The following is a public memo for all hospitals and institutions about Heroin Anonymous:
Heroin Anonymous is concerned solely with the personal recovery and continued sobriety of heroin addicts who turn to us for help. We do not provide drug counseling, medical or psychiatric treatment, chemical dependency treatment, or therapy of any form. Our members consist of individuals who have found a better way of life. We have recovered from our heroin addiction and simply wish to offer help to those who suffer. We are fully self-supporting, we accept voluntary contributions from our members for our expenses, and we respectfully decline outside contributions. Our program of recovery was adapted from the program developed by Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935. We apply the Twelve Steps as done in AA (although we are not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous), which involves one heroin addict helping another to achieve freedom from their heroin addiction. Heroin Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from heroin addiction. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop suffering from heroin addiction. There are no dues or fees for membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. H.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other heroin addicts to achieve sobriety.
The Western New York District of Heroin Anonymous: Hospitals and Institutions/Public Information committee is reaching out to the surrounding areas to let you know Heroin Anonymous is available and willing to help. We have meetings all around New York state and here in Rochester we have many meetings in person and online. If you are interested in receiving any resources about Heroin Anonymous you can contact us by phone (585-348-8129) or you can check out our website (https://wnydha.org/). We want to extend an open line of communication with you and answer any and all questions you have. For Hospitals and Institutions; if you are looking to have a treatment meeting come to you, reach out to the hotline and they will direct you to the current chair of HIPI (Hospital and Institutions/ Public Information) to set one up. For any public information about Heroin Anonymous please use the hotline for any questions and check out our website under the tabs Resources and Literature.
The following is a request for media outlets to observe our 11th tradition which preserves our anonymity:
We request that media outlets who are reporting on HA as a whole, to help us in observing our 11th tradition, which states: “Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.”Like other 12 Step fellowships, the name Heroin Anonymous has gained widespread distribution thanks to media outlets such as magazines, newspapers, and television reports. This has enabled many suffering heroin addicts to find a solution to their debilitating illness. For that, we thank you.In order to continue our success, we do our best to operate using the 12 Traditions of Heroin Anonymous. The 11th tradition, stated above, calls for HA members to maintain their anonymity regarding media publicity. Many newer HA members are tempted to disregard this tradition hoping that sharing their story at the public level will save many lives of other addicts who are still suffering. However, after learning from our own hardships as well as others’, we have found that maintaining our anonymity is of grave importance to our sobriety. First, by observing this tradition, we hope to give any newcomer the ability to be a member of our fellowship without the threat of tarnishing their reputation. Second, and perhaps more importantly, our experience has shown us that when we maintain our anonymity, we also maintain our humility. Much of our addiction revolved around egotism, and when we leave behind our grandiose desire for popularity, we can sit amongst our fellowship as an equal. We do not, however, turn away a good opportunity to share our experience with the media anonymously. When publishing content, we ask that the media: (a) use an HA member’s first name and last initial, and (b) does not show the face of any HA member whether photographed or filmed.Thank you again for your interest with our fellowship. Your support strongly affects the lives of HA members, both current and future!
Sincerely,
Heroin Anonymous World Services