Every Addict's Friend Jimmy K.: Reflections of a Daughter

The members of the Narcotics Anonymous (NA) fellowship love Jimmy Kinnon; he is, after all, the recognized founder of the organization. I experienced this love firsthand when I attended my first NA convention with thousands of recovering addicts, guest speakers, literature and workshops. When attendees found out that I was Jimmy K's daughter, they were overcome with emotion- -and full of questions about the founder. After attending one of the convention's "History Workshops," I found out why: most of the speakers had never even met my father. Worse, much of their information was wrong. There are dozens of NA conventions held across the United States each year, and many others in foreign nations. How many, I wondered, also offered this flawed version of "history"? Then I thought of the countless meetings that are held around the world every day. Something needed to be done. Every Addict's Friend: Jimmy K. is that thing. As Jimmy's oldest surviving child, I was in a position to observe the humble beginnings of the world-wide organization and have intimate knowledge of Jimmy's home life, his demons and his dreams. Besides sharing the information that so many crave, I have also raided the family photo albums for the pictures that show the many sides of Jimmy K.

The members of the Narcotics Anonymous (NA) fellowship love Jimmy Kinnon; he is, after all, the recognized founder of the organization. I experienced this love firsthand when I attended my first NA convention with thousands of recovering addicts, guest speakers, literature and workshops. When attendees found out that I was Jimmy K's daughter, they were overcome with emotion- -and full of questions about the founder. After attending one of the convention's "History Workshops," I found out why: most of the speakers had never even met my father. Worse, much of their information was wrong. There are dozens of NA conventions held across the United States each year, and many others in foreign nations. How many, I wondered, also offered this flawed version of "history"? Then I thought of the countless meetings that are held around the world every day. Something needed to be done. Every Addict's Friend: Jimmy K. is that thing. As Jimmy's oldest surviving child, I was in a position to observe the humble beginnings of the world-wide organization and have intimate knowledge of Jimmy's home life, his demons and his dreams. Besides sharing the information that so many crave, I have also raided the family photo albums for the pictures that show the many sides of Jimmy K.