Alcoholics Anonymous AA: Meetings, How to Join, & the 12 Steps

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Alcoholism and drug addiction are often referred to as “substance abuse” or “chemical dependency.” Alcoholics and nonalcoholics are, therefore, sometimes introduced to AA and encouraged to attend AA meetings. But only those with a drinking problem may attend closed meetings or become AA members. People with problems other than alcoholism are eligible for AA membership only if they have a drinking problem. There are many different ideas about what alcoholism really is. The explanation that seems to make sense to most A.A. Members is that alcoholism is a progressive illness that can never be cured but that, like some other diseases, can be arrested.

Chapters in the Big Book

• People with problems other than alcoholism are eligible for AA membership only if they have a drinking problem.
• You can also contact local community centers, churches, or healthcare facilities for more information on AA and other 12-Step meetings near you.
• Here, you’ll locate facilities that accept your insurance, respect your beliefs, and adapt to your circumstances.
• AA meetings serve as a space where individuals discuss recovery from alcoholism, with flexibility in how meetings are conducted.

Educated us to the true nature of the illness… 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.

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Some of us had even been hospitalized or jailed. We had committed grave offenses — against society, our families, our employers, and ourselves. We are not reformers, and we are not allied with any group, cause, or religion.

• Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship of people who help each other to stay sober.
• Provides, which have been proven to work for many, enables individuals to cope with what they previously numbed with substance abuse.
• They offer the same help to anyone who has a drinking problem and wants to do something about it.
• AA is an informal society of more than 2 million recovering alcoholics throughout the world.
• As a result, the fellowship does not engage in controversy and does not endorse or oppose any causes.

Before they are exposed to A.A., many alcoholics who are unable to stop drinking think of themselves as morally weak or, possibly, mentally unbalanced. Concept is that alcoholics are sick people who can recover if they follow a simple program that has proved successful for more than two million people. Once alcoholism has set in, there is nothing morally wrong about being ill. At this stage, free will is not involved, because the sufferer has lost the power of choice over alcohol.

The important thing is to face the facts of one’s illness and to take advantage of the help that is available. There must also be a desire to get well. Program will work for all alcoholics who are sincere in their efforts to stop drinking; it usually will not work for those not absolutely certain that they want to stop. Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship of people who help each other to stay sober.

In A.A., men and women support each other to discover and admit that they cannot control their alcohol use. In A.A., through shared experiences and personal recovery journeys, group members understand that they must live without alcohol in order to avoid disaster for themselves and those close to them. The Big Book’s main topic is recovery by engaging in AA’s alcohol rehab 12 Steps. Each chapter illustrates the steps through personal stories that portray alcoholism as a disease.

Donations and contributions

In recent years, online meetings have become popular, allowing members to connect virtually through platforms like Zoom and What’s App. 12-Step AA meetings are often held in public, accessible buildings with lots of parking, such as churches, schools, coffee shops, and restaurants. A.A. Grapevine – Our Meeting in PrintVisit the A.A. Grapevine official website to read the current issue online and find out more about A.A.’s monthly meeting in print. To help you decide whether you might have a problem with drinking, we’ve prepared these 12 what is aa questions. We are not reformers and we are not allied with any group, cause, religious denomination or ethnic background.