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Service structure and committee meetings

This section is of interest to NA members only. If you would like to know how we can help you, go to the Help For Addicts or Information For Professionals pages, or simply contact us.

Committees: ASC | EVENTS | H&I | LITERATURE | PHONELINE | PI | RSC | TRANSLATIONS | WEBSITE

SERVICE REPORTS >

 

Service News

 

Updates not mentioned on home page

WC ASC Aug. minutes etc. > (20 Aug)
RSC minutes > (12 Aug)
Website report (July) > (12 Aug)
RSC budget & acc. > (11 Aug)
RD report > (11 Aug)
Nat. Phoneline stats (July) > (6 Aug)
WC announcement > (19 Jun)
RDA report > (19 Jun)
List of convention themes > (19 Jun)
Afr. group readings for translation > (6 Jun)
WC PI 'bulletins' > (3 Jun)
WC H&I report (3 May) > (3 Jun)
Feedback template for IP1 translations > (27 May)
Service IP's for review > (27 May)

 
  • Service-related documents & handbooks on the NA World Service website >

  • Latest local service reports & minutes >
    Contact your ASC or GSR for the username and password.
    Committees that do not yet display their reports in the above mentioned section are invited to do so by contacting us a .
 

Draft Service IP

Service members are invited to contribute to the development of the draft Service IP >

Initial work has been done in the UK; some work has been done locally on the content and on abbreviating stories. Ideally stories should be replaced with local content. For the password, e-mail the RSC at .

   

Although Narcotics Anonymous consists of autonomous groups, in many areas where a substantial number of groups exist, those groups appoint group service representatives (GSR's) who serve as an area service committee (ASC). The ASC's purpose is, among others, better communication between its member group, setting up help-lines for addicts, introducing addicts at rehabs and other institutions to NA, distributing literature to groups and institutions, informing the public of NA's existence, etc. To do so, the ASC appoints subcommittees (again consisting of NA members) that specialize in each function described above.

There are currently four areas in the South African region: Western Cape area, Gauteng area, KwaZulu-Natal area and the Garden Route area. All service positions in committees, as with group meetings, are voluntary and on a rotation basis. NA members who have been clean (abstinent from drugs) for a period of time are encouraged to volunteer. Such positions are filled via elections.

Click on a committee below to view a detailed description of its role, function, structure and meeting times. Please note that these committee meetings are for NA members only.

  • Regional service committee (RSC): A body that draws together the combined service experience of a number of adjoining areas for those areas’ mutual support. Composed of RCM's, the regional delegate and alternate delegate, and others as needed.
  • Area service committees (ASC): A committee created to provide common services for NA groups in a specific locale. Composed of GSR's, ASC officers, and subcommittee chairpersons. Usually part of a region, to which it sends RCM's
  • Literature committees: For distribution of NA literature to groups and institutions.
  • Hospitals & institutions committees (H&I): A field of service usually covered by one ASC subcommittee devoted to carrying the NA message primarily to correctional inmates and treatment facility patients.
  • Phone-line (help-line) committees: An NA telephone contact service providing means by which an addict or a general community member can get information about Narcotics Anonymous, especially NA meeting schedules. Usually administered by an ASC subcommittee.
  • Public information committees (PI): A field of service usually covered by one ASC subcommittee devoted to carrying the NA message to government and private agencies, the public media, community leaders, those in the helping professions, and the community-at-large so that addicts seeking recovery will be referred to Narcotics Anonymous.
  • Local translations committees (LTC): For translation of NA literature into local languages – usually as a subcommittee of RSC.
  • Events (conventions/entertainment) committees: For organisation of events for NA members such as conventions or parties.
  • Website committees: For Internet-related activities – usually as a subcommittee of an area's PI committee or RSC.

 

 

Public Relations Handbook (PDF – 1.3 MB)
New Public Relations area on the NA World Service website

Related links:

More links can be found on our individual service committee pages.

The following diagram explains how our service structure works:

NA service structure diagram

 

 

Right hand shadow

 

NA Groups: NA groups are local, informal associations of recovering addicts. They are the foundation of the NA service structure. Groups are formed for the primary purpose of carrying the NA message of recovery, and all of their activities should reflect that purpose. Conducting Narcotics Anonymous meetings is the primary activity of an NA  group. The group may conduct its own affairs in whatever way seems fit to its members, provided the group's actions are consistent with NA's Twelve Traditions and do not adversely affect other groups or the entire NA Fellowship. In the conduct of the affairs of NA as a whole, the groups delegate to the rest of the service structure the responsibility  for the fulfillment of NA services. Group service representatives (GSRs) are elected to participate on behalf of the groups in the area committee and the regional assembly. Area Service committees Phoneline committees Hospitals & Institutions committees Public Information committees Literature committees Regional Service committee Website committees Local Translations committees World Service