In this episode, we hear from Maggie, who shares how fear of abandonment, low self-esteem, and seemingly small, early tendencies (such as being fixated on salt), led to addiction. She explains that she sees Recovery as lifelong process built on integrity and willingness, and also tells how she built nearly two decades of recovery without relying on a higher power.

"I do live as best I can my program, the steps. I'm engaged, I'm involved, I have service positions — and I think sometimes if there is a fall-off of doing steps, having service is a really good idea too."

In terms of a higher power, Maggie offers a secular reinterpretation of “HP” : "For the HP part — higher purpose. Doesn't have to be higher power, because I have a direction that is bigger than me, right? And I have so much that I can depend on and work on, and I will always have a future as long as I let it be."

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For more information on recovery from addition through Narcotics Anonymous 12 step program from a secular, non-religious approach, please check out secularna.org

** This podcast is not formally affiliated in any way with Narcotics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous World Services. **

In this episode we hear from Elvis. Elvis came to NA reluctantly, nearly walking away over its God-centric language, until he found his footing in secular meetings where his atheism was welcomed rather than condemned. He worked the steps by treating every higher power reference as "not applicable" — not as a protest, but as honest self-accounting. That combination of secular community and unflinching honesty has carried him to over six and a half years clean, and a life transformed beyond anything he once imagined.

Here's Elvis.

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For more information on recovery from addition through Narcotics Anonymous 12 step program from a secular, non-religious approach, please check out secularna.org

** This podcast is not formally affiliated in any way with Narcotics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous World Services. **

In this episode, we welcome, Amy who shares her journey from first using drugs at age 12, through her 18 years of conventional AA recovery, to a relapse triggered by a post-surgery opioid prescription and 12 more years of active addiction, to finally returning to the program.

Amy says, "I don't crave today and that's probably the most important thing that you're going to hear come out of my mouth in this whole share—because that is huge and I don't ever want to forget that." Amy says that Secular NA saved her life by allowing her to strip away religious language and focus on the spiritual principles underneath—honesty, humility, compassion, and gratitude—supported by peer community and behavioral change rather than a higher power.

Here’s Amy.

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For more information on recovery from addition through Narcotics Anonymous 12 step program from a secular, non-religious approach, please check out secularna.org

** This podcast is not formally affiliated in any way with Narcotics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous World Services. **