AA: A resource for healthcare professionals

Publication approved by the General Service Conference. Alcoholics Anonymous^® are a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other in order to solve their common problem and help other alcoholics to recover.

• The only requirement for membership in AA is a desire to stop drinking. AA does not charge dues or fees; we support ourselves through our own contributions.
• AA is not associated with any sect, religious or political denomination, organization or establishment; it does not wish to engage in any controversy; it does not endorse or contest any cause.
• Our primary goal is to stay sober and to help other alcoholics become sober.

Copyright © by AA Grapevine, Inc. Translated and reproduced with permission.
Original title: AA as a Resource for the Health Care Professional
Copyright © 2018 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

Here is what members of AA declared in the Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous:

«"We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking. We know that a true alcoholic never regains that control. We have all, at some point, felt as though we were getting back on track; but these reprieves, usually short-lived, were followed by an even greater loss of control which eventually led to a pitiful and incomprehensible despair." (Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 34-35)

The explanation that seems most logical to most AA members is that alcoholism is a disease*, a progressive and incurable disease, but one whose course can be stopped, as with some other diseases. Following this line of reasoning, many AA members believe that the disease combines a physical sensitivity to alcohol and a mental obsession with drinking it, which, regardless of the consequences, cannot be stopped by willpower alone. "Doctors who know about alcoholism agree that it is impossible for an alcoholic to become a normal drinker again." (Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 35)

*L'’American Society of Addiction Medicine and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence They define alcoholism as follows: «Alcoholism is primarily a chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by a lack of control over alcohol, an obsession with the drug called alcohol, the use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and a distortion of thought, the most important of which is denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic.» (1992)

The alcoholic's resistance to help can be frustrating.

Because denial of the problem is symptomatic of alcoholism, alcoholics tend to be evasive when questioned about their drinking habits, and it is possible that healthcare professionals may not recognize alcoholism as a contributing factor to their symptoms. Most alcoholics will reject any suggestion that alcoholism is the cause and may also refuse the suggestion of Alcoholics Anonymous as a last resort.

Few healthcare professionals have experienced a rejection of their diagnosis. Very rarely have they been told, "I'm definitely not diabetic." On the other hand, when a healthcare professional diagnoses alcoholism, an alcoholic
He will often reply, "I don't drink that much," or "It's not that bad," or offer excuses to justify his drinking. Healthcare professionals can expect and anticipate this reaction.

Rationalization and denial are part of the disease of alcoholism. Initially, rejecting AA is part of the denial mechanism. AA members who have overcome denial and understood the danger of drinking alcohol are particularly well-suited to help others do the same.

Common objections regarding AA

«"It's too religious."»

In fact, the AA movement is not a religious program, but a spiritual association. It refers to a "Higher Power" and to "God, as we understand Him," but it is not necessary to believe in God; atheists and agnostics will find many like-minded individuals in AA. As stated in the Preamble (reproduced inside the cover of this booklet), "AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, or political party, organization, or institution..."«

«"I don't want to lay my soul bare in front of a crowd of people."»

Only those who wish to speak at AA meetings.

«"I don't want to end up with losers. It's too depressing."»

More precisely, AA members represent a profile of "winners," in that they have survived illness. Those who attend a sufficient number of meetings are certain to find people with whom they can identify.

«"I can't go there. Everyone there is sober and I'm not. I'd be too ashamed."»

The desire to stop drinking is the only requirement for becoming a member of AA. Members who still drink are encouraged to "persevere and come back." Anyone with a genuine desire to stop drinking is sincerely welcome at an AA meeting. Sober alcoholics will not judge someone who cannot stop drinking, since that is the reason they joined AA.

«"I don't want anyone to know I drink."»

Anonymity is the foundation of the AA program, and always has been. Traditionally, members never disclose their membership in the Fellowship in print, broadcast, or any other media. And no one has the right to break another member's anonymity, anywhere.

What healthcare professionals have learned; how they put this knowledge into practice

Many healthcare professionals have found effective ways to refer patients to Alcoholics Anonymous. One of them told us, «No one suffers more than the alcoholic. When you have made contact with an alcoholic and helped them recover, when you witness the incredible transformation of a suffering, vulnerable, sick (and dying) being into a vibrant, energetic, capable, and happy person, you will have had a rich, rewarding, and profound experience. The Alcoholics Anonymous movement is the most effective way to help an alcoholic stop drinking.»

Another doctor advises healthcare professionals to attend "open" AA meetings, as it is extremely difficult to confidently refer people to an organization one knows little about. This healthcare professional finds it helpful to have a list of available AA contacts to bring people to their first meeting. She suggests that professionals ask their patients which meetings they have attended, how many times they have gone, and whether they have found an AA sponsor, who will be a link to the Fellowship and will help the client follow a recovery program. Whether the alcoholic suffers from liver disease or depression, sobriety is the first step toward recovery. Wherever they live, there is almost certainly an AA meeting nearby to help them stay sober.

Alcoholics Anonymous and Alcoholism

From the beginning, members of Alcoholics Anonymous have considered alcoholism a disease. Alcoholics cannot control their drinking because their bodies and minds (emotions) are diseased. Most AA members have found that deficiencies of a spiritual nature also characterize their illness.

AA members have also found that effective recovery can only begin after making "one's own diagnosis"; this diagnosis is the recognition, by the alcoholic himself, of the First Step of AA: "We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol—that we had lost control of our lives."«

Members of Alcoholics Anonymous have also found that recovery requires abstinence from alcohol, and that long-term sobriety necessitates fundamental changes in one's relationships with oneself, with others, and with a Higher Power. According to the experience of AA members, an alcoholic can never again drink safely.

