A Newcomers (Survival) Guide to Alcoholics Anonymous

Firstly …....DON'T PANIC! Most AA meetings are still safe to be around, and most AA members only want to help you.... because helping you helps them as well. So everyone's a winner! BUT.... and there's always a BUT.....there are people associated with AA who aren't very well, and have quite a different agenda. This article is intended to help you spot these pitfalls and avoid them. Otherwise enjoy the journey!

Membership of AA

You are a member of AA when you say you are. You don't have to prove to anyone that you have a desire to stop drinking - or that you “qualify” for membership in any way - or present a doctor's certificate - or swear an affidavit or even fill in a form. You decide …. end of! Similarly if you don't want to be a member of AA any more? Guess what! It's your choice. If you say you're not a member of AA then you're not a member of AA. Couldn't be simpler could it!

Meetings

You can attend any AA meeting you like (anywhere in the world) and go to as few or as many as you wish – or even none at all. It's your choice and no one else's. If a group places ANY restriction on you attending a (closed) meeting (other than the fact that you meet the self-determined membership requirement) then it's NOT AN AA MEETING.

Speaking (“sharing”) at AA meetings

Any member of AA can speak at an AA meeting (but one at a time – otherwise it's gets a bit messy!). No one can censor what you say (other than according to the criminal law of the country). You can speak if you're one hour sober or a lifetime off the booze. That's your choice – and no one else's! There are no qualifications for “sharing” eg. you do not need to have 'done' the programme, reached a certain step, have a sponsor etc in order to talk about your experiences. And of course if you don't want to say a word you don't have to. That's your business.

Money

You can make a contribution to help pay for the expenses of running the meeting and maybe towards other costs incurred by AA in “carrying the message”. e.g. general service office, telephone service etc. Or then again maybe you don't feel like giving – in which case you don't have to. That's your choice. But at least don't take any money OUT of the pot!

Service

You can help out at meetings right from the start. But if you don't want to and would rather just sit and listen (and share maybe) then you can do that as well. Remember – that is YOUR choice! And no one else's.

The programme

Generally this refers to Alcoholics Anonymous “suggested” 12 Step programme. “Suggested” means advised. You may elect to follow this advice. On the other hand you may not. Either way this is your choice and …. NO ONE ELSE'S!

Experts

In AA there are no 'experts', 'authorities' or 'bosses'. There are, however, people who think they are! Study guides, work sheets etc are entirely dispensable (including ours!) and none are provided by AA. Circuit speakers, “personalities” (for want of a better word) and gurus are merely the modern day equivalent of 'snake oil purveyors'. If what they promise sounds too good to be true … guess what! It probably is. Remember! While they're busy lecturing the rest of us are just getting on with our lives. Beware of the slick sales pitch because that's precisely what it is! All that glitters is not gold! Or maybe it's just fool's gold! So why buy it!

Sponsorship (see here for some ideas on the subject)

It isn't essential or even necessary for recovery, and no sponsorship is certainly better than bad sponsorship – and there's plenty of that around. If you've stopped drinking and you're getting some insight into your alcohol problem (and some possible solutions) then you're ALREADY ON THE PROGRAMME... and you don't need confirmation from anybody else as to whether you are or you aren't! Don't be in a rush. You've got your whole life to get well and it's better to lay sure foundations now than rush ahead only to have to retrace your steps later. Again if anyone claims they can show you the way to overnight success then remember what we said about it sounding too good to be true. It is!

If you do decide you want a sponsor (and that's your choice not theirs) then here are some things to look out for:

If someone offers to sponsor you (temporary or otherwise) they may have good intentions … or then again they may be control freaks looking for another victim. If in doubt DON'T take up the offer. Take your time and when you have got to know someone (and are confident they are NOT A CONTROL FREAK) then YOU MAY choose to ask them. Take the initiative and remain in control.

Don't give your phone number out to anyone who asks. They may offer their number to you – that's up to them. Again wait until you've got to know somebody before handing over this information. You have the right to privacy.

