Information on Alcoholics Anonymous
FOR ANYONE NEW COMING TO A.A.,
FOR ANYONE REFERRING PEOPLE TO A.A.
This information is both for people who may have a
drinking problem and for those in contact with people
who have, or are suspected of having, a problem. Most of
the information is available in more detail in
literature published by A.A. World Services, Inc. A list
of recommended pamphlets and Guidelines is given on the
other side of this sheet. This tells what to expect from
Alcoholics Anonymous. It describes what A.A. is, what
A.A. does, and what A.A. does not do.
WHAT IS A.A.?
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship
of men and women who have had a drinking problem. It is
nonprofessional, self-supporting, non-denominational,
multiracial, apolitical, and available almost
everywhere. There are no age or education requirements.
Membership is open to anyone who want to do something
about his or her drinking problem.
WHAT DOES A.A. DO?
- A.A. members share their experience with anyone
seeking help with a drinking problem; they give
person-to-person service or "sponsorship" to the
alcoholic coming to A.A. from any source.
- The A.A. program, set forth in our Twelve Steps,
offers the alcoholic a way to develop a satisfying
life without alcohol.
- This program is discussed at A.A. group
meetings.
- Open speaker meetings-open to alcoholics and
nonalcoholics. (Attendance at an open A.A.
meeting is the best way to learn what A.A. is,
what it does, and what it does not do.) At
speaker meetings, A.A. members "tell their
stories." They describe their experiences with
alcohol, how they came to A.A., and how their
lives have changed as a result of A.A.
- Open discussion meetings-one member speaks
briefly about his or her drinking experience,
and then leads a discussion on A.A. recovery or
any drinking-related problem anyone brings up.
(Closed meetings are for A.A.s or anyone who
may have a drinking problem.)
- Closed discussion meetings-conducted just as
open discussions are, but for alcoholics or
prospective A.A.s only.
- Step meetings (usually closed)-discussion of
one of the Twelve Steps.
- A.A. members may also take meetings into
correctional and treatment facilities.
- A.A. members may be asked to conduct the
informational meetings about A.A. as a part of
A.S.A.P. (Alcohol Safety Action Project) and
D.W.I. (Driving While Intoxicated) programs.
These meetings about A.A. are not
regular A.A. group meetings.
MEMBERS FROM COURT PROGRAMS AND TREATMENT FACILITIES
In the last years, A.A. groups have welcomed many new
members from court programs and treatment facilities.
Some have come to A.A voluntarily; others, under a
degree of pressure. In our pamphlet "How A.A. Members
Cooperate," the following appears:
We cannot discriminate against any prospective
A.A. members, even if he or she comes to us under
pressure from a court, an employer, or any other
agency.
Although the strength of our program lies in the
voluntary nature of membership in A.A., many of us
first attended meetings because we were forced to,
either by someone else or by inner discomfort. But
continual exposure to A.A. educated us to the true
nature of the illness. . . . Who made the referral
to A.A. is not what A.A. is interested in.
It is the problem drinker who is our concern. . . .
We cannot predict who will recover, nor have we the
authority to decide how recovery should be sought by
any other alcoholic.
PROOF OF ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS
Sometimes, courts ask for proof of attendance at A.A.
meetings.
Some groups, with the consent of the prospective
members, have the A.A. group secretary sign or initial a
slip that has been furnished by the gourt together with
a self-addressed court envelope. The referred person
supplies identification and mails the slip back to the
court as proof of attendance.
Other groups cooperate in different ways. There is no
set procedure. The nature and extent of any group's
involvement in this process is entirely up to the
individual group.
This proof of attendance at meetings is not
part of A.A.'s procedure. Each group is autonomous and
has the right to choose whether or not to sign court
slips. In some areas the attendees report on themselves,
at the request of the referring agency, and thus
alleviate breaking A.A. members' anonymity.
THE NONALCOHOLIC ADDICT
Many treatment centers today combine alcoholism and
drug addiction under "substance abuse" or "chemical
dependence." Patients (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic)
are introduced to A.A. and encouraged to attend A.A.
meetings when they leave. As stated earlier, anyone
may attend open A.A. meetings. But only those
with a drinking problem may attend closed
meetings or become A.A. members. People with
problem other than alcoholism are eligible for A.A.
membership only if they have a drinking
problem.
Dr. Vincent Dole, a pioneer in methadone treatment
for heroin addicts and for several years a trustee on
the General Service Board of A.A., made the following
statement: "The source of strength in A.A. is its
single-mindedness. The mission of A.A. is to help
alcoholics. A.A. limits what it is demanding of itself
and its associates, and its success lies in its limited
target. To belive that the process that is successful in
one line guarantees success for another would be a very
serious mistake." Consequently, we welcome the
opportunity to share A.A. experience with those who
would like to develop Twelve Step/Twelve Tradition
programs for the nonalcoholic addict by using A.A.
methods.
WHAT A.A. DOES NOT DO
A.A. does not:
- Furnish initial motivation for alcoholics to
recover
- Solicit members
- Engage in or sponsor research
- Keep attendance records or case histories
- Join "councils" of social agencies
- Follow up or try to control its members
- Make medical or psychological diagnoses or
prognoses
- Provide drying-out or nursing services,
hospitalization, drugs, or any medical or
psychiatric treatment
- Offer religious services
- Engage in education about alcohol
- Provide housing, food, clothing, jobs, money, or
any other welfare or social services
- Provide domestic or vocational counseling
- Accept any money for its services, or any
contributions from non-A.A. sources
- Provide letters of reference to parole boards,
lawyers, court officials
CONCLUSION
The primary purpose of A.A. is to carry our message
of recovery to the alcoholic seeking help. Almost every
alcoholism treatment tries to help the alcoholic
maintain sobriety. Regardless of the road we follow, we
all head for the same destination, recovery of the
alcoholic person. Together, we can do what none of us
could accomplish alone.
We can serve as a source of personal experience and
be an ongoing support system for recovering alcoholics. |
