Brief History
Brief History

Narcotics Anonymous started in the USA in 1953 and is one of the oldest and largest organizations of its type in the world. Following that first NA meeting in Los Angeles, the society grew slowly, spreading to other major North American cities and to Australia by the early 1970's. In 1982, when Narcotics Anonymous published its self-titled Basic Text, the growth of the fellowship was phenomenal. New groups sprang up in Brazil, Colombia, Germany, India, the Irish Republic, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. By the end of the year, 1,200 groups had been established in 11 countries. Three years later, the number of NA groups around the world had tripled.
The first NA group in Greece was formed in Athens in 1987. At the time, two meetings were held each week.
Currently, there are over 40 groups and more than 110 weekly meetings taking place in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra, other big or smaller cities and islands, as well as online meetings. There are also English- and Farsi-speaking meetings. In addition, weekly presentation meetings take place in treatment centers and penitentiaries in Athens and Thessaloniki.
Today, Narcotics Anonymous is established throughout Western Europe, North and South America and Australia, with newly formed groups and communities scattered across the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central America, Asia and Africa. More than 70,000 meetings take place in 144 countries.