If, having got a sponsor, you find that they are trying to control any aspect of your life eg. relationships, medical treatment (including medication), therapy (eg. counselling), finances, relationships (sexual or otherwise), employment, dress code (No! We're not kidding here!), which meetings you attend, what time you contact them etc then you have by definition lumbered yourself with a control freak. This is not sponsorship. This is someone playing God! Again … DON'T PANIC – unlumber yourself forthwith... and then it's back to the drawing board! Don't blame yourself for the decision. Put it down to experience and move on.

The same guidelines apply with groups. Most AA meetings are run by members who are there simply to help. They will share their experience, strength and hope with you but the rest is your responsibility. But some meetings are run by groups of people (we call them cults) who want to run your life. Don't let them. Again don't be fooled by appearances. Some of these operations are quite slick and appear impressive. But again … look out for fool's gold. The fake stuff gleams just as prettily but just try and cash it in!

REMEMBER:–

You DON'T have to put up with bullying! You're worth more than that

You DON'T need your life run for you by someone else. That's YOUR responsibility

You have the RIGHT to THINK FOR YOURSELF. Don't let anyone try and undermine that

You have the RIGHT to FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION – don't let anyone try and stifle that

Your HIGHER POWER is your choice – no one else's

It's YOUR PROGRAMME OF RECOVERY that counts! Not theirs!

And finally - we did not escape the tyranny of alcoholism simply to be subjugated by another alcoholic. Freedom is the magic word!

Have fun! (and that IS a suggestion!)

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Newcomers' Pack PLUS

aacultwatch's very own Newcomers' Pack Plus. Read this and you'll be well 'inoculated' against the cult!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

A Newcomers (Survival) Guide to Alcoholics Anonymous

Firstly …....DON'T PANIC! Most AA meetings are still safe to be around, and most AA members only want to help you.... because helping you helps them as well. So everyone's a winner! BUT.... and there's always a BUT.....there are people associated with AA who aren't very well, and have quite a different agenda. This article is intended to help you spot these pitfalls and avoid them. Otherwise enjoy the journey!

Membership of AA

You are a member of AA when you say you are. You don't have to prove to anyone that you have a desire to stop drinking - or that you “qualify” for membership in any way - or present a doctor's certificate - or swear an affidavit or even fill in a form. You decide …. end of! Similarly if you don't want to be a member of AA any more? Guess what! It's your choice. If you say you're not a member of AA then you're not a member of AA. Couldn't be simpler could it!

Meetings

You can attend any AA meeting you like (anywhere in the world) and go to as few or as many as you wish – or even none at all. It's your choice and no one else's. If a group places ANY restriction on you attending a (closed) meeting (other than the fact that you meet the self-determined membership requirement) then it's NOT AN AA MEETING.

Speaking (“sharing”) at AA meetings

Any member of AA can speak at an AA meeting (but one at a time – otherwise it's gets a bit messy!). No one can censor what you say (other than according to the criminal law of the country). You can speak if you're one hour sober or a lifetime off the booze. That's your choice – and no one else's! There are no qualifications for “sharing” eg. you do not need to have 'done' the programme, reached a certain step, have a sponsor etc in order to talk about your experiences. And of course if you don't want to say a word you don't have to. That's your business.

Money

You can make a contribution to help pay for the expenses of running the meeting and maybe towards other costs incurred by AA in “carrying the message”. e.g. general service office, telephone service etc. Or then again maybe you don't feel like giving – in which case you don't have to. That's your choice. But at least don't take any money OUT of the pot!

Service

You can help out at meetings right from the start. But if you don't want to and would rather just sit and listen (and share maybe) then you can do that as well. Remember – that is YOUR choice! And no one else's.

The programme

Generally this refers to Alcoholics Anonymous “suggested” 12 Step programme. “Suggested” means advised. You may elect to follow this advice. On the other hand you may not. Either way this is your choice and …. NO ONE ELSE'S!

Experts

In AA there are no 'experts', 'authorities' or 'bosses'. There are, however, people who think they are! Study guides, work sheets etc are entirely dispensable (including ours!) and none are provided by AA. Circuit speakers, “personalities” (for want of a better word) and gurus are merely the modern day equivalent of 'snake oil purveyors'. If what they promise sounds too good to be true … guess what! It probably is. Remember! While they're busy lecturing the rest of us are just getting on with our lives. Beware of the slick sales pitch because that's precisely what it is! All that glitters is not gold! Or maybe it's just fool's gold! So why buy it!

