Does this insanity happen at all NA meetings?

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

For aftercare I've been meeting with my pastor 2 days a week, an addiction counselor once a week and we also have NA meetings here twice a month plus the one I found at the hospital.  Anyway, today I went for the 5th time to the bi-monthly NA meeting.  I went to the restroom at the end of the meeting and had 2....TWO...people approach me before I even got to my car asking if I wanted to buy drugs.  One of those people I saw in the meeting.  Is it like that all the time?

Should I report the person who was in the meeting for what was done?  Should I just ignore it?  I mean I don't have a problem saying no.  I've never bought drugs "off the street" so to speak even when I was a teenager.  I have a strong aversion to bars and being locked up so was never tempted to get drugs in the manner.  I'm concerned though...How many people are they tempting like this.  I'm kind of angry about the situation.  Knowing how hard it is to detox and stay sober I was just flabbergasted and I will not repeat what I told both people about what they were doing.  

I'm pretty quiet in person but approach me the wrong way..well let's just say the French and Sicilian blood I've got comes out in full force!

Anyone else have this problem and how did you deal with it?  Thanks!

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Will do that...thanks for the suggestion!

[atthebeach]

http://www.celebraterecovery.com/cr-groups/group-locator

[atthebeach]

Have you looked for celebrate recovery meetings?

[gnarly_1]

Hi  I have been fortunate the only time in 38mo of going to meeting happened when I shared I was in a mania and could not sleep a guy offered me some smoke   and im like dude your not 12yrs clean if your still getting high  I havent seen him since any ways it only takes a couple of bad apples to ruin it try not to get discouraged and always tell the chair person..................Gnarly...................................

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Ohhh that's why they got me.  Usually everyone does walk out in a group but sometimes my diverticulitis kind of drags me to the bathroom and I don't escape easily.  So they saw me as an easy target?  Ha!  They found out otherwise.

My sponsor spoke to the chair and told me that they know about the couple (and they are a couple)...they apparently have hit meetings in Mobile and in Pensacola.  The man did not come in with her and I don't think they were looking for a single woman.  Now that they know what she looks like and I gave a description of the man they said they will be telling them that if they come back the police will be notified.

I think it would be a good idea if they tried to get a picture of them first somehow...

P.S.  I wanted to go all banana sandwich on them too...they knew I was displeased....but my displeasure is not yelling...I'm very soft voiced when I'm mad but hubby says my eyes say it all ... I think it did...I got called a couple of names but they left and that's all I cared about at the time!

[dominosarah]

That actually happens here quite often.  They are reported and the chairperson deals with it.  When the meeting is over we actually walk out in a group and basically walk each other to our vehicles, especially the newer ones as that is usually who they prey on. There is power in numbers!  Police have been notified on occasion also.  It disgusts me and makes me want to go all banana sandwich on them but i realize they are sick and what they have coming to them will.  I am there for my recovery.

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Yes hun...my first form of aftercare that I set up is with my Pastor who worked with addicts in Texas.  He's very well informed and so, so helpful.  He's my preferred aftercare in fact but he's also a busy man so we can only meet twice a week for an hour.  So I also have my addiction counselor.  I'm not big into groups...so NA/AA is not my first choice but I wanted to meet some others who are into sobriety as a way of life now.  I don't have any friends who "use" but I would like to have a couple of friends who understand what I'm going through.  I have met a couple of ladies who have invited me to join in their monthly ladies nights...so that is exciting...and will be difficult for me because I don't usually do well in groups.  They said it is okay if I'm kinda quiet though :-)

[VICourageous]

Have you talked to any of the churches?? They usually have things going on to do with support. For me it is so important. I know when I was clean for about 1-6 months I felt like I would NEVER do this again and I was just fine. I did go to meetings every day..But sometimes we can get on that Cloud and get ahead of our selves. It is so so so important to find some new clean friends and some new places that have a good support system going on. I have changed mine from time to time to fit what my needs are for the last 2 years..Right now I have many different groups I go to from grieving groups to church meetings and my AA/NA that are ran by the churches now. I still go to my regular ones, but I just re-directed my support toward the Lord more. lol
Be Safe
Bless

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Then you know ALL about the temper lol...inherited it directly from my mother ;-)

[motye51]

Louisiana here...no, ive never been approached...but i do know there are alot of drug court kids that by law have to attend our mtgs and some of them must have been dealing b/c a large group of them went to jail! I dont associate with alot of the younger people, not to be rude, but i feel more comfortable with people my age there, and there are alot. Too funny....im french and italian too!

