AA -- Alcoholics Anonymous

AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)

The disease of alcoholism touches everyone, in one way or another. You are not alone. You either deal with it yourself, or in your family, or you know somebody who has it. There is help and support available, and no organization has been more influential in treating the disease than AA, the granddaddy of them all.

“Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. They are not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.”

It's not a religion

Even though the treatment is not about religion and does not affiliate or endorse any group, its concepts in the 12-Step process resonate with people of faith, as they talk of a very real relationship with God, as they understand him.

Primarily a disease of the spirit

Alcoholism is disease of the spirit. We have “lost control.” The disease has taken control of our lives. We begin innocently, we figure “we can take it or leave it” and many people can, but some can’t. If you are going to be healed, your spirit must be healed. You can try to overcome this on your own. Some can do it, many can’t.

Healing of our spirit is offered as a gift from a “power greater than ourselves.” When you are sick in the mind you need someone or something from the outside to help. As you face life, you can do it solo, without help from the outside. Or you can face it together with your higher powers as your friend. Do you want to go solo or have a partnership?

This program has been an effective process for fighting and managing the disease of Alcoholism since the 1930’s, and through the years over 250 self-help groups have used its concepts and methodologies.

We encourage you to visit their web site. A PDF version of the “Big Book” is available there, so you can learn about the journey and gain an appreciation for why Alcoholics Anonymous has been such a blessing to alcoholics and their families.

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