Sponsorship (see here for some ideas on the subject)

It isn't essential or even necessary for recovery, and no sponsorship is certainly better than bad sponsorship – and there's plenty of that around. If you've stopped drinking and you're getting some insight into your alcohol problem (and some possible solutions) then you're ALREADY ON THE PROGRAMME... and you don't need confirmation from anybody else as to whether you are or you aren't! Don't be in a rush. You've got your whole life to get well and it's better to lay sure foundations now than rush ahead only to have to retrace your steps later. Again if anyone claims they can show you the way to overnight success then remember what we said about it sounding too good to be true. It is!

If you do decide you want a sponsor (and that's your choice not theirs) then here are some things to look out for:

If someone offers to sponsor you (temporary or otherwise) they may have good intentions … or then again they may be control freaks looking for another victim. If in doubt DON'T take up the offer. Take your time and when you have got to know someone (and are confident they are NOT A CONTROL FREAK) then YOU MAY choose to ask them. Take the initiative and remain in control.

Don't give your phone number out to anyone who asks. They may offer their number to you – that's up to them. Again wait until you've got to know somebody before handing over this information. You have the right to privacy.

If, having got a sponsor, you find that they are trying to control any aspect of your life eg. relationships, medical treatment (including medication), therapy (eg. counselling), finances, relationships (sexual or otherwise), employment, dress code (No! We're not kidding here!), which meetings you attend, what time you contact them etc then you have by definition lumbered yourself with a control freak. This is not sponsorship. This is someone playing God! Again … DON'T PANIC – unlumber yourself forthwith... and then it's back to the drawing board! Don't blame yourself for the decision. Put it down to experience and move on.

The same guidelines apply with groups. Most AA meetings are run by members who are there simply to help. They will share their experience, strength and hope with you but the rest is your responsibility. But some meetings are run by groups of people (we call them cults) who want to run your life. Don't let them. Again don't be fooled by appearances. Some of these operations are quite slick and appear impressive. But again … look out for fool's gold. The fake stuff gleams just as prettily but just try and cash it in!

REMEMBER:–

You DON'T have to put up with bullying! You're worth more than that

You DON'T need your life run for you by someone else. That's YOUR responsibility

You have the RIGHT to THINK FOR YOURSELF. Don't let anyone try and undermine that

You have the RIGHT to FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION – don't let anyone try and stifle that

Your HIGHER POWER is your choice – no one else's

It's YOUR PROGRAMME OF RECOVERY that counts! Not theirs!

And finally - we did not escape the tyranny of alcoholism simply to be subjugated by another alcoholic. Freedom is the magic word!

Have fun! (and that IS a suggestion!)

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Newcomers Pack PLUS

Introducing aacultwatch's very own newcomers pack …. PLUS! Contains all the usual stuff plus the AA pamphlets on sponsorship and medication PLUS our very own guide to sidestepping those pesky little 'pointy headed' ones: the cult control freaks and sundry other nutters!

Click here for dah file

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

How it Works - and How it Does NOT Work!

Regarding how I was treated as a newcomer. Of course I speak only for myself and my own experience. This takes me back to February 1984 in North Middlesex.

WHAT HAPPENED

Someone from the fellowship met me not far from a meeting venue and spoke to me for a while. He then took me to my first meeting. This was a small meeting of about 8 to 10 people. Bog standard AA as I have come to know it. I was introduced to members at that meeting and given a cup of tea and a newcomers pack. I was also given a "Where to Find" and some phone numbers. I was told to relax and try to listen for the similarities and not the differences. The part of the big book in chapter 5 about the actor trying to fit the scenery/lights etc to his satisfaction was read out. The chair was done by the person who had met me and taken me to the meeting.

People were friendly without being over bearing. There was no coercion, rather I sensed a genuine feeling of concern for my welfare. I did not feel threatened. I was told I was the most important person in the room. ( Well, I knew that anyway ! )

After the meeting, I was introduced to a man who asked me if I would like to go to another meeting the next day and he would pick me up in his car and take me there. I agreed. I was taken to several meetings over a period of a few weeks by this person. At that time, my circumstances were that I was homeless and destitute - a so-called "low bottom" case.