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Thanks for the input.  I called my sponsor and we're reporting it to the chair.  Obviously without a videotape or something there is no proof but at least if she comes again we can keep an eye out on her.  I hadn't seen her before (well, only 5 meetings)...I was absolutely disgusted.

Unfortunately there is not much available close to where I live...it would be at least a 45 drive just to get to other meetings (and I have a kind of secret phobia...I get anxiety attacks if I drive on highways).  Our area has very little set up to support anyone who has an addiction....whether it is gambling, alcohol, opiates, etc.  I found that out the hard way on the phone when I originally was trying to find help....in fact, that is why I found you guys here!

I'm actually pretty good with what I have set up...I mainly wanted to go to some meetings so I could meet others...perhaps gain a couple of new friends....and I'm going back...I didn't recognize the man...and I almost wondered if they were a couple together.

[Pat1956100]

Sometimes the people attending the meetings aren't there to get clean, they are court ordered to attend.  We have 1 meeting a week here and it goes on outside of the meetings.  I would be extremely tempted.  
When I'm craving I have "almost" asked kids hanging outside the corner store if they had anything.  That makes me sick to my stomach thinking about how close I came.

[IBKleen]

No, it does not happen all the time. In fact, it is pretty rare. It is disgraceful though and it irks me. But I have to remember that these people who are selling the drugs are sick and all I can do is pray for them, after I report them. No doubt, report them immediately. The chairperson will make certain that they don't return. I am glad that it did not cause you cravings but that may not be the case for everyone and it is sad to think someone would be harmed by them. Let us know what happens. I am curious to see how it is handled although I could venture a good guess. I know how I would handle it if I was chairing that meeting...

[VICourageous]

That is just Awful. I was thinking for a moment if they were just messing with you to see what you would say. I do hear about this on here BUT I have been going to NA/AA for a couple of years and NEVER had seen or heard of anybody selling drugs. I live in a very small town too..Even if I see someone out here at a market or so, we do not talk about the meetings until we are in a private setting. No Gossip going on for this girl! lol

Yes, I would tell the one who was leading the meeting so they can go higher..BUT we can not accuse them unless there is proof. If they are known for this then there should be something down about it for sure.

Maybe try some AA meeting around your town. They usually have one-three every day here. I really like those because they seem to be so much more spiritual for me..However, I get something out of all of them..This is what is good about going to many different ones so you can get more & more out of them.
I wish you the best and sure hope this all can be taken care of. This really does HURT and is not Good for NA or any of the groups..We are there for help and support..This makes me MAD!!!
Hang tight!
Bless

[Jinx_777]

I have also experienced this at NA meetings.  that is why AA meetings may be best for newly sober opiate abusers.  you were strong enough to say 'no' but imagine how many people are not??
dang straight i would have reported the person right away.  they have no business there. literally.

[jifmoc]

Oh man. I have gone to a few NA mtgs here in LA and that never happened. That's sick. I heard about that happening from folks on here in other parts of the country.

People say that AA has more recovery in the rooms (I go because it's so frequent and convenient) so people (like me) who only have opiates as their drug of choice go. In fact NO ONE gives a sh!t about the substance someone has taken.

Imho, if someone goes to 2 meetings a MONTH that isn't enough. Don't know why they would only have them 2x a month, that's nuts. No recovery can happen that way.

Like we said to the other person, sounds like that meeting is the problem, NOT the whole program. Try others, and try AA.