AA and Alcoholism
Alcoholics Anonymous is concerned solely with the personal recovery and continued sobriety of individual alcoholics who turn to the Fellowship for help.
The Fellowship has adopted a policy of “cooperation but not affiliation” with other organizations concerned with the problem of alcoholism. A.A. does not engage in the fields of alcoholism research, medical or psychiatric treatment, education, or advocacy in any form, although members may participate in such activities as individuals. A.A. does not accept or seek financial support from outside sources.
In all public relationships, AA’s sole objective is to help the still suffering alcoholic. AA experience has always been made available freely to all who sought it – business people, spiritual leaders, civic groups, law enforcement officers, health and welfare personnel, educators, institutional authorities and many others. But AA never endorses, supports, becomes affiliated with, or expresses an opinion on the programs of others in the field of alcoholism, since such actions would be beyond the scope of the Fellowship’s primary purpose.
Always mindful of the importance of preserving personal anonymity in print and broadcast media and otherwise at the public level, we believe we can help the still suffering alcoholic by making known to that individual, and to those who may be interested in his or her problem, our own experience as individuals and as a fellowship in learning to live without alcohol.
Our aim
Our aim is to inform you about Alcoholics Anonymous and how the 12 Step program can help problem drinkers recover from alcoholism. AA in Great Britain has more than 50 years of experience involving tens of thousands of alcoholics.
How can we help the professionals?
AA has a number of free-of-charge service functions which have been created to work with professional organisations:
Health
AA works with GPs, hospitals and treatment centre staff. We offer a variety of services, from talks with medical staff to individual contact for patients with a drinking problem.
What does AA cost?
AA is FREE. It costs you and the taxpayer nothing. Each AA group is self-supporting and AA’s only income is derived by members making voluntary contributions and by small profits made from the sale of AA publications.
AA in Plymouth
Plymouth Intergroup supports the city plus nearby towns in West Devon (Tavistock and Kingsbridge) and East Cornwall (Looe and Polperro). Talks can be arranged and literature is available to the health profession. If you would like more information, please contact: ecomm.plymouth@aamail.org
Most meetings are held in the evenings but there are many daytime meetings available. The meetings are in the same format around the area and all those present share the same desire as the newcomer to stay sober. The newcomer will be warmly welcomed and need only sit and listen to get identification about their drinking; the rooms are informal and meetings last approximately 90 minutes, many have a short break halfway through.
Many groups have monthly open meetings. This is where friends, family, professionals and interested parties can attend one of our meetings. They may wish to accompany a suffering alcoholic or get a better understanding of our recovery program. Otherwise, meetings are closed, just for alcoholics or those who think they have a drink problem.
If you as a professional would like to attend an open’ meeting in your area please use the contact details at the top right of the page or above in the text.
Alcoholics Anonymous operates a 24hr helpline manned by recovering alcoholics. Details of meetings and further information can be obtained.
Many of you will regularly see the consequences of alcoholism and alcohol abuse in your work. If you work in the health service you will probably see familiar faces returning time after time – seemingly hopeless cases. Many current sober members of AA were thought to be just as hopeless at one time. Today however many are sober, responsible members of society through attending AA meetings and practising our 12 Step programme of recovery and, helping others to recover from alcoholism.