It was discerned that I may need medical help, and 2 female AA members arranged to meet me and took me to see a doctor. This doctor referred me to a local hospital for detox, which was sorely needed in my case. In hospital I was visited by AA members and received many "get well" cards from them. I was touched by this. I had thought I had no friends. Clearly I was mistaken. I still have these cards today - 26 years later - I have kept them as tokens of fellowship.

Once my head and body had cleared of alcohol, I returned to meetings and was able to absorb the message of recovery at my own pace. I was never impressed by those who preached and lectured, but rather I was attracted to those who offered friendship and fellowship, and who seemed to be working the program rather than just preaching or talking about it. I got to the stage of recovery where I was able to make my own decisions regarding who I wanted as a sponsor and how I wanted to work the steps. This took some time.

WHAT DID NOT HAPPEN

I was not given a leaflet or a prompt card concocted by a personality doing their own thing in AA without any consultation with the rest of AA, and disregarding the consequences to the fellowship as a whole. I was not told that only certain groups had the "correct" message, or the "best" message. I was not told that the rest (mainstream) of AA was in some way defective or inferior. No part of AA was spoken about in a belittling or contemptuous way. I was not given misinformation and lies about the comparative "success rates" of AA.

I was not coerced into doing "daily suggestions" or taking the steps immediately, or assigned a sponsor without a careful prior consideration of the matter on my part. I was given some general suggestions regarding the serenity prayer, attending regular meetings and contact with AA members, but I was allowed to make my own mind up about what I was able to do, and when I was able to do it. I did not encounter any meeting where everyone "sang from the same hymn sheet" (a nonsense I sometimes hear in meetings today - AA is a fellowship of the spirit, not Sunday "Songs Of Praise" )

There seemed always to be a diversity of experience strength and hope in the early meetings I attended. This allowed me to make choices - I was able to discern for myself what kind of sobriety I wanted and what I didn't want.

I was not told that seeking out the advice of doctors or therapists was "wrong" or "not on the program" etc. In fact I was very much encouraged to take "outside help" where necessary. I was rightly guided to a doctor and encouraged to follow his advice and referral. (This truly reflects the experience and practice of the founder members who took a lot of "outside" help and advice. Read the Big Book and "Pass it On " for further details on this.)

I was not told to "jump for joy" or "get on my knees" or perform any other body contortions. Nor was I told I should feel happy all the time, or what I should believe regarding a higher power, or how many times I should pray in a day etc. Nor was I given false assurances about never having a bad day, or that life would always be a bowl of cherries etc.

I was not given a fixed time to ring a sponsor, outside which they would slam the phone down and refuse to talk to me. People I experienced practised compassion and the AA responsibility card - "When anyone anywhere reaches out for help I want the hand of AA to be there... " (Note: ANYone, ANYwhere.. and the hand of AA. No mention of "exactly 7am only" or the "hand of a special cult genius with a superiority complex")

I could say more, but I will leave it at this for now. I think you get the picture

Regarding meetings where newcomers are ignored. Of course, this is to be regretted whenever or wherever it occurs. I cannot control what others do, or do not do. Only what I do. My personal recovery is insured by working with others. If I don't do that I risk a relapse. In general, if a meeting doesn't practice the Traditions, and help or reach out to the newcomer, that meeting will wither and die. Simple. In my experience cult groups are no exception to this phenomenon. I have seen several cult group meetings fade and die over the years. For example, a "Vision" style step meeting in Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith on Friday night wilted some years ago. Also a Visionary meeting in Edgeware on Monday night suffered the same fate. Mainstream meetings in those areas, however, are still going strong. Sometimes newcomers don't want to be swamped by chirpy young men in dress suits pushing DIY prompt cards, and the promise of Shangri-La if only you do everything they dictate without question. Many newcomers prefer a quieter, simpler, and more discreet approach. Not all alcoholics want to be the centre of attention. Although I admit that I am not one of that particular category! I'm the kind of alcoholic who, if I am sat in a meeting and someone walks in and says "Hi" to everyone, I automatically feel that I have been ignored, even though I haven't been. They should have said "Hi everyone and hi T.S." Identify?

Happy New Year ! Love and Light to you in 2011. :) T.S.

