What is A.A. (Alcoholics Anonymous)?

Alcoholics Anonymous, or A. A. (A-A), is a worldwide fellowship of recovering alcoholics who work to help keep each other sober. They offer the same help to anyone who has a drinking problem, and wants to do something about it. Since the members of A. A. are all alcoholics themselves, they have a special understanding of each other. They know what the illness feels like, and they've learned how to recover with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous. A. A. members concentrate on avoiding drinking in the immediacy, taking one day at a time. In addition, the organization assumes that alcoholics are never 'cured', regardless of how long they abstain from alcohol or how well they control their drinking. Instead, alcoholics are considered to be in a perpetual state of 'recovery'. These philosophies are combined with group meetings and the organizations well known, 12-step recovery program. These steps suggest ideas and actions that are intended to guide alcoholics toward more useful and fulfilling lives. Most towns and cities have an A. A. group. To find a listing of local groups or central office information, consult your telephone directory. For more information about A. A., contact a health care professional in your area.