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. This sheet 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, 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 often 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?
1. 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.
2. The A.A. program, set forth in our Twelve Steps, offers the
alcoholic a way to develop a satisfying life without alcohol.
3. This program is discussed at A.A. group meetings.
a) 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.
b) 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.)
c) Closed discussion meetings — conducted just as
open discussions are, but for alcoholics or prospective A.A.s only.
d) Step meetings (usually closed) — discussion of one of
the Twelve Steps.
e) A.A. members also take meetings into correctional and
treatment facilities.
f) 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:
1. Furnish initial motivation for alcoholics to recover
2.
Solicit members
3. Engage in or sponsor research
4. Keep attendance
records or case histories
5. Join “councils” of social agencies
6. Follow
up or try to control its members
7. Make medical or psychological
diagnoses or prognoses
8. Provide drying-out or nursing services,
hospitalization, drugs, or any medical or psychiatric treatment
9. Offer
religious services
10. Engage in education about alcohol
11. Provide
housing, food, clothing, jobs, money, or any other welfare or social
services
12. Provide domestic or vocational counseling
13. Accept any
money for its services, or any contributions from non-A.A. sources
14.
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.
LiteratureA.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.
AA World
Services, Inc.
Box 459,
Grand Central Station
New
York, NY 10163 USA
Tél.:
(212) 870-3400. www.aa.org