Click here to share your experience in our forum.

(our usual thanks to this member for their contribution)

Cheers

The Fellas

Another survivor of the Visions' cult

“Hello Fellowship Members,

I was directed to your page erroneously while I was searching for the GSO email address at York, I was astounded when I found the page I was on was about "A Vision for You" AA meeting at St. Peters Crypt in Victoria, London [a later email indicated that the correspondent was referring to the Vision For You group, St Peters, Eaton Square (Wednesday) – see Trans 1 under the Transcriptions/Scans section of site for more information on this cult group].

I had some personal experience of this particular group around 2003/4, Thankfully I had been to plenty of different AA and NA meetings to recognise that something was not right with these groups , and I wish today that I spoken my mind with some of the unfortunate newcomers who attended these meetings. (I never noticed till the end of the article that the letters were written in 2001).

I remember the 1st time I attended, everyone seemed so enthusiastic, but as I took my seat I noticed that all the women were sitting in one area, and as it became clearer, certain 'members' were seated in strategic positions. Immediately after that 1st meeting I was offered the help of a 'temporary sponsor', I was also given a card which said I had to get 2 newcomers numbers at every meeting I went to, there were a few other "suggestions" which looked more like orders to me. I was then asked what meetings I attended, I said "this one and that one" and was told they were 'unhealthy' meetings and I should go to this, this and that meeting. I was also told that I couldn't share till I had taken Step 5, and that I couldn't speak to a member of the opposite sex until I had completed Step 9. This went on for about 6 months or so, every morning I would get a call from my sponsor, or someone else who had taken my number at the previous nights meeting, often as early as 7.30 am. The straw that finally broke my connection with them came when reluctantly I answered the phone at 7.30 [am] and was asked "what is the 1st thing you do each morning?" I said "I go to the Toilet", the other party said , "No, you must pray, that must be the 1st thing you do in the morning". I had visions of trying to pray or meditate while needing to empty my bladder took prime position in the list of things to do, and I realised how ridiculous and dangerous these people were.

I still see them from time to time, they have a definite agenda, though I'm not sure what it is apart from running someone else's life, and controlling what they do. They also used to have a annual trip to Plymouth where they would sleep on other members floors, and do multiple meetings. Some of the relative 'newcomers' that I had known came back, but they had a look of absolute fear in their eye's (that might be the unmanageability) and I was glad I hadn't succumbed to the pressure almost salesman like ways they would pressure people into doing certain things.

They are still going strong, and like shapeshifters they can appear anywhere, and appear to give a really strong AA message, but I feel bad for the newcomers, the people on psychiatric medicine who are encouraged to detox as soon as possible, I feel I have been led to this website for a reason, just not sure what if anything it is yet, but I see these self serving creeps as the worst type of people in A.A. They have no mercy, and they are a cult, almost of satanic standards, very OCD as well.

That's my say for now.

J”

Over to you

The Fellas

(our usual thanks to this AA member for their contribution to our campaign to remove this pernicious corruption from the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous)

"Primary Purpose" and "Back to Basics" groups and meetings

The following meetings (GB) are listed on various "Primary Purpose/Back to Basics" directories (prominent amongst which is the Dallas Primary Purpose movement). The directories themselves are accessed via websites (some identifying themselves as being associated with Alcoholics Anonymous, others not so). These sites carry quite explicit, misleading and unproven information on AA and on AA recovery rates (and this to AA's detriment). This has have been brought to their attention by aacultwatch (together with evidence to the contrary - see following links: AA recovery rates; Primary Purpose - so far we have received no response). The inclusions of such separate directories are contrary to AA traditions and moreover a clear breach of one of AA's three legacies ie unity. We consider these groups (and the groups included in their directories) as being divisive, dishonest, and quite disingenuous, and moreover so far removed from the guiding principles of AA as to no longer constitute genuine AA groups. We are quite aware that some groups which propagate this misleading propaganda do not use either of the above titles in their group names. Equally however there are those that do utilise these denominations but which are in no way associated with this perversion of AA; this question must be left finally to each individual to make the appropriate judgement. However we would advise newcomers (and those who are in contact with newcomers) to be aware that groups which bear such titles (as well as those that use the terms "Big Book Study group", "Newcomers" or "Beginners" meetings, “Road to Recovery” - but bearing in mind the above caveat) should be approached with some caution. The profiles of these cult groups have been covered in some detail on our website.

