able to reflect on personal growth. Am I ready to become a sponsor?

Am I
willing to share my experience, strength and
As we grow in the Program we learn to hope? Am I willing to make a commitment?
be more open and honest with others. 1.P. No. 11
After having decided to become a spon-
Remember: Just for today I will have sor, where do we go from here? We feel it is
faith in someone in N.A. who believes in me important to realize that our own recovery
and wants to help me in my recovery. comes first. We believe that the basic purpose
of sponsorship is to help the addict through
HOW DO WE USE A SPONSOR? the Twelve Steps of Recovery. It becomes

Communication is the keytothis relation-

ship. When we have questions about any
increasingly obvious to us that the best way
to do this is by example. Sponsorship is an N~RCOTICS
extension of our own personal program of
part of our Program, we know we can look to
our sponsor, but it is our responsibility to get
recovery. One of the most difficu It aspects of
sponsorship is drawing the line between
ANONYMOUS
in touch with them during these times. caring and enabling. We feel it is enabling
Whether it be by telephone or in person we them when we work their program for them.
share our problems with our sponsor. Good It doesn't help the addict if their sponsor is
or bad we try to share our experiences on a overprotective. Sometimes tough love is
daily basis. Day or night, whenever we feel essential to an addict's growth. We suggest
the need, we contact our sponsor. It is
important that we be honest with our sponsor;
that you keep in mind that it is our responsibility
to carry the message, not the addict. We are
SPONSORSHIP
that we listen with an open mind to suggest- not reformers, preachers of the gospel, wel-
ions, and that we are willing to try a way fare workers, part-time social workers, mar-
other than our own. riage counselors, money lenders, employ-
ment counselors, or parole officers. It is
Remember, WE NEED NEVER BE important to remember that we, are also
ALONE. suffering addicts.

HOW TO BE A SPONSOR There may come a time when you are

unable to relate to the person you sponsor.
It is our experience that the decision to At this time you may direct them to someone
become a sponsor is an important step in who may help. We need not feel guilty if
our recovery and should not be taken lightly. someone we sponsor relapses. We are all
We believe that whenever possible we con- responsible for our own recovery. There will
sult our own sponsor before agreeing to be times when we won't have the answers. It
sponsor someone else. In order to arrive at is our responsibility to seek these answers
this decision, we might wish to explore our out with the people we sponsor. We are not
motives. Are we considering sponsorship to GOD!!! WORLD SERVICE OFFICE, INC.
look good amongst the Fellowship or to help 16155 Wyandotte St.
the addict who still suffers? Van Nuys, California 91406-3423
Approved Literature
Remember that we can only keep what © 1983 C.A.R.E.N.A.
we have by giving it away. Therefore, we may
wish to consider the following questions:
 INTRODUCTION is a guide through the 12 Steps of Recovery. Choose someone who has a firm grasp on
the Twelve Suggested Steps of Recovery of
WHO NEEDS A SPONSOR? N.A., seems reasonably happy, and has the
This pamphlet, based on our collective willingness to help other recovering addicts.
experiences, answers some of the most It is our experience that most addicts We call people like this "winners" and it is a
commonly asked questions concerning need a sponsor. At times we all find ourselves good idea to find your sponsor among these
sponsorship. Although this pamphlet offers on shaky ground, confused, in emotional recovering addicts.
most of the essential information regarding pain and in need of a helping hand. Since we
sponsorship, it is not meant to be compre- rarely trusted others, we attempted to go it SHOULD A SPONSOR BE A FRIEND?
hensive. Rather, it presents a simple under- alone in life. This became one of our problems.
standing of a vital tool in our program of We are people who have never learned how Our experience has shown that a good
recovery. to live. This is where our sponsors come in. sponsor relationship need not be based on
Our sponsors help by sharing their exper- friendships, but trust is vital. When looking
"Sponsorship is the heart of the N.A. ience, strength and hope. To sum it up, for sponsors, we considered their experiences
way of recovery from addiction - one addict anyone who may have the desire to stay in life, the quality of their clean time, their
helping another." "Sponsorship is also a clean and begin to recover should have a availability to us, and their willingness to
two-way street, helping both the newcomer sponsor. help. As trust deepens, friendship based on
and oldtimer alike." mutual respect often follows.
HOW DO YOU GET A SPONSOR?
SHOULD MY SPONSOR BE A MAN OR
My Gratitude speaks .. . Listening is the key to finding a sponsor. WOMAN?
The most obvious place to look for a sponsor
When I care is at N.A. meetings. Talk, share, and listen to It is strongly suggested that we find a
members of the Program; get plenty of phone sponsor of the same sex. Experience has
And when I share numbers and USE them. When you find some- shown us that members of the same sex
one with whom you can talk openly and better understand certain issues such as
With Others relate, simply ask them to be your sponsor. sexuality, family or identity problems, relation-
Chances are the answer will be "yes". Some- ship problems, etc. We are emotionally un-
The N.A. Way times the person may be unable to sponsor stable and it is easy to form emotional bonds
you. Keep on trying! Remember that when with members of the opposite sex. This
one door closes, another will open. Continue detracts from our program and could spell
to attend meetings, listen and soon you will disaster, especially for the newcomer.
SPONSORSHIP find a sponsor.
SHOULD WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE
WHAT LENGTH OF CLEAN TIME SHOULD SPONSOR?
WHAT IS A SPONSOR? A SPONSOR HAVE?
We think not! Our experience has shown
A sponsor is a recovering addict in the The answer to this question varies from that it's easier to receive direction from one
program of Narcotics Anonymous; someone person to person. The sponsor may be a individual. We find it easier to t rust in one
we can trust to share our life experiences member with years of clean time behind him, person rather than many.
with (both good and bad); a person to whom or may be only a few months in the Program.
we can go with our problems that may be too The sponsor's clean time and experience With one sponsor we can learn t o build
personal to share with the group. It is suggest- may well depend on the availability of spon- a relationship based on trust and honesty.
ed that a sponsor be someone who has sors in your area. The quality of time is more Through shared exoerience a soonsor is
practice in working the 12 Steps and is important than the quantity of clean time.
involved in the Program. Primarily, a sponsor