|
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, nondenominational, 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.
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 A.A.
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.
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. 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.
SINGLENESS OF PURPOSE AND PROBLEMS OTHER THAN ALCOHOL
Alcoholism and drug addiction are often referred to as “substance
abuse” or “chemical dependency.” Alcoholics and 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
or become A.A. members. People with problems 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 believe 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: 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.
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.
RECOMMENDED MATERIAL AVAILABLE FROM A.A. WORLD SERVICES,
INC.
Pamphlets:
”A Member’s-Eye View of Alcoholics Anonymous”
“How A.A. Members Cooperate”
“If You Are a Professional, A.A. Wants to Work With You”
“Problems Other Than Alcohol”
“Understanding Anonymity”
“Let’s Be Friendly With Our Friends”
“Is A.A. For You?”
“A.A. in Treatment Facilities”
“Is There An Alcoholic in the Workplace?”
“A.A. as a Resource for the Health Care Professional”
Guidelines:
For A.A. Members Employed in the Alcoholism Field
Cooperation With the Professional Community
Public Information
Cooperating With Court, A.S.A.P., and Similar Programs
Catalog:
Conference-approved Literature and Other Service Material
A.A. Literature and Audiovisual Material For Special Needs
Videos:
Alcoholics Anonymous—An Inside View
Young People and A.A.
Hope: Alcoholics Anonymous
A.A.—Rap with Us
It Sure Beats Sitting in a Cell
Your A.A. General Service Office, The Grapevine and the
General Service Structure
Carrying the Message Behind These Walls
Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous (American Sign Language)
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (American Sign
Language)
For additional copies of this paper, or our literature catalogs
write to:
A.A. World Services, Inc.,
Box 459, Grand Central Station,
New York, NY 10163
Tel. (212) 870-3400.
|
