AA's Ultraconservatives Invade the Middle East

We quote:

“As a newcomer in Alcoholics Anonymous back in the 90’s, I remember being on the lookout for anything that I thought was even remotely cult-ish. I thought if I spotted something, it might just be my ‘get out of AA free card.’ While I needed to get my court card signed and may have even wanted to learn how to control and enjoy my drinking, I sure as hell didn’t want to join a cult or find God. So at the beginning of the meeting when they read the Twelve Traditions and everyone chanted in unison ‘principles before personalities’ I thought, WTF have I gotten myself into?! The chanting and the holding of hands at the end when the serenity prayer was recited in unison seemed like something straight out of the Jonestown Massacre.

After six more years of hard drinking and sixteen years of sobriety after that (weekends and holidays included) I now realize that our Traditions are actually what prevent us from becoming a cult and that they have actually kept us from going the way of the long defunct Washingtonians and the Oxford Group. So when I heard about the cult-like activities happening here in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries and about how our Traditions were being routinely and systematically violated, I was shocked. If I had even heard rumors about what is currently happening in the Fellowship back then, when I was a newcomer, I would have used it as a ‘get out of AA free card’ for sure.

Like other extremists, the ultra-orthodox among us pine for a time when the ideals that set our spiritual movement in motion were ‘pure.’ They want to ‘get back to basics’ by working the AA program in the way they believe it was before it became ‘corrupted’ and ‘diluted’ by Hazelden Treatment Centers, self-help books and new age philosophy. Like all zealots, the leaders of these groups in AA claim a lineage to the founding members which they say makes their way, the only true path to salvation.

And now, thanks to a host of workshops and local proselytes in the Persian Gulf who preach a lock-step interpretation of the AA doctrine, this form of spiritual extremism has been brought to the Middle East, a corner of the world all to familiar with those of their ilk. What’s sadly ironic is that while these hardliners from the Pacific & Atlantic Groups in our midst long to get ‘back to basics’ and consider themselves a ‘By The Book Group,’ they have actually pushed aside one of our main textbooks, The Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions, in order to do so. They are violating, in both letter and spirit, most of our Traditions including One, Two, Five, Eight, Ten, Eleven and Twelve.

Tradition One states that our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on AA unity. While their intentions may be good, these fanatics are destroying the most cherished quality our society has - unity. They are doing this by differentiating themselves from what they call ‘mainstream AA’ or ‘AA Lite.’ While most of us identity ourselves as ‘alcoholics’ or ‘recovering alcoholics’ they are, on the other hand, self-professed ‘recovered alcoholics.’ They are ‘recovered’ because unlike the rest of us who are just recovering, they are actually working the program as it was supposed to be worked, like they did back in 1935 (or even pre-Big Book) when it was ‘pure.’ This creates an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ dynamic that gives these sponsorship cult members a false sense of spiritual superiority, of ‘better than’ recovery that is splitting our Fellowship apart.

Tradition Two states that for our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern. Within these extremist groups in AA, sponsors govern the lives of their sponsees. If obligations are not met, calls not made at exact times or detailed, daily inventories not delivered into inboxes when they should be, there are punishments to be doled out, usually in the form of the sponsee not being able to proceed with the step he is on or not allowing him to move on to the next step, a sort of spiritual blackmail that governs their lives by their ultimate authority - their sponsor. Sponsors in other Fellowships such as NA are also strictly forbidden.

Tradition FIve states that each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. These ‘back to basics’ groups in AA violate this tradition by insisting that their sponsees buy workbooks that are not conference approved literature. The workbooks, may not be photocopied nor may they be passed on to another alcoholic. All sales proceeds go to their maker, not to AA as a whole. Carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers does not mean selling it to him for profit. Nor does it mean targeting newcomers, the most psychologically vulnerable of all which is what one ‘by the book’ group is doing in a major metropolitan area by falsely advertising their praetorian gatherings as beginner meetings (the only two such meetings listed for this particular area).

Tradition Eight states that Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional but our service centers may employ special workers. These splinter groups within AA seem to have forgotten the ancient words used in this tradition, ‘freely ye have received, freely give’ and that ‘at the point of professionalism, money and spirituality do not mix.’ Leaders of these fundamentalist groups often set up foundations with slightly modified AA symbols on them to hoodwink the unsuspecting and channel profits from the sale of their workbooks, personal programs (and even an AA board game in the case of Wayne B.) into their pockets. They fly around the world, all expenses paid on the AA speaker circuit - famous in their anonymity. In so professionalizing the 12th Step, they have defeated our singleness of purpose, opting instead to exploit the AA name for personal prestige, power and money.

