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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, multiracial,
apolitical, and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education
requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something
about his or her drinking problem.
Singleness of Purpose and Problems Other Than Alcohol
Some professionals refer to alcoholism and drug addiction as “substance
abuse” or “chemical dependency.” Nonalcoholics are, therefore, sometimes
introduced to A.A. and encouraged to attend A.A. meetings. Anyone may attend
open A.A. meetings, but only those with a drinking problem may attend closed
meetings.
A renowned psychiatrist, who served as a nonalcoholic trustee of the A.A.
General Service Board, made the following statement: “Singleness of purpose
is essential to the effective treatment of alcoholism. The reason for such
exaggerated focus is to overcome denial. The denial associated with
alcoholism is cunning, baffling, and powerful and affects the patient, helper,
and the community. Unless alcoholism is kept relentlessly in the foreground,
other issues will usurp everybody’s attention.”
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 Alcoholics Anonymous.
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 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.
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, social
agencies, employers, etc.
Members From Court Programs and Treatment Facilities
In recent 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. member, 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 member, have the A.A. group
secretary sign or initial a slip that has been furnished by the court 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.
Literature
A.A. Conference-approved literature is available in French and Spanish. For
additional copies of this paper, or for a literature catalog please write or call the
General Service Office.
The A.A. Grapevine, a monthly international journal — also known as “our
meeting in print” — features many interesting stories about recovery from
alcoholism written primarily by members of A.A. It is a useful introduction and
ongoing link to A.A.’s diverse fellowship and wealth of recovery experience. The
Spanish-language magazine La Viña, is published bimonthly.
For Grapevine information or to order a subscription to either the AA Grapevine
or La Viña: (212) 870-3404; fax (212) 870-3301; Web site: www.aagrapevine.org.
Conclusion
The primary purpose of A.A. is to carry its 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.
A.A. World Services, Inc.,
Box 459, Grand Central Station,
New York, NY 10163
Tel. (212) 870-3400.
www.aa.org
Copyright © by The A.A. Grapevine, Inc.; reprinted with permission
