Suncoast
Narcotics
Anonymous
24 Hour Helpline:
1-941-257-5055
What is Narcotics Anonymous?
NA is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only one requirement for membership, the desire to stop using.
7:00 pm Thursday Keep it Simple
4635 26th St W Bradenton, FL 34207
O,WC,JFT
7:00 pm Thursday Solutions in the Steps
6210 Crestwood Ave Sarasota, FL 34231
O,RF
7:15 pm Thursday East Side Recovery
4850 SR 64 E Bradenton, FL 34208
O Enter through front door of church
8:15 pm Thursday Thursday Night Candlelight
4041 Bahia Vista St Sarasota, FL 342322421
O,CAN,WC,RF Building 3, behind church
8:15 pm Thursday The Lie Is Dead (Candlelight)
4304 32nd St W Bradenton, FL 34205
O,CAN,WC,LIT SW corner of parking lot
Stay Connected!
Stay up to date with Suncoast Area NA announcements and events.
Meeting Updates:
- Atmosphere of Recovery: Temporary Location Change
On August 17th, meeting will be held in the "little white church" on the same property, instead of Keys Hall.
Bee Ridge Presbyterian Church
4826 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, FL, 34233
Get Directions ->
Events & Announcements:
- Summer Beach Bash - Sun, Aug 16th - 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Join us for food, fellowship, raffles, prizes, rock painting, balloon toss, and 2 guest speakers!
Coquina Beach Gulfside North Pavillion
1438 Gulf Dr S, Bradenton, FL, 34217
Get Directions -> - Waves of Recovery Beach Volleyball - Sun, Aug 16th - 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Join us for beach volleyball every Sunday after the 10:15 AM meeting.
Manatee Public Beach
4000 Gulf Dr, Bradenton, FL, 34217
Get Directions -> - Dinosaur Day - Sun, Sep 20th - 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Longwood Park Pavilion
6050 Longwood Run Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34243
Get Directions -> - Suncoast Skydive - Sat, Oct 17th - 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Take the leap and live the freedom. Meeting at 10 AM followed by skydiving!
Skydive City
4241 Sky Dive Ln, Zephyrhills, FL, 33542
Get Directions -> - Peace River Area Campout - Fri, Dec 4th - Sun, Dec 6th
Come for the fellowship; stay for the connection, laughter, and fun!
Peace River Campground
2998 FL-70, Arcadia, FL, 34266
Get Directions ->
When:
Sunday, September 13th
Where:
That Church - 6502 14th St W, Bradenton, FL, 34207
Times:
- 1:30 PM - H&I Committee Meeting
- 2:30 PM - Activities Committee Meeting
- 2:30 PM - H&I Orientation
- 2:30 PM - Web Committee Meeting
- 2:45 PM - GSR Orientation
- 3:00 PM - Admin Body Meeting
- 3:30 PM - Area Service Meeting
Notes:
- There is no parking by the green fence.
- No smoking or vaping ANYWHERE except underneath the basketball hoop.
- Please keep the bathroom doors closed. (The air conditioning in the meeting space depends on it)
Group Readings fo NA Meetings
Use the below links to view, download, or print a PDF of the readings commonly used in NA meetings.
Narcotics Anonymous Resource Links
Helpful links to trusted NA resources for recovery support, literature, and local & global fellowship connections.
Daily Meditations
Subscribe →August 13, 2026 |
Difficult people |
| Page 235 |
| "By giving unconditional love...we become more loving, and by sharing spiritual growth we become more spiritual." |
| Basic Text, p. 103 |
| Most of us have one or two exceptionally difficult people in our lives. How do we deal with such a person in our recovery? First, we take our own inventory. Have we wronged this person? Has some action or attitude of ours served as an invitation for the kind of treatment they have given us? If so, we will want to clear the air, admit we have been wrong, and ask our Higher Power to remove whatever defects may prevent us from being helpful and constructive. Next, as people seeking to live spiritually oriented lives, we approach the problem from the other person's point of view. They may be faced with any number of challenges we either fail to consider or know nothing about, challenges that cause them to be unpleasant. As it's said, we seek in recovery "to forgive rather than be forgiven; to understand rather than be understood." Finally, if it is within our power, we seek ways to help others overcome their challenges without injuring their dignity. We pray for their well-being and spiritual growth and for the ability to offer them the unconditional love that has meant so much to us in our recovery. We cannot change the difficult people in our lives, nor can we please everyone. But by applying the spiritual principles we've learned in NA, we can learn to love them. |
| Just for Today: Higher Power, help me serve other people, not demand that they serve me. |
| Copyright (c) 2007-2026, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
August 13, 2026 |
Anonymity and Individuality |
| Page 233 |
| "In anonymity, we are free to be ourselves and to carry and receive a message of hope with the addict who suffers, regardless of whenever, wherever, or whoever they might be." |
| Guiding Principles, Tradition Twelve, Closing Reflection |
| We live in the world where--consciously and unconsciously--we adjust how we speak and behave at times to fit our circumstances. We avoid certain four-letter words when talking to Granny or the boss, for example. We greet each other in different ways, too. A handshake, a bow, or a fist bump may be called for, depending on the situation, or maybe cheek-to-cheek air kisses--one, two, or three. The point is that people--even nonaddicts--adapt as a sign of respect or solidarity. But as with so many other characteristics, addicts can take this natural inclination to extremes. In active addiction, we scaled up our capacity to "read" situations and leveraged this skill set to get what we needed. Instead of being flexible to connect with others, we were cunning manipulators trying to get our way. Recovery helps us return this ability to its proper proportions. Working the Steps helps us figure out who we are and then supports our efforts to be and do our best. What a relief! We can be more secure in our own identities and less like chameleons today. Practicing the spiritual principle of anonymity does not mean losing our individuality. In reality, the very character of Narcotics Anonymous relies, in part, on "the rough-and-tumble liveliness that arises from the diverse personalities of our members," as stated in It Works: How and Why. In being our weird, wonderful selves, we allow a broader range of addicts to connect with the message and come to believe that NA might work for them, too. Collectively and individually, we are NA's best asset. In fact, we are NA. When we share from the heart, others connect. Being ourselves to the best of our ability makes way for others to do the same. There is a place for all of us in NA. We all fit in when we focus on carrying and receiving our message of hope. |
| I will share my unvarnished experience today, knowing that sincerity and genuineness are far more important than polish or pretense. NA needs me to be me--no more, no less. Turns out I need that, too. |
| Copyright (c) 2007-2026, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved |