Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship, one first developed in the early 1930s and intended to provide free resources to men and women of all ages who have been suffering from alcohol abuse and dependence. Over time, the demographic of AA meetings has changed, however, the main principles and guidelines have remained unchanged. AA is self-supporting, meaning that the program itself survives on member donations.
How does one become a member? The only true requirement as outlined by the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous is a desire to stop drinking. So what does this mean for men and women who have been suffering from drug addiction? Can recovering addicts attend meetings that were designed specifically for recovering alcoholics? The answer is simple – yes. AA is open to everyone who is looking to remain free of all mood and mind-altering substances.
Guidelines for Alcoholics Anonymous
Because the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, everyone who is looking to stay sober long-term will be allowed and encouraged to attend AA meetings. In AA, people do not necessarily sit around and talk about booze. They don’t talk about drinking heavily or blacking out or wanting to cut back on the whiskey or vodka. Instead, AA members talk about their experience, strength, and hope.
They talk about where they came from, what they did to overcome their substance abuse or dependence disorder, and how their lives have changed as a result of walking through the 12 steps. They talk about the unique challenges that they face and viable ways to overcome those challenges. They offer one another encouragement and support and celebrate milestones in recovery in a group setting. AA is for everyone who has been suffering at the hands of addiction and is looking to begin an entirely new way of life.
Can Addicts Go to AA Meetings?
While we do let our clients decide which 12 step program they want to participate in, we encourage each of our clients to attend at least several AA meetings every week. Men and women who have been suffering at the hands of drug addiction often benefit immensely from attending a combination of AA and NA meetings.
One of our main goals is thoroughly explaining the disease model of addiction in an educational setting, and explaining to our clients how the 12 step method of addiction recovery can help treat the underlying factors that initially contributed to substance abuse. The fact of the matter is, those who suffer from substance abuse of any kind are welcome to attend any viable 12 step meeting. Everyone is after the same common goal.
Agape Treatment Center and 12 Step Immersion
At Agape Treatment Center, we firmly believe in the benefits of 12 step program immersion, We require every one of our clients to attend meetings daily, find a sponsor as quickly as possible and begin working through the 12 steps. We also let our clients know that they have an option when it comes to which 12 step program they decide to participate in.
Clients will be exposed to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, as well as 12 step programs that tackle other behavioral disorders such as addictive gambling, disordered eating, or sex, and love addiction. No matter what unique issues a client is struggling with, he or she will have access to a wide range of applicable resources – including support groups. Of course, 12 step programs are just one component of every comprehensive and highly individualized continuum of care.
At Agape Treatment Center, we believe that offering clients a wide range of clinical services and additional resources will always be the most effective in paving the road for long-term sobriety. For more information on Alcoholics Anonymous, 12 step immersion, or our unique and carefully developed program of recovery, reach out to us today. We look forward to speaking with you soon and helping you or your loved one in any and every way that we can.
