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

The members of the Narcotics Anonymous (NA) fellowshiplove Jimmy Kinnon; he is, after all, the recognizedfounder of the organization. I experienced this lovefirsthand when I attended my first NA convention withthousands of recovering addicts, guest speakers, literatureand workshops. When attendees found out that I wasJimmy K’s daughter, they were overcome with emotion-—and full of questions about the founder. After attendingone of the convention’s “History Workshops,” I found outwhy: most of the speakers had never even met my father.Worse, much of their information was wrong. There aredozens of NA conventions held across the United Stateseach year, and many others in foreign nations. How many, Iwondered, also offered this flawed version of “history”?Then I thought of the countless meetings that are heldaround the world every day. Something needed to be done.Every Addict’s Friend: Jimmy K. is that thing. As Jimmy’soldest surviving child, I was in a position to observe thehumble beginnings of the world-wide organization and haveintimate knowledge of Jimmy’s home life, his demons andhis dreams. Besides sharing the information that so manycrave, I have also raided the family photo albums for thepictures that show the many sides of Jimmy K. Read more