Tradition Ten states that Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name out never be drawn into public controversy. These sponsorship cults seem to have forgotten the fate of the Washingtonians, a precursor to AA. While they once had a membership of over 100,000, their opinions on outside issues destroyed them. In much the same way, these sepratist groups in AA have an opinion on a variety of outside issues that range from the very dangerous practice of non-medical personnel restricting the use of antidepressants and other prescribed medications for members who suffer from mental illness to policing the use of profanity and even telling sponsees how they ought to dress.

Tradition Eleven states that 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. Leaders of these sponsorship cults are heavy self-promoters with their own websites, foundations and self-help books. The essence of this tradition is self-denial, not self aggrandisement as practiced by those on the AA speaker circuit selling their own version of recovery.

Tradition Twelve states that anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities. These AA gurus lead cults of personality that routinely break anonymity by using their first and last names at meeting level. While only using their first names and last initials at the level of press, radio, films and on social media, they have nevertheless become household names in AA and in the case of Clancy I., Wayne B. and Wally P. deity like figures within the Fellowship. Like all cult leaders they demand absolute submission and compliance to their dogma. Any resistance is dismissed as self-will which will inevitably doom the one rebelling to surely drink again. These practices are the antithesis of Tradition Twelve. Just as we couldn’t afford to have any self-appointed messiahs representing AA when the Twelve Traditions were written in 1952, nor can we afford to have them with us today.

Therefore, for the sake of unity and for our own collective survival, groups that violate any of the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous in word or in spirit should not be associated or linked with those who do not. Any use of the AA name, logo or listing on an AA website should be banned by those breaking the Traditions that bind us together.”

Comment: All sounds VERY familiar

Our thanks to our correspondent

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous) 

Suggested reading:  https://aaminority.blogspot.com/

Questions and Answers on Sponsorship

Having given the AA preamble the 'once over' recently we thought we'd apply the same approach to the booklet “Questions and Answers on Sponsorship”. This piece of AA (conference approved) literature as you can see is available free online (as is most of our literature with the exception of various books (but see the “Big Book” (“Alcoholics Anonymous”) and the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions).

Sponsorship means many things to many people. Generally it has a benign impact but in the hands of the cult it has become a weapon of control, widely abused, and barely recognisable when compared with its exposition in AA literature (eg. “Alcoholics Anonymous” Chapter Seven - Working With Others, the above booklet etc). It's interesting to note that those groups (Roadies, Joys of Recovery, Back to Basics, Primary Purpose blah blah blah) who lay such stress (ad nauseam) on the benefits (even necessity) of sponsorship (or some kind of recovery 'expert') rarely if ever make reference to these texts (eg. Joe and Charlie in their so-called Big Book study virtually ignore the above chapter from the Big Book). The reasons why become clear when you contrast their approach with those recommended by AA generally. Fortunately anyone conversant with the relevant sections can easily avoid falling into the trap of being stuck with a cult control freak (and the nightmare that generally follows from such associations!), or, once “armed with the facts”, can extricate themselves without too much difficulty from the unwholesome clutches of these warped individuals. At this point we'd like to draw your attention to some important principles: Step Three; two of the three “pertinent ideas” b) and c) (BB, Chapter Five); Tradition 12 (as well as the section discussing Step Three in the Big Book):

Step 3: “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.”

Note: This step does NOT say “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over the care of our sponsor.”

Again in Chapter Five, How It Works (online edition, p. 60): 

“(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism;

(c) That God could and would if He were sought.”

(our emphases)

ie. “no human power” (including a sponsor) is going to sort this problem out. On the contrary it will require the intervention of a Greater Power (howsoever this may be conceived) to produce the required results. 

Tradition 12: 

“Twelve—Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.” (short form) 

“12.—And finally, we of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance. It reminds us that we are to place principles before personalities; that we are actually to practice a genuine humility. This to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all.” (long form)

(our emphases)

Again the principles of the fellowship and recovery programme are of far greater significance than any personal (and therefore necessarily partial) interpretation offered by the local 'guru', 'super sober', circuit speaker, Big Book 'expert' etc. Each member of AA is responsible for their OWN recovery and for no one else's. We repeat – no sponsor is going to fix you. Your recovery is dependent on you and your own conception of a Power greater than yourself.

