First ever APF meet of NA to be hosted at Imphal
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 25 2013:
Under the auspices of North Eastern Regional Forum (NERF) of Narcotics Anonymous (NA), a 4-day long Asia Pacific Forum (APF) Meet of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) 2013, is all set to commence from tomorrow at Classic Hotel here.
To be held with the primary purpose of spreading the message of recovery among the people who are still into the drug habits, the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) Meet of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) 2013 is expected to be attended by 19 delegates from across the world.
Addressing media persons in this regard at the conference hall of Hotel Classic here today, Jogesh Maibam, Chairperson of NERF, informed that it has been around 25 years that Narcotics Anonymous (NA) came into existence in Manipur.
At present there are 15 NA groups in Imphal and another one in Churanchandpur, which is exclusively for female addicts.
He explained that the primary objective of NA is to help and make the drug users abstain from drug habit which have got hold on them for quite some time but unable to come out of the habit even if they want to.
During the course of the meet, which would be thrown open to all drug users in the society, all the delegates would be sharing their problems and experiences so as to help and enable each other to overcome their addiction to drugs which has destroyed their families and more importantly themselves.
Ron Blake, Board member of NA World Services, Inc, who was also present during the press conference, said that NA sprang from the Alcoholics Anonymous Programme of the late 1940s and the NA meetings were first held in Los Angeles area of California, USA in early 1950s.He pointed out that NA does not employ professional counselors or therapists, nor does it provide residential facilities or clinics.
Additionally, the fellowship does not offer vocational, legal, financial, psychiatric, or medical services.
NA has only one mission and that is to provide an environment in which addicts can help one another stop using drugs and find a new way to live, he added.
"It has been the experience of NA members that complete and continuous abstinence provides the best foundation for recovery and personal growth", Ron Blake observed.
Tali Mccau, another member of NA World Services, stated that 26 countries of Asia Pacific region under NA meet on yearly basis for four days and this is the first time that Asia Pacific Forum (APF) Meet of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) would be held at Imphal.
"We have been trying to come to Manipur and organize the event considering the impact of drugs being faced by the youths of the State.
But the law and order situation of the State has prevented us from setting our foot in the region" she said, added that it is indeed a great opportunity to come down to Imphal and be a part of such an event.
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