Tag: complacency

Promulgator Cults and Narcotics Anonymous

Complacency

The Narcotics Anonymous Basic Text includes warnings about complacency—a concept I once thought meant a lack of effort. I looked the word up in the dictionary and learned its true meaning: complacency is a sense of contentment with the current situation and often implies self-satisfaction or even smugness. It took some time before I understood the impact complacency would have on my recovery.

Complacency is one of the worst aspects of my disease. My satisfaction and smugness can be evident in my shares at meetings. When I am happy, I feel like I know a few things. However, the underlying problems start with my beliefs about Narcotics Anonymous.

I think that anyone who enjoys success in their lives because of their involvement with Narcotics Anonymous will start to believe in the program. I hear people share that they “did the work” and now they enjoy the benefits. I see a natural progression from enjoying my life to wanting that for others. How that can be achieved for you might seem simple from my perspective; my mind tells me that you need to repeat what has worked for others, just like I did. My beliefs become armor for who I am and what I have achieved. My words become weapons. “Do the Steps or Die” becomes a battle cry. My focus narrows, and I become self-righteous. I see it in myself and experience it from others.

“Complacency keeps us from goodwill, love, and compassion.”
— Narcotics Anonymous Basic Text, 2nd Edition, Chapter 10, “More Will Be Revealed”

Promulgator Cults

The term “promulgator cult” often refers to a system of beliefs—particularly regarding health or ideology—based on the dogma set forth by its promoter. It is defined as a group of individuals with intense, often unquestioning devotion to a specific leader, idea, or object.

  • Context in Health/Dogma: In many definitions, a “cult” is described as a system for curing diseases or a set of beliefs established by a central promulgator, often used to describe unorthodox or rigid belief systems.
  • Characteristics: These groups are characterized by extreme loyalty, the promotion of conspiracy theories, the rejection of mainstream information, and a tight, secretive inner circle.
  • Real-world Examples: Between 2023 and 2025, a notable group in Canada was often described as a “cult” led by Romana Didulo, who claimed to be the “Queen of Canada” and used social media to spread decrees that caused followers to lose homes or refuse medical care.
  • Actions: Members of such groups often cut off ties with family and society, adopting the “dogma” of the leader as their sole truth.

Key Indicators of a Cult-like Group:

  1. Absolute Authoritarianism: No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
  2. Isolation: Encouraging followers to cut ties with the outside world.
  3. Propaganda: Intense dissemination of a single, specific worldview.

I Believe

Beliefs are valuable tools in my recovery, but I need to remember that they are personal. Imposing my beliefs on another creates unhealthy boundaries. Narcotics Anonymous literature warns about remaining open-minded and seeing both sides of things. I want to try what I have learned on an experimental basis and not be herded like sheep. I need to remind myself to allow that for others.

Unfortunately, the promulgation continues to grow in strength. Many service structures are cult-like in their adherence to a single worldview. Those who participate in these cults complain about a lack of support; this lack of support generates a hunger for the means to continue to promote ideology. Cult members are growing increasingly dependent on funds ahead of unity.

The reliance on profits from literature and events promotes false narratives. Workshops, learning days, and unity events have become promotional, where ideology is forced upon members. I am not surprised when people drift away or, worse, embrace the cult-like activities of other members.

Hope

There is hope. Narcotics Anonymous continues to grow through the efforts of those who serve. Despite the visible damage, the underlying strength of NA is in its membership. Globally, the Fellowship is stronger today than ever before. Virtual groups have allowed members to experience diversity, unity, and strength in fellowship.

Anonymity

The literature says we meet regularly to help each other. It is important that my beliefs do not prevent others from having their own. The path forward is unity, not oppression. Narcotics Anonymous has never been a “self-help” program for me. I might enjoy tremendous success, but complacency means I might try to impose my ideas on others.

Stagnation replaces growth when I put personality ahead of principles. Anonymity truly is the spiritual foundation of Narcotics Anonymous groups. Service ahead of self-interest ensures that NA maintains unity. I have learned to put aside my ideas and embrace anonymity.

The Price of Complacency

What is Complacency?

Complacency is used seven times in the Gray Book of Narcotics Anonymous. In the Fifth Edition of the Basic Text (Published by the NAWS Corporation), the word is used five times, and ‘complacent’ is used twice. The literature in Narcotics Anonymous alludes to the dangers of complacency but never clearly defines the meaning. I associated complacency with being lazy until I researched this article. A sponsor of mine pointed out the importance of a good dictionary and how I should not make assumptions about the meaning of words.