Finally if you take a couple of minutes to read Step Three in the Big Book (Chapter Five, pp. 60-62) you will find a perfect description of a control freak in action

Since the booklet itself is some 32 pages long (and we're more than enthusiastic advocates of “Easy Does It” and “First Things First”!) we'll be dissecting it in easy stages over the next few weeks (commencing tomorrow).

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Brick Lane Big Book Study Saturday

We quote:

“Hello there,

Your site is invaluable and I'm so relieved I've found it. The development of cult-like behaviour and practices in AA is deeply concerning and I've seen the effects on vulnerable newcomer members first hand. I have a new meeting for your list, it's the 6pm Brick Lane Big Book Study Saturday meeting, in London.

 
The sponsorship and ideology that happens there is fundamentally cult, not AA. Newcomers are asked to find their part in things such as childhood abuse or domestic violence, told to cut off from old friends and family completely, mandated to attend certain meetings and if they don't, they're dumped as sponsees, and mandated to street step very early in the morning. They are made to work from a computer on worksheets and if they don't have Internet access or word processing programs they're told they don't want recovery enough. They're told to come off all their medications, and if seeking work, they have to run the jobs they're applying for past their sponsors first, as well as all other life changes. They have to check in with their sponsors multiple times a day, which again for destitute newcomers is impossible, as that requires phone credit. They're discouraged from attending meetings viewed as not strict enough or not carrying the AA message (in other words, all meetings apart from their meetings). They are silenced from sharing about depression or suicidal thinking as it is viewed as 'carrying the mess, not the message'. The people who have talked to me and other concerned members have found it incredibly hard to disclose, as the gaslighting and guilt tripping that goes on is deep and pervasive, such as being told they'll make people ill, destroy AA due to self will run riot, deny recovery to newcomers, and/or relapse and die, etc. Most members in East London who have been around long enough are aware of the practices in this group, and they even have a nickname. We suggest alternatives that occur at the same time, if newcomers express an interest in attending this meeting. Luckily, in London, we have 700+ meetings a week to choose from, but I feel extremely sad for members in other parts of the country who don't have as much of a choice, and just need a meeting. 

This group frequents and run the service board for at least another two meetings in the East London area, and recruit from there too. I have only been to one of those meetings, in my early days, and I do not remember the message carried, but I do remember being denied a service position - it has since become clear that they fill service positions in their cult groups from within their sponsorship structure, and I already had a sponsor, therefore was more than likely viewed as not being one of the group (which I am now very grateful for). I have attended the Brick Lane one several times, however, and it seems evident that this is the mothership meeting for their practices.

I hope this meeting can go onto your list. I am happy to send the other two meetings as well if you think this is appropriate.



A grateful and concerned AA member”

Comment: The above pretty much summarises the activities of cult groups in AA. They come in a number of shapes and sizes ranging from the local 'guru' (usually self appointed) who's set up shop peddling his/her profound (?) insights into the AA programme based more often than not on an entirely idiosyncratic, overly literalistic, highly selective (cf. Tom and Jerry's …. sorry …. Joe and Charlie's daft series of lectures on the subject .. whatever did happen to Chapter 8 Working with Others ???) reading of the tome …. to complete franchise operations like the Road to Recovery, Primary Purpose and not forgetting of course (who could) Back to Basics (which is a nice little earner for its chief proponent Wally P) These aberrations are usually personality driven (see Tradition 12) propped up by an abusive 'sponsorship' hierarchy and entirely fear based. Should a new 'prospect' fail to comply with their new 'sponsor's' “suggestions” (?) the ultimate sanction is invoked ie. you'll drink again!! This is usually sufficient to bring them back 'into line'. Of course there's nothing mysterious at all about how AA works. Belief in any kind of divinity is entirely optional. The fundamental driving force behind AA is quite simply the fellowship, and the most evident example of AA's efficacy is the fact that people not only get sober but REMAIN sober for their entire lifetimes. This is an empirical and undeniable fact. The real power behind AA is the power of EXAMPLE... and preferably good example. Stick around people who stay drink free and who conduct themselves in a reasonably civilised fashion (ie. don't spend their time throwing their weight around and lecturing everyone in sight) and the chances are pretty good that you'll stay off the sauce as well. It really is that simple. How you practice the program or even which version you adopt is pretty much irrelevant. Being able to recite bits out of the Big Book really impresses nobody. It's a nice party trick perhaps but slightly boring after a while. Just put the drink down and get on with your life the best you can.. that's it!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to our correspondent

Re: Surrey St Sunday meeting (Croydon)

From our correspondent:

"Dear AA cultwatch,......

