What is A.A.?
Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary, worldwide fellowship
of men and women from all walks of life who
meet together to attain and maintain sobriety.The only
requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership.
Current Membership
It is estimated that there are more than 114,000 groups
and over 2,000,000 members in over 180 countries.
Relations With Outside Agencies
The Fellowship has adopted a policy of “cooperation
but not affiliation” with other organizations concerned
with the problem of alcoholism. We have no opinion
on issues outside A.A. and neither endorse nor
oppose any causes.
How A.A. Is Supported
Over the years, Alcoholics Anonymous has affirmed
and strengthened a tradition of being fully self-supporting
and of neither seeking nor accepting contributions
from nonmembers. Within the Fellowship, the
amount that may be contributed by any individual
member is limited to $3,000 a year.
How A.A. Members Maintain Sobriety
A.A. is a program of total abstinence. Members simply
stay away from one drink, one day at a time. Sobriety
is maintained through sharing experience, strength
and hope at group meetings and through the suggested
Twelve Steps for recovery from alcoholism.
Why Alcoholics Anonymous Is ‘Anonymous’
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of A.A. It disciplines
the Fellowship to govern itself by principles
rather than personalities. We are a society of peers.
We strive to make known our program of recovery, not
individuals who participate in the program. Anonymity
in the public media is assurance to all A.A.s, especially
to newcomers, that their A.A. membership will not
be disclosed.
Anyone May Attend A.A. Open Meetings
Anyone may attend open meetings of A.A. These
usually consist of talks by a leader and two or three
speakers who share experience as it relates to their
alcoholism and their recovery in A.A. Some meetings
are held for the specific purpose of informing the nonalcoholic
public about A.A. Doctors, members of the
clergy, and public officials are invited. Closed discussion
meetings are for alcoholics only.
How A.A. Started
A.A. was started in 1935 by a New York stockbroker
and an Ohio surgeon (both now deceased), who had
been “hopeless” drunks. They founded A.A. in an
effort to help others who suffered from the disease of
alcoholism and to stay sober themselves. A.A. grew
with the formation of autonomous groups, first in the
United States and then around the world.
How You Can Find A.A. In Your Town
Look for “Alcoholics Anonymous” in any telephone
directory. In most urban areas, a central A.A. office, or
“intergroup,” staffed mainly by volunteer A.A.s, will be
happy to answer your questions and/or put you in
touch with those who can.
What A.A. Does Not Do:
A.A. does not:
Keep membership records or case histories.
- engage in or support research
-join “councils”or social agencies (although A.A. members,
groups and service offices frequently cooperate with
them)
-follow up or try to control its members
-make medical or psychiatric prognoses or dispense
medicines or psychiatric advise
-provide drying-out or nursing services or sanitariums
-offer religious services
-provide housing, food, clothing, jobs, money, or other welfare or social services
- provide domestic or vocational counseling
-provide letters of reference to parole boards, lawyers, court officials,
social agencies, employers, etc.
(This is A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature www.aa.org)
