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.