Two months ago some male members from the group began expressing concerns that during Sunday fellowship a group claiming to be 'Back to Basics' where using very assertive canvassing and recruitment techniques to get

men on their program. 

...... this group discuss, for example, that there is no need for a sponsor as it is not in the Big Book. All this of course occurred outside of an AA setting. Nevertheless I relayed my concerns, and those of the other men, to the all (apart from me) female committee. 

In the last week, things have progressed to the point that Back to Basics are now using the same room that AA have their meetings in to host post meeting group sessions. My phone calls to GSO confirm that Back to Basics is not endorsed by AA. B2B has crossed the line and is becoming increasingly clear that men are no longer returning to Surrey st meetings as they feel B2B is not 'in the spirit of AA'. 

B2B are subtle with their approach and never mention B2B when they share at either meeting. Please spread the word regarding Back to Basics and what is happening with AA in Croydon....." (edits to preserve anonymity)

Comment: Back to Basics has essentially been set up as Wally P's pension pot. It's a programme rip off that makes all sorts of claims to success rates (as yet unsubstantiated). It forms part of the Big Book recovery 'industry' where 'experts' of all shapes and sizes peddle their wares in the hope of making a few bucks (and massaging their already frail egos) on the side. But if you don't fancy the text based (overnight success 'guaranteed') approach then you can always opt to join the sponsor 'fetishists' (Road to Recovery, Joys of Recovery, Clancy I blah blah blah) club. Here you can happily dispense with the need to seek out a Higher Power .. one will be provided for you ... in the shape of yet another 'wise guy' (or gal .. let's not be sexist here!) who will happily organise your life for you .. No need to think for yourself or ask for God's guidance (if you're inclined that way). Just ring up your sponsor and they'll tell you ALL you need to know and do ... Or ...... you could just go along to a bog standard AA meeting, sit down, drink your beverage, munch on a biccie and listen to other people as they share their experience of getting and staying sober in the REAL world You might even chip in with a few thoughts yourself. And then you just go out and DO it! And guess what! That works as well! Who'd have thought it! It couldn't be that simple could it? Yep. It's just that simple....

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous .. and big fans of Keeping It Simple)

PS Thanks to our correspondent

Cult meeting notice

More details (not mentioned on the AA website): the group is part of the Road to Recovery franchise ... Sharing MUST centre on sponsorship .. remember in the cult the Higher Power IS your sponsor ..oh! ... nearly forgot! No FUCKING swearing permitted!

What a load of bollocks!

The Fellas (Frigging Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For other cults in AA check out Primary Purpose and Back to Basics (the latter a nice little earner!)

Missing a moral 'compass'?

Have you ever encountered members who seem to have completely mislaid their ethical or moral 'compass' (if they ever had one in the first place)? You know the type ….. they'll happily lecture everyone else on how to practise the programme 'right' and then do the precise opposite themselves. People like David B (founder of the Joys of Recovery and its various offshoots - didn't have a sponsor but insisted everyone else had to have one!), David C (took over the reins after the welcome demise of David B - a grade A religious bigot and control freak – last seen down El Cerrito way spreading the 'disease'!), Wayne P (sponsored by Clancy – a serial philanderer – he seems to have a big problem keeping his trousers on), Clancy (Pacific Group - likes to play the big shot with a sideline in shaming others … in other words … a thug!), Wally P (a serial monogamist who runs Back to Basics – a nice little earner), Joe and Charlie (Primary Purpose – yet more control freaks who liked to bore AA members into recovery with their incessant lecturing), Mike Quinones (serial sexual predator who ran the Midtown Groups – also sponsored by Clancy) not to mention AA's innumerable (and growing) army of recovery 'experts' eagerly mimicking their efforts as they busily rush about organising AA (?) 'workshops', churning out yet more audio files on so-called 'fast track' recovery, each one desperately seeking the attention of anyone with a few bucks to spare, and the poor judgement to pass them in their direction...... You have! We thought so ….. And then you must have wondered what kind of guy would behave like that? What must possess them? Are they stupid? Or are they just sick.... or sicker than the rest of us? Well wonder no more …. all will be revealed – specifically Narcissistic Personality Disorder DSM-5 (pp. 9-10)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS An update on our new campaign to be published shortly …. we've been very busy behind the scenes!