England

Primary Purpose Big Book Study Group
Beckenham, Kent
Wednesday 19:15 hours
Downham Way Family Church

Line by Line Big Book Study Group
Brighton
East Sussex
The Crypt
St. George's Church
St. George's Road
Thursday 6:30 – 7:30 pm

Primary Purpose Group
Brighton, UK
Monday 7.30pm Millview Hospital

The Coleshill Primary Purpose Group
Coleshill near Birmingham
Sacred Heart Church
Wednesday 8:00 PM

The Halifax Primary Purpose Group
Halifax, West Yorkshire
The Ebenezer Centre
St. James Road

Maldon Big Book Study Group
Maldon, Essex

Eccles Big Book Study Group
Eccles, Manchester UK
Tuesday at 8:00 PM
Friends Meeting House
The Polygon, off Wellington Road
Eccles, Salford

Primary Purpose Big Book Study Meeting
259 Pitsmoor Road
Sheffield,
Mondays 7pm - 8.30pm

Southsea, Portsmouth
Monday
7:00-8:00 pm Back To Basics Meeting
St Simon's Church
Waverley road,
Southsea, Portsmouth

Southport Tuesday
8:00 pm-9:00pm. Back To Basics Meeting
Quakers Meeting Rooms
Court Road
Southport

Barnoldswick, Lancashire Tuesday
7:30-8:30 p.m. Back To Basics Meeting
Holy Trinity Church,
Skipton Road,
Barnoldswick

Women's Primary Purpose Group (Enfield)
Enfield, Middx
St Andrew's Parish Hall, Room 3, Silver Street
Tuesdays 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Enfield Primary Purpose Big Book Study
Enfield, Middx
Convent of the Holy Family
London Road
Saturdays 7:00pm - 8:00pm

AA Primary Purpose Big Book Study Group
Perranuthnoe, Cornwall
Wednesday 7.30-9.00pm
Perranuthnoe Church Hall

Purley There Is A Solution Big Book Study Group
Purley – South London & Surrey
Purley Reform Church
Brighton Road
Mondays 8:00 PM

Sunday Night Big Book Study Group
Stratford on Avon
Mulberry Street
Sunday - 7:30 – 9:00 PM

Toddington Primary Purpose
Toddington
Saturday 7:00 PM

Scotland

Aberdeen Big Book Workshop
Aberdeen
Thursday 7.30 - 9pm
St Peters Roman Catholic Church
Castlegate

Aberdeen
Wednesday
8:00-9:30 pm Back To Basics Meeting
St Marks Church
Rosemount Viaduct

Big Book Study Meeting
Edinburgh
Monday 8pm,
Apostolic Church Hall
New Street, Musselburgh

Priesthill Big Book Study,
Priesthill Community Hall
Priesthill Road
Pollok
Glasgow

Big Book Study Meeting
Edinburgh
Monday 8pm,
Apostolic Church Hall
New Street, Musselburgh

Motherwell Primary Purpose Group
Motherwell
The Baptist Church
Windmill Road
Monday night 8pm

Big Book Study
Dundee
Lochee West
Monday night 8pm

Wales

Johnston Primary Purpose Big Book Study
Johnston
Pembrokeshire
at "The Oasis”
Near Johnston Baptist Church
Tuesday evenings 8.00pm to 9.30pm

For people new to AA

A little while ago someone suggested to us that we produce a synopsis of what this site is all about. So here goes....

First we refer you to the "About Us" page of the site - that pretty well sums up what our aim is. But since our efforts are increasingly directed towards helping to ensure newcomers to AA are not misled about either the Fellowship or the programme, it makes sense that they be as well informed as possible. And so to that end...

Firstly - the reliable sources of information:

The first online resource available to anyone new to AA is the official website (Great Britain):

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/

Note: there is NO other official website for the Fellowship in Great Britain.

