Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global fellowship of men and women who share their collective experience, strength, and hope with one another. The central purpose of this sharing is to solve their common problem and help others recover from alcoholism. This peer-led mutual-aid approach offers a structured path toward achieving and maintaining abstinence from alcohol. AA provides a welcoming, non-judgmental environment for individuals seeking a different way of life.
The Core Identity and Primary Purpose
An AA group fundamentally operates as a non-professional, self-governing entity dedicated to recovery. The fellowship is entirely self-supporting, declining outside contributions to maintain its independence.
The single, unifying primary purpose for every group is to carry the message of recovery to the alcoholic who still suffers. This mission centers on two intertwined goals: members staying sober themselves and helping other alcoholics achieve sobriety. Focusing on this singleness of purpose maintains the fellowship’s effectiveness in addressing alcoholism.
The Foundational Principles of Recovery and Group Unity
The mechanism by which AA operates is detailed in its two foundational documents: the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions. The Twelve Steps offer a program for personal recovery, providing a framework for self-reflection and spiritual growth.
This set of principles guides the individual member through an inner transformation, beginning with the acknowledgment of powerlessness over alcohol. The process moves through making a moral inventory, admitting wrongs, and eventually making amends to those who have been harmed. The steps are designed to expel the obsession to drink when practiced as a way of life.
The Twelve Traditions function separately from the steps, serving as guidelines for how the groups themselves operate and maintain unity. These traditions ensure the fellowship remains focused on its primary purpose and prevent the organization from becoming entangled in external matters. They address issues like group autonomy, public relations, and the refusal of outside funding.
The traditions reinforce that group leaders are “trusted servants” who do not govern, helping to protect the fellowship from issues of prestige or power. They also stipulate that AA has no opinion on outside issues, preventing the organization from being drawn into public controversy.
Understanding the Meetings and Anonymity
The practical experience of AA occurs within its meetings, which are conducted by members who determine their own format. Meetings generally fall into two categories: Open and Closed. Open meetings are available to the public, including family, friends, and professionals interested in learning about the program.
Closed meetings, conversely, are reserved exclusively for those who identify as alcoholics or believe they have a drinking problem. This provides a confidential setting where members can share their experiences without concern about external judgment. Common meeting formats include speaker meetings, where one person shares their story, and discussion meetings, where members share on a chosen topic.
The principle of anonymity is integral to the entire fellowship, especially at the level of media and public relations. This tradition protects the identities of individual members, ensuring a safe environment for new and existing participants. It also serves to place the principles of the program before personalities, preventing any single member from becoming a spokesperson for the organization.
Membership Requirements and External Affiliations
The single requirement for membership in Alcoholics Anonymous is simply a desire to stop drinking. There are no age, education, or religious requirements to participate, and membership is entirely the choice of the individual. Joining is straightforward: a person simply attends a meeting and states they are a member.
AA maintains a strict policy of non-affiliation, meaning it is not allied with any sect, denomination, political body, or institution. This practice ensures that the group’s focus remains solely on its primary mission of recovery from alcoholism.
AA does not provide professional services such as detox, medical treatment, or formal counseling. While it cooperates with professionals and treatment centers, it avoids any affiliation or endorsement to prevent diverting attention from its core purpose.