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.
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. |
