Nicotine Anonymous

Nicotine Anonymous is sort of a cousin program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Many people who have become addicted to alcohol have successfully quit by using the 12-step program that's part of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The same highly successful principles of the Alcoholics Anonymous program have been used to create the Nicotine Anonymous program. Other than that, the programs share no other connections.

Nicotine Anonymous is a community of people who are addicted to nicotine. Nicotine Anonymous helps people quit by teaching them how to grow and live without using nicotine. The group recognizes that nicotine is highly addictive and alters the mood of those who use it.

They also recognize the reality that a craving can cause someone to start smoking again, even after many years of having quit. Therefore, the groups meet regularly so as to avoid slipping back into addiction.

Nicotine Anonymous meetings consist of two or more people who get together regularly and share their common desire to no longer be addicted to nicotine. During these meetings, they share experiences and learn from each other. Group members openly discuss what they have gone through while trying to withdraw from nicotine.

New members are introduced to the Twelve Steps of Recovery. These steps suggest a spiritual approach that can be used to overcome nicotine addiction as well as help cope with the stresses of everyday life.

Anonymity is one of the program's hallmarks. Members use only their first names, and this makes the sharing of feelings more comfortable for many participants. While telephone numbers are frequently exchanged, the purpose of this is to be able to get immediate support during a crisis, not to contact each other socially.

Each new member is encouraged to get a sponsor. The purpose of the sponsor is to provide emotional support and encouragement, as well as to share experiences. There is no charge for membership, and the organization is supported by its own funds.

Anyone who wants to stop smoking can join. It even offers Pen Pals and online meetings if there is not a regular meeting in your community. New members are encouraged to quit smoking by abstaining from smoking one day at a time.

Members believe that if they are to remain nicotine-free, they must have healthy minds and emotions. The Twelve Steps are used to help understand thoughts and emotions as well as to build a strong foundation for healthy lives.

The Twelve Steps of Nicotine Anonymous:

1. We admitted that we were powerless over nicotine - that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to nicotine users and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Overall, Nicotine Anonymous is a good program. It focuses on the addictive nature of nicotine, and the program is a great resource if you want to go through the quitting process with other like-minded people.

One drawback for some individuals is the religious undertone. Another problem is that some of the groups frown on the use of quit-smoking medications. The bottom line is that it's a good program, especially if you believe in the concept of a Higher Power.

Some groups advocate against using quit-smoking medications, others support the idea. Yet some like to combine it with another method such as nicotine replacement therapy.

The Pros of Nicotine Anonymous

1. Good support structure that is available for as long as you need it.
2. Great choice for those who have been successful in any of the other 12-step programs
3. The group has a good track record.
4. It is a free program.
5. Uses a person's spirituality as an aid.
6. Provides online support.
7. Meetings are available throughout the world, which is great for travelers.

The Cons of Nicotine Anonymous

1. Not good if you don't want a sponsor.
2. Not good if you don't like religious undertones.
3. May not have meetings near you.
4. Some members may frown upon those who choose to use quit-smoking medications.