Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international fellowship where members share their experiences, strengths, and hopes to solve their common problem and recover from alcoholism. It is a self-supporting, non-professional, and apolitical organization that operates solely on the principle of mutual support. AA provides a structured path to recovery, relying on shared personal stories and a set of guiding principles to achieve and maintain long-term sobriety.
Understanding the Core Principles of AA
The philosophical foundation of the fellowship rests on the Twelve Steps, a sequence of suggested actions designed for personal recovery from alcoholism. This process begins with accepting powerlessness over alcohol and recognizing that life has become unmanageable. This admission is followed by a belief that a source of help greater than oneself can restore sanity. The individual then decides to turn their will and life over to this higher power, as they understand it.
The middle steps focus on a thorough, honest self-examination, requiring a searching and fearless moral inventory. This self-assessment leads to admitting the exact nature of wrongs to oneself, a higher power, and another human being. The process then moves toward taking responsibility for past actions, which involves becoming willing to make amends. Members then directly make amends to those harmed, except when doing so would injure them or others.
The final steps emphasize continuing personal inventory, promptly admitting when wrong, and seeking to improve conscious contact with a higher power through prayer or meditation. The culmination is the Twelfth Step, which involves having a spiritual awakening and then carrying the message of recovery to other alcoholics. This commitment to service is integral to maintaining one’s own sobriety. The entire program is outlined in the foundational text, Alcoholics Anonymous, often referred to as the “Big Book.”
Guiding the operation and unity of the AA groups are the Twelve Traditions, which act as guidelines for the fellowship’s public relations, finances, and overall structure. The Traditions ensure the groups remain focused on their primary purpose: to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. They govern the relationships between groups and the outside world, ensuring the organization avoids distraction. For example, the Traditions mandate that every AA group must be fully self-supporting and decline outside contributions to maintain its independence.
The Practical Structure of an AA Group
Participation in an AA group requires only a single prerequisite: a desire to stop drinking. There are no formal enrollment procedures, attendance fees, or dues; members contribute voluntarily to cover group expenses. Individuals become members simply by choosing to attend meetings.
The concept of anonymity is fundamental, creating a safe environment where members can share intimate details without fear of repercussions. This principle protects confidentiality, fostering trust and encouraging open communication. At the public level, anonymity is maintained by members who do not use the AA name in connection with their full names or faces in media. This ensures the focus remains on the program’s principles rather than the personalities of its members.
Meetings generally follow various formats, including open and closed sessions. Open meetings welcome anyone interested in the program, such as family, friends, and observers, and are often speaker-focused or educational. Closed meetings are reserved exclusively for those who desire to stop drinking, providing a private space for members to share their experience. Other common formats include discussion meetings and step study meetings, which focus on one of the Twelve Steps.
AA’s Position Relative to Professional Treatment
Alcoholics Anonymous is a spiritual fellowship built on peer support and is not a clinical treatment provider. It does not offer medical advice, detoxification, psychological counseling, or professional therapy. AA encourages individuals to seek appropriate professional care for medical and mental health issues.
The organization maintains a policy of non-affiliation, meaning it is not allied with any sect, denomination, political body, or institution. This neutrality ensures AA remains focused on its single purpose of helping alcoholics achieve sobriety. Many addiction treatment centers integrate AA principles into their programs and encourage participation as a means of aftercare. Research indicates that participation in both professional treatment and AA often leads to more sustained abstinence outcomes than either option alone.