Hope for the Primary Purpose/Back to Basics Movement at Last

“TWELVE STEP RECOVERY PROCESS FOR LECTUREHOLICS”

by Emily Jensen, Associate Professor of English, Instructional Development Consultant Hartford Community College and Neil Davidson, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction University of Maryland. (College Teaching, 45(3), 102-103, Heldref Publications)

Comment: An excellent and informative article on what works and what doesn't. Our thanks to the AA member who drew this to our attention - Beware of meetings with a podium and neat rows of chairs!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS See also Primary Purpose/Back to Basics

'Quick fix' recovery!

“An AA member I've known for many years went through the same organised book study [Primary Purpose/Back to Basics] some years ago but more recently he was feeling very low and had begun distancing himself from the rooms. Knowing he had gone through the 'recovered' process, and having listened for a time I asked if unrealistic expectations could have anything to do with the way he was feeling, to which there was no reply. A few days later he messaged me to tell me that he had been thinking about what I had said and had concluded that he had been carrying unrealistic expectations. He had been expecting Nirvana, he had been set up to fail.

I'm not sure if you are aware but in this region the people who go through this recruitment process which is disguised as a book study do not have a sponsor at the end of it, they are told they will not need one because they will have God in their lives. If you think about it short term sponsorship in this way also makes way for those adept at recruitment to net the next batch of naive newcomers. Those who fall for all the hype will have been primed in meetings where they will hear of the man who showed them the way, and if you want what they have you have to do what they did. Short term quick fix solutions are also very well suited to rehab clinic business model where customers take up accommodation for approximately the same length of time it would take to complete the so called book study.

Some people see that celebrity status can be brought about by going it alone, without sticking closely to the core movement. I think when this snowball was rolled there was an intention of exact replication, you will often hear that 'precise, specific, clear cut directions' are to be followed. I imagine some people can't help but promote themselves rather than the up line that showed them what to do. It seems to be what is happening locally right now with a man causing much controversy who appeared out of nowhere a couple of years ago with the recruitment formula. He incessantly promotes himself as Big book expert and successful sponsor...... Another fairly long term member was recruited recently and he has now begun posting very threatening and abusive comments on Facebook accusing the local guru of revealing his step five.

It is all very interesting and sometimes amusing but there is a serious side of it all which should not to be ignored, one man was found dead at the end of an organised book study. His temporary sponsor announced that he had died because he had not done his 'stuff'. The failures are blamed for their own plight in the same way some Capitalists justify their selfishness by adopting the idea that poor people have booked an appointment to be exactly where they are in life. There is a series of events which leads up to everything. Although AA is not responsible for the actions of its members much can be done to ensure generally agreed upon information such as sponsorship guidance reaches all AA members because right now newcomers are being taken advantage of and AA has done nothing about it that I am aware of, and that is not on.”

(edited to preserve anonymity)

Comment: AA actually does have guidelines on bullying and abuse – the problem is that these are hardly ever enforced – which kind of makes them rather pointless doesn't it!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS We thank this AA member for their contribution

“Hard core” Back to Basics

Flier seen at meeting:

Our correspondent (US) kindly included a quote from Bill W (Responsibility Is Our Theme; The Language of the Heart, p 333; AA Grapevine July 1965)

"It is an historical fact that practically all groupings of men and women tend to become more dogmatic; their beliefs and practices harden and sometimes freeze ... But dogma has its liabilities. Simply because we have convictions that work well for us, it becomes very easy to assume that we have all the truth. Whenever this brand of arrogance develops, we are certain to become aggressive; we demand agreement with us; we play God. This isn't good dogma; it's very bad dogma. It could be especially destructive for us of AA to indulge in this sort of thing. Newcomers are approaching AA at the rate of tens of thousands yearly. They represent almost every belief and attitude imaginable. We have atheists and agnostics. We have people of nearly every race, culture and religion. In AA we are supposed to be bound together in the kinship of a common suffering. Consequently, the full individual liberty to practice any creed or principle or therapy whatever should be a first consideration for us all."

For a development of this theme see White, W., and Kurtz, E. (2010). A message of tolerance and celebration: The portrayal of multiple pathways of recovery in the writings of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill Wilson

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to our correspondent

See also:

AA Recovery rates
Primary Purpose/Back to Basics
Minority Report 2013

Critics Say Washington AA Chapter Is Cultlike

Extract:

“By the time May Clancy turned 15 years old, she was well on her way to drinking herself to death. A middle-school student from Potomac, Md., she had been through 11 different psychiatric and alcohol-rehab programs in two years. Each time, she started drinking again as soon as she got out. Her parents were terrified. "We'd taken her to hospitals—everything possible to get her the best care that we could," says May's father, Mike. "And all these places told us that they didn't think she could make it without Alcoholics Anonymous.”

