond Belief NA Group to help our members in their secular step work. Others have expressed interest in the guide, so we are making it available here. The Group considers this a work in progress, and actively seeks suggestions and input. Please send comments to [email protected]. The Handbook is NOT an approved NA resource. https://secularna.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BBSeattle-Secular-12-Step-Handbook-April-2021.docx
18 Alternative Versions of Secular Steps This is a compilation of all the secular steps we currently have available to us. If you know of more, email us and let us know so we can review it and possibly add it to this running document.
Beyond Belief. Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life by Joe C.
The first secular daily reflection book written in a contemporary language for today’s addicts and alcoholics in recovery. “The book is aimed at a general 12-Step readership, but it is mindful that there heretofore exist no such aids for unbelievers, freethinkers, and the unconventionally spiritual.
About the Secular NA
Secular NA was launched in January 2021. It is a joint effort by the Beyond Belief NA group from Melbourne, Australia and the Seattle-Everett, WA, USA NA group to promote secular Narcotics Anonymous recovery.
The primary purpose is to provide relevant and credible information about non-religious secular NA 12 step groups and recovery. ANY and EVERY ADDICT – secular or religious – is welcome.
