Every NA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
While drinking and drugging, most of us were dependent on others financially due to the unmanageability of managing money in our addiction. My financial issues included the exorbitant amount of money I wasted buying alcohol and drugs, the jobs I lost, legal fees, and other poor choices and mismanagement that led to my economic chaos. Addiction took everything away from me and then I took it from other people to supplement my drug and alcohol use and as a matter of survival. I would call my mother with tales of woe, seeking assistance with the mess I had made of my financial matters. I depended on my mother, begging for her to help support my needs for, food, shelter, bills, and other financial burdens resulting from my alcohol and drug use. In my own mind, I blamed my economic situation on bad luck or being the victim of unfortunate circumstances. Becoming more self-supporting is an important part of my new way of life as I practice the principles of the Seventh Tradition. By depending on Higher Power, my sponsor, and the groups, I’ve become more independent from my addiction. By being responsible, I have taken back control of my life and hopefully handle the future. I have learned to care for myself and meet my own needs without depending on other people. Merely not drinking and drugging gave me the biggest pay raise of my life. I have been rewarded with confidence, dignity, trust, and the freedom to make my own decisions. I now can afford a nice place to live, a good truck to drive, I’m able to get my teeth fixed if needed, practicing the principle of self-sufficiency in my recovery.