Complacency – noun. a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements.

Complacent – adjective. pleased, especially with oneself or one’s merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied.

Oxford Languages. Oxford University Press.

As I approach my twenty-first-year celebration of recovery in Narcotics Anonymous and I cannot help but notice how complacent I can become.  ‘Complacency is the enemy of members with substantial clean time’ is a quote from the Narcotics Anonymous literature. The following quote was even more significant for me.

Complacency does not go with recovery. The deadly and insidious nature of our disease can disguise itself as boredom or superiority and generate the old “apart from” feelings. Separation from the atmosphere of recovery and the spirit of service to others slows our spiritual growth and can threaten relapse. This book is not the final answer to addiction. The Spirit of our Fellowship is constantly leading us into new awareness. Recovery is a journey, not a goal.

Narcotics Anonymous Basic Text, 2nd Edition, Chapter 10, “More Will Be Revealed”

Clean Time Complacency

My disease is the disease of isolation.  Addiction has wide, deep roots and vigilance is required.  Nothing seems to isolate me more than a feeling of superiority. Today I can find myself seeking relationships that mimic unity but really are a cloak that can obscure my vision and blind me to reality. I surround myself with like-minded people and avoid the conflict that true unity provides.  People with clean time greet others with time and sit together at meetings. We admire each other’s lifestyles and I see my recovery as attractive to newcomers.

Hubris and Oppression

Hubris is when I develop a sense of excessive pride, and self-importance. Oppression is a burden I place on others to conform. My disease tells me I have accomplished something by staying clean and I begin to deny the miracle. The literature says we meet regularly to ‘help each other’ but addiction offers ‘helping myself’. A little recovery has been good for me, so a lot of recovery becomes a drug. Tradition three says the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. The desire to stop using ends for some members when they are clean. I find it very easy to return to using.  My defects and shortcomings become a distraction. Gatherings of members become a smorgasbord of distractions. You can spend weekends traveling to conventions, listening to powerful speakers.  Members gather and dine together, plan outings or vacations, talking about how fortunate they are. A select few newcomers are invited into the cliques if they pair well or contribute to the complacent atmosphere in some meaningful way. The disease of addiction will always find a way to create isolation. We stop acknowledging the miracle and I start promoting my new way of life. Gratitude becomes hubris and unity becomes oppression.

Common Welfare ahead of Personal Recovery

Tradition One of Narcotics Anonymous says that ‘Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on unity’. My complacency comes with a price. I sell my responsibilities and always spend the proceeds selfishly. Complacency offers judgement rather than inventory when my needs are ahead of the common welfare of the group. Other members step up and attend business meetings for the home group so I do not. I accept the lies that my voice is not needed, or that those members who do attend are doing a fine job. Addiction might suggest that Home Group business meetings are so toxic that I have no voice or I simply lose interest out of bordom.

Our Primary Purpose

The Twelfth Step of our personal program also says that we should carry the message to the addict who still suffers. This is no coincidence. Working with others is one of our most powerful tools. “The therapeutic value of one addict helping another is unparalleled.” For the newcomer this is how they find out about N.A. and how they stay clean; and for the members this reaffirms and clarifies what they have learned. The group is the most perfect vehicle we have for carrying the message to the addict who still suffers. When a member carries the message, he is somewhat bound by his interpretation and personality. The problem with literature is language; the feelings, the intensity, and the strengths are sometimes lost. In our groups, with all personalities, the message is a recurring theme; an underlying reality.

Narcotics Anonymous Basic Text, 2nd Edition, Tradition Five “Our primary purpose is to carry the message to the addict who still suffers.”

Service structures were once thought to be outside the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous, but complacency changed that. These outside entities can become dominated by members so entrenched in complacency that healthy members cannot breathe.  The same addicts return month after month, and year after year never considering that they are the source of the problem.  A pitiful minority of members support the World Service Conference, and the NAWS Corporation. Literature prices have become so inflated and support the complacency of those members addicted to manipulation, control, and prestige. Addicts who are actively using have no choice but to continue to use until they have a desire to stop. Such is the nature of the disease. Ultimately the anonymity of the individual and the Group is what carries the message when the primary purpose is put ahead of personal recovery.