What follows is selected questions and answers on public information service from the 1980's and 1990's.  These are responses from the former Board of Trustees and the WSC Public Information Committee.  Do they apply in today's public relations environment?

Q. What is the importance of anonymity?

A. ...When an individual member of the fellowship finds himself or herself in the limelight as a member of Narcotics Anonymous, that person often feels as if he or she is speaking for Narcotics Anonymous. Such a situation also creates an artificial barrier between the particular member and other members of the fellowship. It tends to taps into the grandiosity which is a part of our individual characters, setting that person up as an expert. Breaking anonymity at the level of press, radio and films is dangerous to the individual's recovery and might also be a deterrent to other individuals coming into the program. Some potential newcomers might feel that we can't be trusted to maintain their anonymity or that they, too, will be required to discuss their addiction and recovery on a public level.

The fellowship at all levels of service needs to be very careful in selecting individuals to do PI work. Some individuals actively seek media exposure; these individuals are probably the least qualified to do PI work. The individuals which may be the best qualified are those who value anonymity and are willing to serve out of love for the fellowship, not as a boost to their egos.

Q. What should we do when writing letters to government, non-government organizations, hospitals, civic groups, etc.? Should PI chairpersons or committee members use their full names?

A. If there is any reason to believe the letter will be published or find its way into the public media, then it is important that last names be avoided. Although letters without a full signature often have less credibility in the eyes of the recipient, the use of the first name and last initial is appropriate.

Q. How do we answer the question, "Who is the founder of Narcotics Anonymous?"

A. Narcotics Anonymous evolved as the result of a group effort and did not have a single founder. Along the way, a number of individuals played key and important roles. The process through which Narcotics Anonymous grew and developed highlights our strengths: the strength of the group, and the strength of anonymous people working together.

Q. When is it appropriate to use non-addicts to provide information about Narcotics Anonymous to the media or outside agencies?

A. We believe that non-addicts should help us to provide information about our fellowship on national television, radio, magazines, newspapers, etc. whenever there is the possibility that an addict’s anonymity could be compromised. The non-addict(s) could be provided with a script which would accurately reflect our message.

In the case of local TV stations, we believe it would similarly be helpful for a non-addict to appear, but also realize that a non-addict may not always be available for this purpose. In the case of outside agencies, it may also be beneficial to use non-addicts, depending on the agency. For example, in approaching a medical association, it might be helpful to have a physician who is a non-addict explain how physicians might utilize Narcotics Anonymous in working with their addict patients. Endeavors which target governmental agencies might find it helpful to utilize a non-addict who has knowledge or expertise in the agency being approached.

We also believe that we need to avoid the use of blacked-out faces, silhouettes and shadows. Some of these techniques have been used in the past to maintain anonymity. However, these techniques are also used by the media to protect the identity of criminals, informers and other nefarious characters, therefore denoting a very negative image and giving the impression that we have something to hide. That negative image is something we are actively working to avoid.

For all these reasons, non-addicts who have an understanding of our fellowship, our Twelve Steps and our Twelve Traditions are very important to us.

Q. Is it all right if some of our members take photographs or use a video camera during an NA meeting?

A. Photographs or videos taken at an NA meeting, regardless whether it is a regularly scheduled meeting of Narcotics Anonymous or a meeting held at an NA function or activity, can be a potential danger to individual members' anonymity, and should be strongly discouraged.

Taking photographs and using video cameras, however, at conventions, banquet dinners, dances and picnics seems to be a common practice throughout the fellowship. We believe this practice does not constitute a violation of our Traditions, provided that those individuals photographed or videotaped have no objections, and that the photographs or videos are intended solely for the enjoyment of the individuals involved, and are never used at the level of press, radio, or films. We suggest that your committee make announcements to this effect during these events for the benefit of all NA members involved.

Q. When an outside organization or agency requests a public information speaker and offers to pay travel expenses, should the PI committee or individual accept such reimbursement?