Apart from all the useful (and non-controversial) information made available here (eg. listing of conference approved literature including the AA booklet on sponsorship – also available as a download from the Links section of this site - meetings, general stats etc) there is an online version of the book Alcoholic Anonymous (4th ed). We draw your attention to this book specifically because it is described as the "basic text of our Society". It contains a detailed description of the 12 Step Recovery Programme together with a listing (in both short and long forms) of the guiding principles of our Fellowship - the 12 Traditions. In our view anyone with a thorough grasp of its contents will gain a good understanding of how to stay sober, and, furthermore, how to relate to other members of AA. This publication (together with other conference approved works) forms the basis upon which ANYONE may recover if they wish to use the method described.

And now the unreliable sources of information:

Unfortunately there has developed within AA a movement which we describe as a "cult" those members represent an extremist and dogmatic tendency, and who advocate both a programme of recovery and a form of fellowship, which bear little resemblance to anything contained either in the above text, or the principles contained within the Traditions.

These extremist groups and members have sought through a variety of means to propagate a message which cannot be reconciled with these guidelines. Their methods include the introduction of literature (pamphlets, books, worksheets, websites etc) which purport to represent the AA programme but which diverge widely from its principles. These misrepresentations vary from - shall we say - an 'over-creative' interpretation of AA literature to downright lies. This warped perspective had led, amongst other abuses, to discrimination against dual diagnosis members (see below), those who are prescribed medication as a means of managing their co-existing psychological problems (however these may manifest), on the ground that such people will be “unable to recover” whilst they are still using these prescribed drugs. There is evidence, too, that newcomers are being put under pressure to discontinue other therapies such as counselling, this also being regarded as some kind of “obstacle” to recovery. One of the main mechanisms by which these “suggestions” are conveyed is via sponsorship, a function which has become devalued in the hands of cult members, shifting from a form of service determined purely by the principle of “enlightened altruism” to that of a manipulative and abusive power relationship (or even its mildest manifestation - co-dependency). We refer you to the chapter “Working with Others” in the book Alcoholics Anonymous as a guide to how AA members should relate to someone new to the Fellowship, and how they might introduce them to the recovery programme

The rationale for this authoritarian perspective is founded upon assertions (usually unsubstantiated) that AA has "lost its way", the AA message has become "diluted", and that this is reflected in falling recovery rates, and a retardation in the growth of AA membership. A number of "explanations" are advanced in support of these views. These are variously:

1) that AA has strayed from its fundamental principles (here reference is frequently made to the Oxford Group (previously known as "a First Century Christian Fellowship") - a movement set up in 1921 and attended by some of those who later came to form AA. The 12 Step programme is, in part, derived from some of the principles proposed by this Christian movement. Note: according to AA traditions we are not allied with any outside organisations, which would include such religious institutions, past and present.

2) that recovery rates have fallen since the early days of the Fellowship, and this is a direct consequence of a “diluted” AA message. Here reference is usually made to that section (misquoted) of the Foreword to the Second Edition of the book "Alcoholics Anonymous":

"50% got sober at once and remained that way; 25% sobered up after some relapses, and among the remainder, those who stayed on with A.A. showed improvement."

From this it would appear that a 75% recovery rate was the norm at the time, and the cult then goes on to contrast this with the alleged extant low recovery rates (again usually misquoted or misinterpreted) as a support for their argument. However, they usually omit (and we believe quite deliberately) a small but key qualification to these figures, a short phrase which precedes the above quote viz. "Of alcoholics who came to A.A. and really tried,.....". From this it is quite clear that the above percentages refer only to those who "really tried...", and not to every single person who ever came to AA. And so, for the sake of argument, if one were to estimate that only 20 per cent of those who attended AA fell into the "really tried" category (however one might define "really tried" - a problematic area in itself) then this would mean that the 75% rate would apply only to this subset of 20% ie. 15% of the total population. (We refer you here for a more detailed analysis of recovery rates). From this study we can discern no evidence that recovery rates have fallen over time and therefore their argument fails.

3) that the AA message has become "diluted" because more AA members come into the Fellowship via treatment centres and therefore AA meetings have turned into "group therapy" sessions rather than occasions where the AA message is communicated. We refer you to the AA preamble which is generally read out at the beginning of any AA meeting (if something else is read out at the commencement of the meeting then perhaps you're not in an AA meeting). This starts as follows:

"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."