So in November 2005, when May agreed to begin attending meetings at Midtown, one of the oldest and largest AA groups in the Washington, D.C., area, it felt like a miracle. Other AA meetings in the city attracted mostly older men and women; Midtown was known as a place for recovering alcoholics in their teens and 20s. Some of the group's senior members were older, but there were also dozens of high-school and college kids with stories a lot like hers. From the moment she arrived, they seemed to go out of their way to welcome her. At first, May was thrilled to find a group of people who accepted her as she was. "When I went there," she says, "I didn't really talk to anybody, didn't trust anybody. And these people would hang out with me even if I didn't say anything, and include me in conversations. I was desperate to be liked at that point."

But something about Midtown was not right. After a few months, the group's embrace of May began to feel like a chokehold. She says the sponsor assigned to give her moral support and help keep her sober pressured her to cut off ties to anyone outside the group. Another member snatched her cell phone and deleted names in the directory. She says she was pressured to stop taking the medication a doctor had prescribed to manage her bipolar disorder: group members told her she couldn't be sober if she was taking any kind of drug. There was a hierarchy to the group. Younger members were sometimes expected to wash cars, clean houses and do other menial chores for more senior members.”

Source: Newsweek – Culture (5/6/07)

Comment: It all sounds very familiar! But when anonymity transmutes into secrecy and autonomy tyranny what do you expect!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

See also:

AA Recovery rates
Primary Purpose/Back to Basics
Minority Report 2013

'I was fresh meat': how AA meetings push some women into harmful dating

Former peer support group members attest to not-so-safe space that exposes recovering addicts to sexual harassment – and derails their journey to sobriety

Extracts: 

“According to New York psychotherapist Scott W Stern, when the general population thinks about recovery programs, there’s not a lot of distinction between treatment and support. 

Treatment, such as rehabilitation and therapy, is run by professionals who start with their clients from where they are and work with them through a variety of medical and psychological means to build their autonomy, he said. In contrast, support groups like AA or NA provide merely a peer-to-peer network of individuals supposedly working toward the same goal.

Such groups are not equipped to address many of the complex issues that come along with addiction, since they’re run by people who are not trained as professionals. “These groups are places anyone can walk into, where anything could happen,” he said.

In essence, an environment that is touted as a safe space can be anything but. From easier access to substances to sexual harassment, abuse or even outright murder, these programs can inflict further damage.” 

“Meanwhile, members are expected to move through the organization’s 12 steps and accept the doctrine put forth by AA. Some of the women I talked to called the groups cult-like, saying that members cling to the written word in the Big Book and exclude anyone who might question it, leaving them alone when they stumble across what is commonly known as “the 13th step” – that is, when someone makes sexual advances on someone new to recovery”. 

“Stern said the problem is compounded when sex offenders go through the drug courts and are ordered to go to 12-step meetings, which he said is a fairly common occurrence. 

“For people with criminal records, it’s not uncommon that they will argue they were under the influence of substances,” he said. “Ninety percent of treatment facilities in the US are 12-step-facilitated, too, which means no matter your crime, you’re most likely going to end up at AA or NA.”

Stern suggests the judicial system should be revamped. However, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) said the way they mandate recovery has already undergone vast changes in recent years.

While it’s still not perfect, Terrence Walton, the NADCP’s chief of standards, said the courts mandate professional treatment before recommending a peer support group to facilitate long-term recovery. He also said that drug courts no longer specify AA/NA as the support group that must be attended, as was the case a decade ago. 

“We don’t recommend AA to unwilling participants anymore because if you force someone to go to AA or NA with people who are not being forced to go there, it can be a bad mix. You need to want to participate for those programs to work,” Walton said.”

Source: The Guardian (online): Alcoholism 22 Sept 2015

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Thanks to our correspondents for drawing our attention to this article 

See also: 

AA Recovery rates
Primary Purpose/Back to Basics
Minority Report 2013

Father Ed Dowling: Bill Wilson's Sponsor

Father Ed Dowling: Bill Wilson's Sponsor, Glenn F. Chesnut July 2015, ISBN 978-1-4917-7085-6, ebook ISBN 978-1-4917-7087-0, viii + 640 pp

For further writings see here

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

See also:
AA Recovery rates
Primary Purpose/Back to Basics
Minority Report 2013

“Separates the men from the boys” - 12 and 12 on Step Six

The opening paragraph of the chapter on Step Six in Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions: "'This is the Step that separates the men from the boys.' So declares a well-loved clergyman who happens to be one of A.A.'s greatest friends. He goes on to explain that any person capable of enough willingness and honesty to try repeatedly Step Six on all his faults -- without any reservations whatever -- has indeed come a long way spiritually, and is therefore entitled to be called a man who is sincerely trying to grow in the image and likeness of his own Creator." 