Members of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic; that is, no matter how long a person remains sober, if they drink again, they will experience the same reaction to alcohol as before their period of abstinence. Therefore, AA does not offer a cure, but rather a continuous path to recovery through the simple principle of abstaining from alcohol, one day at a time.

Researchers, healthcare professionals, and others concerned about alcoholism have a legitimate and natural reason to want to identify the causes of alcoholism. However, with regard to the Alcoholics Anonymous program, identifying causes, besides being considered irrelevant, may also be a potential distraction from directly engaging in the program of abstinence and recovery.

The first meeting of AA

When healthcare professionals recommend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), neither they nor the alcoholic should judge its effectiveness based on just one or two meetings, but rather give the AA Movement a fair chance. It is important in this process to find a sponsor, even a temporary one. It is desirable for a member to accompany the person to their first AA meeting, but it is not essential. Most newcomers have many questions. The sponsor can answer these questions and reassure them by saying that others have experienced the same reluctance and fear when taking their first steps toward recovery.

Sharing experiences is the only service Alcoholics Anonymous offers. Since the desire to stop drinking is the only requirement for membership, all members are equal. What's important is finding the help you need, and most of the time, healthcare professionals find that AA members are not only willing but eager to introduce newcomers to the AA program.

Healthcare professionals who work closely with Alcoholics Anonymous in their community are ideally positioned to provide leadership, education, and support in an area that will yield significant benefits in terms of the quality of care and recovery rates for alcoholics. We invite healthcare professionals to attend an open meeting and see firsthand what AA offers to alcoholics.

Uniqueness of purpose and problems other than alcoholism

Some professionals define alcoholism and drug addiction as "substance abuse" or "chemical dependence." As a result, non-alcoholics are sometimes referred to AA and encouraged to attend AA meetings. Anyone can attend open AA meetings as an observer, but only those with a drinking problem can attend closed AA meetings.

How to get in touch with AA

You can find Alcoholics Anonymous online at aa.org, and in most phone books listed as "Alcoholics Anonymous." In addition, online meetings are available; members in the armed forces and other sectors participate when they are in remote locations where meetings are not held. Some healthcare professionals ask the person they are referring to call the AA phone number themselves while still in their office, thus providing an immediate opportunity to seek help. Some simply include AA in their treatment plan. Members of the Local Professional Cooperation Committee can be very helpful to healthcare professionals. Members of the Local Treatment Center Committee can also be of assistance if you have a client in a treatment center.

Many local AA service committees will, upon request, give informal talks at your organization. These sessions can be tailored to your needs. A typical agenda might include one or more films produced by AA, and a talk by one or more AA members on "What AA Is and Is Not." You can find the Alcoholics Anonymous phone number in your local phone book or newspaper.

The twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous

THE TWELVE STEPS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

1. We admitted that we were powerless against alcohol, that we had lost control of our lives. 
2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him 
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. 
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. 
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. 
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. 
9. We have made direct amends to these people wherever possible, except where doing so would cause harm to them or others.
10. We continued our personal inventory and promptly admitted our mistakes as soon as we realized them.
11. We have sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we conceive Him, asking Him only to know His will for us and to give us the strength to carry it out.
12. Having experienced a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we then tried to convey this message to other alcoholics and to put these principles into practice in all areas of our lives.

The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous

THE TWELVE TRADITIONS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on AA unity. 
2. In the pursuit of our common goal, there is only one ultimate authority: a God of love as He can manifest in our collective consciousness. Our leaders are merely trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. 
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole. 
5. Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose. 
7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. 
8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers. 
9. As a Fellowship, Alcoholics Anonymous should never have a formal structure, but we can form boards or service committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Alcoholics Anonymous does not express opinions on outside issues; therefore, the name AA should never be involved in public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Many healthcare professionals have found the following documentation helpful in introducing AA to their clients.

Brochures:

• Here is AA (An introduction to the AA recovery program.)
• Frequently Asked Questions about AA (Answers to specific questions about AA.)
• Is AA right for me? (Twelve illustrated questions to help overcome denial; easy to read.)
• Is AA right for you? (Twelve questions to help overcome denial.)
• Too young? (Comic strip testimonies from six young people; twelve questions to help overcome denial.)
• A newcomer wants to know (Questions and answers to help the newcomer.)
• The AA Member's Experience with Medication and Drugs (Experiences of AA Members with Medication and Other Drugs.)
• And now, what am I going to do? (For people leaving a treatment or detention center; this discusses the help offered by AA from "outside.")
• A short, concise guide to AA (General information about AA and an explanation of the program in simple language.)
• AA for the older alcoholic — it's never too late
• Do you think you're different?
• The women of AA
• LGBTQ alcoholics in AA
• AA and the Native Americans of North America
• The word "God": Atheist and agnostic members of AA
• Alcoholics Anonymous for alcoholics with mental illness — and those who sponsor them
• Access to AA: Members share how they overcame obstacles

Videos:

• Alcoholics Anonymous: A Hope (What the AA movement is and is not, its primary purpose, sponsorship, the home group, the Steps and Traditions, and basic tools for recovery. 15 minutes.)
• AA Videos for Youth (Members of AA, who became sober in their teens and early twenties, recount their experiences in AA.)
• A new freedom (Filmed in correctional facilities in the U.S. and Canada, this 30-minute video features a diverse group of AA members who are incarcerated and remain sober.)
• At Alcoholics Anonymous (It describes alcoholics, recovery in AA, daily life, AA meetings and other gatherings. 28 minutes.)

You can receive an order form and catalog of Conference-approved AA publications, videos, and other service materials by contacting the Alcoholics Anonymous General Service Office, Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163 or visit aa.org.

The videos above can also be viewed on our website.

For more information, visit www.aa.org
(Information for Professionals) or contact
the person in charge of collaboration with professional circles
at the General Services Office:
cpc@aa.org or 212-870-3400.

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