Editing Narcotics Anonymous (section)

==Controversies==
{{Main|Twelve-step program#Criticism|l1=Twelve-step program: Criticism}}
The NA program attempts to avoid controversy through its application of the 12 traditions, which specify that "Narcotics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the NA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Even so, the Basic Text points out that there are still "communication problems, differences of opinion, internal controversies, and troubles with individuals and groups outside the Fellowship", and various controversies of this type have disturbed NA throughout its history.

===Internal controversies===
Early in the history of NA, different groups emphasized different aspects of recovery. In particular, the make-up and process of creating an NA text was a contentious period for the fellowship. Different factions supported different versions of the Basic Text, and in the ensuing power struggle there were many accusations made and resentments cultivated. The basis of the dispute was whether the service committees were described as a part of NA, or as a separate entity, basically a tool of the NA groups with no decision-making power; instead being charged with collecting the decisions of the NA groups themselves. This dispute reached its nadir when the NA World Service Office sued an NA member in an attempt to prevent him from distributing free versions of the Basic Text.<ref name="Reference"/><ref>http://NAhelp.org - Official website of the Anonymi Foundation and Alternate Service Informational Structure for Narcotics Anonymous. Comparison of the ASIS meeting schedule over this time period.</ref>  Today there are some NA groups who use a self-produced version of the Basic Text that has come to be known as the Baby Blue which is basically the Third Edition, Revised Basic Text (except that it contains originally approved essays on the Traditions).<ref name="Reference"/> Some Traditionalist groups use the Second Edition or Approval Draft <ref name="Reference"/> (both of which contain the original Traditions and are nearly identical to each other).<ref name="Reference"/>

===Approaches of other twelve-step groups===
NA is unusual but [https://web.archive.org/web/20090304202508/http://www.ca.org/literature/allothermas.htm not unique] in its focus on the symptom/substance not being the core problem, but rather the disease of addiction, as is stated in the NA Step 1. In NA, it does not matter what substance you used, and alcohol is seen as a drug. 12-step groups differ in their approach to the treatment of addiction and recovery. [[Alcoholics Anonymous]] "is a program for alcoholics who seek freedom from alcohol" but does refer to "some AA members who have misused drugs...in such a manner as to become a threat to the achievement and maintenance of sobriety"<ref name="aa.org">{{Citation |title=The A.A. Member— Medications & Other Drugs |url=https://www.aa.org/sites/default/files/literature/assets/p-11_aamembersMedDrug.pdf |publication-date=2018 |publisher=Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.}}</ref> and mentions that drugs can "create a dependence just as devastating as dependence on alcohol".<ref name="aa.org"/> [[Cocaine Anonymous]] originally formed to address the special needs of cocaine addicts, but "is not a drug specific fellowship" and "welcomes anyone with a drug or alcohol problem and offers a solution". CA's program involves abstaining from cocaine "and all other mind-altering substances", thus taking the same stance as NA pertaining to abstinence from all drugs, including alcohol and marijuana.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ca.org/literature/allothermas.htm |title=Cocaine Anonymous - And All Other Mind-Altering Substances |publisher=Ca.org |access-date=March 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304202508/http://www.ca.org/literature/allothermas.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref> Methadone Anonymous is similar to NA, but considers the use of [[methadone]] to be a tool of recovery and not a drug. NA has no opinion on these groups, as these are outside issues and the traditions suggest against taking a definitive stand on outside issues.