“It was almost certainly Father Ed Dowling who was the "well-loved clergyman who happens to be one of A.A.'s greatest friends."

But the dates make it a little awkward. The 12 + 12 was published in 1953, and Father Ed had had a retinal stroke by that point, and was left too blind to read. His sister (and others) were having to read to him. So he had heard the final draft of the 12 + 12 read to him aloud, but was surely not in any shape to make detailed comments on it, or additions to it, or whatever. This is important to remember.

And the only place I can find where Father Ed used that phrase in print was in an article he wrote in the NCCA (National Catholic Conference on Alcoholism) annual publication called the Blue book in that same year, 1953. If anybody can narrow down the exact time when the NCCA talk was given, and when the final draft of the 12 and 12 was finished, we might be able to see what the possibilities were that Bill Wilson could have read or heard some version of the NCCA talk before he wrote that particular part of the 12 + 12.

At any rate, here is the crucial paragraph in Father Ed's work:

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I think the sixth step is the one which divides the men from the boys in A.A. It is love of the cross. The sixth step says that one is not almost, but entirely ready, not merely willing, but ready. The difference is between wanting and willing to have God remove all these defects of character. You have here, if you look into it, not the willingness of Simon Cyrene to suffer, but the great desire or love, similar to what Chesterton calls "Christ's love affair with the cross."

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That paragraph is taken from "Catholic Asceticism and the Twelve Steps"

Reverend Edward Dowling, S.J., The Queen's Work, St. Louis, Missouri, NCCA Blue Book, 1953


In terms of the dates, it should also be remembered of course, that since Father Ed was Bill Wilson's sponsor, they could easily have discussed this idea in their private conversations long before 1953.

So from the wording and everything in the 12 + 12, I think Bill Wilson just about has to be talking about Father Ed Dowling. The phrase "a well-loved clergyman who happens to be one of A.A.'s greatest friends" does not seem to ring quite true if it were supposed to be talking about the Rev. Sam Shoemaker. The Rev. Sam abandoned AA to its fate in 1937 when a group of Oxford Group people in New York forced Bill and Lois out of the Oxford Group, and did not lift a finger to help their little group of recovering alcoholics survive.”

Source: AAHistoryLovers 

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous ….and serious research)

Our thanks to the AA member who pointed this correspondence out to us

See also: 

AA Recovery rates 
Primary Purpose/Back to Basics
Minority Report 2013

Alcoholics Anonymous: A profoundly UNdemocratic institution

We quote: 

“Fellas, 

I read with great interest the conflict (Lack of Unity?) you are suffering in regards to the "international gathering" in GB. You are right on the money (yes pun intended) when you attempt to point all parties to the Traditions. After all the goal of each and every Tradition is to promote unity and thereby insure that AA will be around for future drunks. Not future egos. Another reason for the formation of the Traditions is that Bill W. knew when ever drunks get together there will be problems that center around egos. 

Your Intergroup seems to be using the same technique as is practiced by similar power drivers here in the US. They are using the Traditions as a method of grabbing more power. When an open minded reading of any of the Traditions would reveal that they are power limiting devices. It is so common in the US to hear the justification that the Tradition says we are autonomous and then if that nonsense flies; they will become even more emboldened and say they can do what ever they feel is in the best interest of their group. As you have wisely pointed out the Tradition strongly limits that power by saying two strong suggestions that should limit every ego driven proposal. 

The Twelve and Twelve is written in the format of "here is the mistakes we have made so you don't have to make them". It further calls upon us to scan the horizon for similar mistakes. Then hopefully we won't have to make the old or the new mistakes. 

Now for some questions about service structure in GB versus the US. We have a Service Structure that starts with the groups who elect a GSR. The GSR attends Inter-area where they elect a delegate who goes to conference. We can send information up the food chain through our delegate and he can and does come back from conference with the goings on of the conference. The exchange of ideas is both ways. Each district has a chair (District Committee Member) who attends special meetings at the area meetings. 