A. Sometimes these offers come from organizations or agencies who do not understand our program, our Twelve Steps, or our Twelve Traditions. These organizations and agencies are often accustomed to paying a fee or offering reimbursement for expenses as a matter of course. However, this practice is not appropriate for Narcotics Anonymous service workers. We are self-supporting through our own contributions, and we cannot accept a fee for PI work nor a reimbursement check for expenses incurred. It is important that we explain this aspect of our Traditions to such an organization, and the reason why it is not appropriate for us to accept this type of fee or reimbursement.

Q. Is it promotion or attraction when a PI committee contacts schools, probation officers, county or government offices and treatment centers to let them know about NA?

A. Our Eleventh Tradition tells us that our public relations policy is one of attraction rather than promotion. When PI committee members go out into the community and inform government agencies, non-government organizations or individuals who work with addicts about who we are and what we do, they are operating well within the level of attraction. We provide information regarding our program and inform those agencies, organizations and individuals that we are a Twelve Step program of recovery from the disease of addiction.

We must exercise care in order to avoid any promises or make any commitments we cannot keep. We must not present ourselves in a manner which is inconsistent with the spirit of service within Narcotics Anonymous. When we begin to do this, we have crossed the line into promotion.

Q. Should local area or regional PI committees produce TV PSAs?

A. It has been our experience that most regionally produced PI video spots have been of a very poor quality. In one incident, a local PI committee expended considerable time, energy and money only to find the spots they produced did not meet government standards and the local television stations refused to air them because of their overall poor quality....

Q. May the video PSAs currently available from the WSO be translated and overdubbed for use in our country?

A. Yes, however the translation from English should follow the script and the audio overdubbing should be done by professional technicians for proper quality. Contact the World Service Office and the World Services Translations Committee before beginning a project of this type.

Q. In our PI efforts, is it appropriate to convey the message that addiction is a disease?

A. Addiction is a disease. Our literature states that addiction is a disease. Our Basic Text states, "We have a disease: progressive, incurable and fatal." As a fellowship, we have had firsthand experience with thousands of addicts. Based on our firsthand experience, we believe we have a chronic, progressive and fatal disease which if untreated will result in jails, institutions and death for us. We believe it is absolutely necessary to state these basic facts about our fellowship’s philosophy concerning addiction in all our public information endeavors.

On the other hand, we must emphasize that Narcotics Anonymous does not qualify its use of the term "disease" in any medical or specialized therapeutic sense, nor does NA make any attempt to persuade others of the correctness of its view.

There is still an enormous stigma attached to drug addiction, and as long as addicts and those individuals working with addicts believe that drug addiction can and should be controlled by the addict, addicts will die trying to find ways and means to develop control. A by-product of public information committee activities will be the education of those working with addicts concerning the fact that addiction is a disease and the addict is powerless over it. We must to accept ourselves as persons who have a disease, and we need to inform those who work with us and those who love us of that fact. We can best do this by talking about addiction as a disease in our PI efforts.

Q. A local entertainer has been seen wearing an NA T-shirt during public performances. Is this a violation of the Eleventh Tradition?

A. Wearing NA memorabilia in public is not in itself a violation of the Eleventh Tradition. However, wearing NA memorabilia in such a manner that the media can expose that person’s identity and association with NA is prohibited.

In the question posed, if the entertainer is a member of the fellowship, he or she should be approached by the PI in order to educate and inform that member of the consequences of that action for his or her personal recovery, as well as for NA as a whole. If the entertainer is not a member of NA, the PI committee should seek to educate this person about NA and our Traditions, explaining the harm that might be done to the fellowship. The PI committee should request that NA memorabilia not be worn at public performances.

We should not wear NA T-shirts and/or other NA memorabilia during PI events. By following this suggestion, we ensure a consistent message about our program and do not differentiate ourselves from each other and from the public. Many opinions expressed on T-shirts sold by NA service committees and boards do not support the message PI committees endeavor to give the public about our Fellowship.

We should also note that the NA symbol, the service symbol and the words “Narcotics Anonymous” are copyrighted material. Violations of that copyright will be pursued by the WSO. The PI committee should be alert to the possible misuse of our symbols, and should contact the WSO about such occurrences. The damage to the fellowship on a public relations level can hurt us immeasurably, possibly preventing us from reaching the addict who still suffers.