Central Lake Area Public Relations (PR) Subcommittee – Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Public Relations (PR) Subcommittee?

The PR Subcommittee works to build and maintain a positive, accurate, and responsible image of Narcotics Anonymous within the community.
Its primary purpose is to ensure that addicts seeking recovery—and the professionals and communities who may encounter them—know that NA exists and can help.

2. Why does NA need public relations?

Many addicts first learn about NA through:

• Treatment centres

• Healthcare providers

• Schools

• Community organizations

• Media

• Recovery courts or probation officers

Public Relations helps ensure these professionals understand what NA is and how to find us, while maintaining NA’s Traditions of anonymity and non-affiliation.

3. What does the PR Subcommittee do?

Typical responsibilities include:

• Maintaining the NA helpline/information phone line

• Updating and distributing meeting lists

• Managing the area website and online meeting information

• Conducting presentations for professionals

• Responding to community inquiries

• Ensuring accurate information on online platforms

• Communicating with treatment centres, detoxes, hospitals, and social service agencies

• Public outreach campaigns (posters, flyers, booths)

All PR efforts focus on attraction, not promotion, and maintain NA’s Traditions.

4. What is the difference between Public Relations and promotion?

NA does not promote itself.
Promotion means aggressive advertising, self-selling, or endorsing outside organizations.

Public Relations means:

• Providing accurate information

• Being approachable and helpful

• Building trust with the community

• Making NA accessible to addicts who want help

The message: “If you want recovery, NA is here.”

5. Who can serve on the PR Subcommittee?

Any NA member with a desire to serve is welcome.
Helpful qualities include:

• Strong communication skills

• Reliability

• Professionalism

• Comfort speaking to groups

• Knowledge of NA Traditions

• Willingness to attend training

Some positions may require clean-time, especially those speaking directly to professionals.

6. What clean-time is required?

The clean-time requirement varies by position and is determined by the Area.
In general:

• Chairperson / Vice Chair / Phone Line Coordinator: typically longer clean time

• Phone line volunteers: moderate clean time for stability

• Task helpers: no set requirement—only willingness to serve

Clean-time requirements exist to support professionalism and consistency.

7. Does PR work with outside organizations?

Yes—responsibly and in accordance with the Traditions.
PR interacts with:

• Hospitals & treatment programs

• Detox centres

• Correctional facilities

• Mental health services

• Schools and colleges

• Churches and community organizations

• Social workers, doctors, and therapists

• Local media

• Government or municipal services

However, NA does not endorse, affiliate, or take positions on outside issues.

8. What is a PR presentation?

A PR presentation is an informational session where trained NA members explain:

• What NA is

• What NA is not

• How NA meetings work

• How to refer someone to NA

• How to find meetings

• How to contact local NA services

• Basic information about recovery in NA

These presentations are designed for professionals—not for addicts seeking personal recovery guidance.

9. What materials does PR distribute?

The PR Subcommittee typically distributes:

• Meeting lists

• Posters and flyers

• Introductory pamphlets about NA

• Contact information for helplines and websites

• Professional information packets

• Event information

• Public service announcement (PSA) scripts or recordings (when allowed)

Only NA-approved literature is used.

10. Is PR responsible for the area’s helpline?

Yes, but in the Central Lake Ontario Area, this task is managed by the Regional Helpline Sub-Committee
The PR Subcommittee manages:

• The NA helpline or phone line

• Volunteer training

• Accurate meeting updates

• Clear guidance for helping callers find meetings

• Ensuring volunteers understand their role (information, not counselling)

The helpline helps addicts find meetings easily and safely.

11. How can NA members get involved in PR?

Members can serve by:

• Joining the PR Subcommittee

• Answering the helpline

• Helping with meeting list updates

• Maintaining posters and community outreach flyers

• Assisting with presentations

• Helping manage digital and web content

• Supporting administrative tasks

• Attending training sessions

PR service strengthens communication and unity.

12. Why is the PR Subcommittee important?

Without PR:

• Many addicts would never hear about NA

• Professionals might misunderstand what NA offers

• Meeting information could be outdated

• The community might not know how to refer people in need

• Our public image could suffer from misinformation

PR ensures NA is visible, accessible, and clearly understood so every addict seeking recovery has a chance to find us.