We also have intergroup in large metropolitan areas. These sprung up in the early days and were present when Bill W got the 12 Traditions accepted at the 1950 international convention. They had been around since the start and were doing good work along the lines phone answering, literature clearing houses and even reaching out to the media. It was the intention of Bill W. to keep these as a hands on service structure and then have the GSR/AREA MEETING/DELEGATE/CONFERENCE in place for the working out of issues in the groups and between the groups. 

This all seems to get mucked up by a few things that seem to relate to your situation. One, the Intergroups don't want to give up power. They do not want to give it up to their own representatives of the groups. And they sure don't want to give it up to the GSR's and their pathway to worldwide experience. This conflict is so great that in some areas the Area assembly have formed liaison committees and invited representatives of the Intergroups to meet and find a way to cooperate. One geographic region took about 4 years to resolve the difficulties to any measure. 

The Intergroups here seem to quote their bylaws more than the Traditions. They want to claim that they are part of the Service Structure when at best Bill W. intended them to be an appendage. Finally they seem to go speak on behalf of AA in manners that match neither their Bylaws, the Service Structure Guidelines or the Traditions. 

The universal problem that effects all parties, Intergroup, GSR and AA member is that very few groups send a representative to either body. We all got too soft because AA WAS self correcting for so long. However, when outside influences start to impact AA and we do not have a strong Service Structure in place to deal with it the lack of self is the down fall of correcting. Some of these outside influences are mandating of attendees, non conference approved literature quoted in the meetings, "hardcore true to the roots groups" such as back to basics, primary purpose, etc. and a public media that as a result of the internet can not be contained by a letter from NY GSO. 

In short, we are creating more enemies than ever before and they all impact our "attraction"........

(our edits)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to our correspondent

See also:

Plymouth (cult) Intergroup corruption 

For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

An Enquiry into Primary Purpose and Back to Basics AA Groups

A useful analysis on how corrupt practice has been introduced into AA via these two 'vectors'

See here

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

43. 
Would Conference consider updating the guideline on bullying and conduct in AA, as how AA members should best deal with being bullied or abused anonymously on the internet by AA members?

Background

There are public internet websites in the UK run by UK AA members which regularly name people in the UK fellowship who are identifiable to all members in their regional area. The current guidelines do not cover this eventuality. Members attacked in this way are in an unfortunate position as the internet is not only regional, but national. Also the attacks are by anonymous people so there is no recourse for response. This seems to be an area not covered by the guidelines but one which is causing great upset to a number of members, and disunity on a local and regional level. This is not a local issue as the websites are usually not written by AA members in a different area to that of the people they are bullying. There is national input into these websites, and national distribution.

Terms of Reference No. 7 There have been several submissions covering this topic and a question has been selected that encompasses all areas of the subject matter with appropriate background material.

Comment: As always there's a simple solution! If the bullies, abusers and thugs who regularly appear on our blog discontinue their activities then they will disappear from our site. If not we will continue to publicise their names (and conduct) as widely as possible.... even internationally! We are referring of course to Jon F, Alexis K, Wayne P [Road to Recovery cult group Plymouth], Wally P [Back to Basics franchise, con merchant], Wayne B [Step'n Ahead/Last Mile Foundation .. or whatever it's called these days .. another con man], Harry K [aka Batman – coke head and control freak hailing from CA], Harry A [aka 'the Handbag', 'pill-head' and control freak, East Kent], Richard E [coke head and thug also hailing from CA], Billy [the Kid, thug and control freak, Hampton Wick Friday, Esher Saturday], David B [deceased – but not forgotten – founder of Joys of Recovery and various offshoots – control freak, tried to manipulate his way on to the General Service Board - failed. See also The Fix, AA Cults I Have Known], David C [heir to David B, bigot, control freak, co-publisher of various cult websites, sponsor to Happy Dennis ['fruitcake in residence' Ealing]], Chris R, Myers R [US, both run the Primary Purpose franchise with a sideline in book-binding flogging upmarket Big Book covers to the undiscerning punter], Joe and Charlie [self-proclaimed recovery 'experts' whose extremely patchy (whatever did happen to Chapter 7?) 'Big Book study' has been misinforming AA members for years], Clancy [US, another control freak, Pacific Group 'guru', did a regular 'turn' at the Bristol Reunion, and 'anti beard' for some reason!], Mike Q(uinones) (US, Midtown deceased – good riddance! Sexual predator, control freak etc)... the list goes on.....We're sure we've missed a few other assorted predators, abusers, paedophiles, perverts etc along the way but be sure to mail us and we'll be happy to publicise your activities on the site. We think you get our drift!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

PPS Plymouth Intergroup corruption