Key takeaway
You are on the clinic line, dose not done, and the hours after look dangerous. Get the medicine, then go to an NA meeting. NA has no opinion that should cancel medical care. A desire to stop using can include the line and the meeting. If you might use on the way, tell the clinic staff.
Last updated: Tue Oct 06 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
The line is slow and everyone can see why you are here. You are doing the thing the clinic asked, and you already know the dangerous part is not the line. It is the sidewalk after, the hour the medicine has not settled, the old route that starts at the corner. You need a second plan that is not willpower in a parking lot.
Put a meeting on the other side of the dose.
NA says the desire to stop using is the requirement. It does not say to abandon medical care to prove it. The fellowship has no opinions on outside medical issues. NIDA says peer groups are not treatment. If a share ever tells you to quit a prescribed medicine, that share is not your doctor. There are no dues or fees for ignoring bad advice and sitting down anyway.
Leave the clinic toward people, not toward the corner
Before you are back on the street, know which meeting you are aiming at. NA's finder points to local sites. Virtual meetings work if you can sit in a safe public place with headphones. The meetings search is unverified. Confirm the time. Tell the clinic staff if you are afraid you will use before you get anywhere. That is what they are there for, more than a stranger in a later room is.
You can listen at the meeting and never name the clinic. You can leave if someone is cruel about medication. Cruelty is not a requirement either.
Tonight
Take the dose you came for. Then one meeting, not the old corner. If you are sick in a way that scares you, call 911. If you might hurt yourself, call or text 988. A treatment referral beyond the clinic is (800) 653-9376. Calling is free. Treatment providers pay for the referral.
Additional Resources
Sources cited on this page:
- NA World Services: IP 29, An Introduction to NA Meetings
- NA: What is NA?
- NA World Services: Meeting finder
- NA World Services: Virtual Meeting Search
- NIDA: Treatment, including mutual-help groups
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- SmarterRecovery meetings search
- SmarterRecovery about page
Common Questions
Can I go to NA if I am on methadone or buprenorphine?
Yes. A desire to stop using is the requirement. NA has no opinions on medical matters. Do not stop a medication because someone in a meeting disliked it. NIDA says mutual-help groups are not a substitute for treatment. There is already a page if a comment from the chair got under your skin. This one is the waiting itself.
What if I want to use the minute I leave the clinic?
Plan the next stop before you are on the sidewalk. A meeting, a ride that is not a dealer, a virtual meeting in a safe lobby. Confirm the listing. You do not have to be having a perfect day to listen.
Do I tell the meeting the name of the medicine?
You do not have to. You can listen. If you speak, you can say you are following medical care and you still want to stop using. You do not owe anyone your dose.
What if the line is humiliating?
It is still the right place if that is your care. Humiliation is not a reason to skip the dose and 'start over' with nothing. Call the clinic if you are going to walk away sick. Call 911 if you are in medical danger.
What if I cannot face people after?
Use a virtual NA meeting. The virtual search is separate from local rooms. Call or text 988 if you might hurt yourself. For more treatment help, call (800) 653-9376. Calling is free. Treatment providers pay for the referral.