Alcoholics Anonymous
is a worldwide fellowship of people who help each other maintain sobriety and who offer to share their recovery experience freely with others who may have a drinking problem. The program A.A. suggests consists basically of "Twelve Steps" designed for personal recovery from alcoholism.
How A.A. Works
A.A. can be described as a method of treating alcoholism in which the members are supportive of each other, sharing with each other a large body of similar experiences in suffering and recovering from Alcoholism.
The basic unit in A.A. is the local (neighborhood or city) group, which is autonomous except in matters affecting other A.A. groups or the Fellowship as a whole. No group has power over its members. Groups are usually democratic, served by short-term "steering committees" of members. Thus, no group has permanent leadership.
Need help with a drinking problem?
A.A. has a solution. That isn't an empty promise. A.A. has been helping alcoholics recover for more than 80 years. A.A.'s program of recovery is built on the simple foundation of one alcoholic sharing with another. If your drinking is out of control, A.A. can help.
About A.A. Meetings
Each group holds regular meetings at which members relate their experiences to each other —usually in relation to the "Twelve Steps" suggested for recovery, and "Twelve Traditions", suggested for relationships within the Fellowship and with the community. Some meetings are open meetings and some are closed. OPEN meetings are open to alcoholics and their families and to anyone interested in solving a personal drinking problem or helping someone else to solve such a problem. Only alcoholics or those who think they have a drinking problem may attend CLOSED meetings. Membership in Alcoholics Anonymous is available only to those with drinking problems. People with problems other than alcoholism are eligible for A.A. membership only if they have a drinking problem as well.
Alcoholics Anonymous has a singleness of purpose - to help other alcoholics stop drinking and to maintain their personal sobriety.