This would seem to be a fairly unambiguous statement as to the purpose of AA, and, therefore, the goal of any meeting which uses this preamble. It does not, however, dictate how this message should be carried ie. style, content, format, with or without artistic licence etc - this is left to the discretion of those who attend the meeting. It is, however, the responsibility of those who have found a solution to present this to those who have not as yet found it, but again the fashion in which this takes place is very much up to the individual. Some guidance on this is given in the book 'Alcoholics Anonymous', in the chapter "Working with Others". We leave it to you to read this section if you wish, and draw whatever conclusions you will. None of these suggestions, however, includes a dogmatic approach, or assigns to any member of AA the right to direct, control, threaten, manipulate, or otherwise abuse any other member of AA - “no lectures to be endured” etc.

4) that attendees at AA meetings might not be “alcoholic” but rather "problem drinkers", "alcohol abusers", "alcohol misusers" etc. and therefore they do not need to apply the principles of recovery so rigorously because they do not face the same consequences as "real alcoholics", and therefore their message of recovery does not carry the same weight. This may well be the case but since one of the more significant factors which stands in the way of recovery is that of denial it is probably better that AA is open to anyone who thinks they might have a drink problem rather than seek to pre-screen those who do not neatly fit the "profile". There are, moreover, problems consequent upon such a policy ie. who decides who is an alcoholic? We prefer the current approach - self diagnosis.

5) that the AA message has become "garbled" because there are more people joining AA nowadays who are dual addicted - in other words, they may introduce matters relating to addictions other than alcoholism to the content of the meeting. However, if they have a “desire to stop drinking" they are eligible for membership, and this solely upon the basis of a self diagnosis. Again we refer you to the preamble, which clearly states the purpose of AA, and which we repeat, is read out at the beginning of every AA meeting.

6) that the message is becoming "distorted" by those members who attend the meetings who are "dual diagnosis" ie. dual diagnosis refers to the situation where an individual has two conditions to deal with: an addiction and a co-existing psychological (serious) disorder. Again we refer you to the Preamble. Furthermore this matter is dealt with directly in Chapter Five: How it Works. We leave it to you to discover the relevant section.

All of the above alibis are variously employed to justify the dogma propagated by advocates of the cult programme, and their members' controlling sponsorship styles. This intrusive approach is further rationalised under Step Twelve: “.....and to practice these principles in all our affairs”. This statement indicates that recovery extends far beyond merely observing physical abstinence from alcohol but includes an entire transformation of one's life style. However, there is nothing to suggest in any of the AA literature that this requires the services of an overseer (human power) to manage the process. Indeed, the cult, through its elevation of the sponsorship role to a form of what can only be described as 'idolatry”, subverts that most important principle of AA – a reliance upon “a Power greater than ourselves”, and, furthermore, as it is made abundantly clear in the second of the three pertinent ideas listed in Chapter Five: “b): That probably NO HUMAN POWER could have relieved our alcoholism” (our emphases).

We mentioned that the official AA website includes a meeting search engine. There are no vetting procedures (quite rightly) to determine which meetings should be included in these searches. However, a number of those included in the list are what we describe as cult meetings run by cult groups, those who advocate the approach indicated above. The aacultwatch site carries some details of identified cult meetings so that AA members may have some kind of forewarning of what to expect should they choose to attend one.

We would remind all AA members that there is only ONE membership requirement – a desire to stop drinking, and that is determined by the individual concerned, and NO ONE ELSE.

Finally:

1) Using prescribed medication is NOT an obstacle to recovery. Dual diagnosis members are just as capable as anyone else of recovering.

2) Receiving counselling is NOT an obstacle to recovery.

3) How you arrive in AA is not important (whether it be via prison, hospital, detox, treatment centre, off the street, your mansion in Mayfair etc – it's WHY YOU STAY that counts!

4) Sponsorship is neither necessary nor essential for recovery – see the Appendix 'Spiritual Experience' for the “essentials” - we would go so far as to say that in cult hands 'sponsorship' is a major hindrance to finding a solution to the alcohol problem.

5) No one is OBLIGED to do ANYTHING by ANYONE in AA.

6) If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself lumbered with a sponsor who thinks otherwise then say “bye bye” and find someone sane!

Cheerio

The Fellas