We can only preserve what we have with care, and just as freedom for individuals comes from the Twelve Steps, so freedom for the group comes from our traditions. As long as the ties that bind us together are stronger than what separates us, all is well.

1. Our common well-being should come first; individual recovery rests on NA unity.
2. For the purpose of our fellowship, there is but one supreme authority—a loving God as manifested in our group conscience. Our confidants are only trusted servants, they do not rule.
3. The only requirement for NA membership is a desire to stop using drugs.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or the NA community as a whole.
5. The primary purpose of each group is to take the message to the addict who is still suffering.
6. An NA group should never endorse, sponsor, or lend the NA name to any related entity or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, or prestige distract us from our primary purpose.
7. Each NA group should be fully self-sustaining and reject outside contributions.
8. Narcotics Anonymous should always remain non-professional, however our service centers may employ staff.
9. NA as such should never be organized. However, we can form service boards or committees that are directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Narcotics Anonymous has no opinion on outside of the fellowship issues. Therefore, the NA name should never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our relationship with the public is based on attraction rather than promotion. We must always maintain personal anonymity in relation to the press, radio and film.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions and is a constant reminder to put principles before persons.

© Narcotics Anonymous