How to Choose the Right NA Medallion to Celebrate a Sobriety Anniversary
Everyone prefers to commemorate major life events and anniversaries with parties. Weddings, birthdays, childbirth, and anniversaries are just a few life milestones, but they all share one feature. They all represent personal development and advancement, which is something to be happy about.
Your sobriety birthday is one of those yearly anniversaries that you commemorate if you are presently enrolled in a drug and alcohol treatment program, supportive housing program, or IOP. This day has a significant meaning and purpose, and it's vital to remember that as you go forward in your recovery.
People celebrate their sobriety by getting themselves a NA Medallion. With proper steps, many addicts have received their 2-year NA medallion. If you've never celebrated your sobriety anniversary or aren't sure what it is, here's a description and some suggestions for how to do it.
What Exactly Is a Sobriety Anniversary?
A sobriety birthday (also called a sobriety birthday, sober commemoration, recovery celebration, or sobriety achievement) is a reminder of your accomplishments. It may be the day you last took drugs, consumed alcoholic beverages, or the last time you used it.
Only you can decide when your sobriety birthday will be, but the most crucial part is that it has particular meaning for you. As you are well aware, relapse is a normal part of the recovery process, but it does not imply failure.
It's entirely up to you if you recall more than one sobriety anniversary after relapsing. For some, this may serve as a warning that rehabilitation is a lifetime journey worth celebrating with an NA medallion.
Consider the Date of Your Sobriety Anniversary?
Some folks in recovery aren't sure when they should celebrate their first year of sobriety. The best part is that you have total control over this. One of the following may be your sobriety anniversary:
- The first day of your rehabilitation program
- You became physically sober and quit using drugs and alcohol on that day.
- The day following your most recent relapse
- The day you chose to get help for your addiction
- Some persons in recovery may opt not to have a sobriety date, which is also acceptable.
Pillars of Sobriety Medallions:
Sobriety medallions are generally given out at the conclusion or beginning of 12 Step meetings and significant milestones — usually year or multi-year observances. These might be special days where the recipient can discuss or is the main meeting speaker.
Different colors relate to different levels of sobriety:
- White for beginning or renewing a pledge to recovery
- Yellow - 30 days
- Red - 90 days
- Blue - 6 months
- Green - 9 months
- A bronze chip - 1 or more years
- White is used to starting or resuming the program
- Orange - 30 days
- Green - 60 days
- Red - 90 days
- Blue - 6 months
- Yellow - nine months
- “Glow in the dark” - one year
- Grey - 18 months
- Black – as a 2 year NA medallion.
An NA medallion may also be a metal coin to commemorate their annual celebrations.
