Surviving a drug addiction requires lots of effort and commitment. As such, anyone who passes the challenge deserves some appreciation.
One way to appreciate such people is to offer them medallions like NA medallions and other rewards as a reminder of victory and becoming clean. Whether one recovers from medicinal, hard drugs, or alcohol, they deserve an award for their effort and commitment to becoming clean again.
NA medallions are not only an award; they serve more purposes for someone dealing with addiction or who has overcome an addiction. Based on the progress of addiction recovery, one is awarded different medallions to symbolize a commitment to sobriety.
They are available in different colors; each has a certain significance to the holder. If you are wondering what these medallions signify, here are some reasons to have one or give one to a recovering addict.
1. Reminder About Sobriety
Being sober is one of the most extensive steps one can take on their journey to recovery. It takes a lot of effort for one to overcome withdrawals and all the cravings that come with addiction to all types of drugs.
After going through all that, it is important that one has a reminder of their suffering and their commitment to being clean and overcoming addiction.
Before one gets into an addiction recovery facility like NA, one makes a promise to overcome addiction and become completely clean. This is more than a promise but a commitment to undergo the pain and suffering to get clean regardless of the circumstances.
Good addiction recovery centers will help addicts commit to that goal; hence, they offer sobriety medallions to help the victims stay true to their commitment. There are different types of NA medallions that can help one stay true to the commitment. The medals can be awarded at different stages of life to help addicts maintain their fight in the journey to becoming clean.
In countries like the US, Australia, and Canada, these medallions are the perfect reminders to stay committed. Medallions awarded to someone after a sobriety journey serve as a reminder always to stay clean regardless of the temptations in life.
Even if friends influence you to take drugs, the medallions will always remind you to stay clean and commit to a new life of cleanliness and sobriety.
2. A Societal Role Model
Different societies believe in having real models among those who have recovered from the worst situations. In such societies, recovering from an addiction is a sign of heroism and a victory against life’s greatest challenges. Surely, surviving an addiction, especially years of addiction, must be considered a victory, and anyone getting through that is like winning a war.
Therefore, why not appreciate them for their victory? Besides celebrating them, it is essential to have them as an inspiration. They should inspire the younger generation to avoid drug temptation and they can also inspire anyone to start recovering. Anyone with a medallion can easily be recognized by people; hence, someone with drug addiction can easily approach them for help.
In societies that believe in monks and gurus, those with medallions can be approached to teach about addiction recovery. With all the medallions, addict recoveries can be an inspiration in society and achieve their desire to help people become clean.
In countries like India and Bangladesh, those with medallions can be the greatest teachers and join other societal and spiritual leaders to help people overcome life challenges.
3. A Sign of Heroism and IdentityÂ
In every society, one must create an identity for themselves, whether they are a drug addiction survivor, a friend, etc. Recovery addicts create and maintain these identities by having certain symbols to show who they are. Hanging these chains and medallions is a way to show society your true identity. Whenever people see you, they see someone who is clean, sober, and an addiction survivor.
They are a wearer’s identity and affiliation to NA, one of the reliable addiction facilities. Whenever one sees that NA medallion, they see the next and best place to get help from addiction. An ex-drug addict wearing their medallion is seen as a hero and probably a warrior who has won their life battles.
In countries that believe in accepting everyone despite their challenges, the medallions can help identify them in society and inform everyone to respect them for their victory.
4. A Gift to Encourage Someone
Whenever NA hands over the medallion, it is not just for the individual who got sober; it can also be a tool they use to encourage others. Anyone handed the medallion is an NA ambassador. As such, they can continue NA’s objective in the world, which is to help addicts recover from their challenges. As an ambassador, they can also hand the medals but not new ones from NA. Any sober person can hand over their medallion to another individual who has recovered or whom they have assisted in recovery.
In societies like China, Korea, and Japan, it is a gesture of love and care to hand over the medallion as a gift. To show someone that you are committed to helping them get sober, you can give them the medallion as a gesture of your true love.
5. A Sign of Connectivity to A Greater Goal
Whenever one puts on a medallion, it is a sign of physical and spiritual connectivity to something greater. A medallion is a connection to someone’s spirit and being for overcoming greater challenges. It takes the heart, soul, commitment, and spirit to recover from addiction.
The medallion shows their willingness and spiritual fight to get clean. Every time an addict wears the medallion, it is connectivity and a sign of separation from their past lives. Therefore, it will always remind them to keep up the physical and spiritual fight to stay sober and away from the influence of drugs.
6. Commitment to Sobriety and Life Principles
Recovering from drug addiction requires one to have certain principles in life. Some of these principles are ideal for helping one get through addiction challenges. Some of these principles include resistance, dedication, commitment, and spirituality. Maintaining these traits can be challenging; hence, a recovering addict should be constantly reminded to uphold these values to continue being sober.
With the medallion, a previous addict is constantly reminded to keep up the good fight, survive their conditions, and maintain being sober and the best version of themselves. Anyone with the medallion can always rely on NA medallions as a symbol of strength when faced with temptations, which may affect sobriety and the passion to fight more and stay pure.
Conclusion
NA medallions are significant for anyone dealing with or who has recovered from an addiction. It symbolizes heroism from an addiction, serving as an identity. Wearing them all the time is a reminder for the wearer to commit to sobriety principles and avoid any forms of temptation that could lead to an addiction.
