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What we do and how it works...
We want to help anyone
who wants
to be helped
Don't feel
isolated -
you're not
alone!
“Alcoholics anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other, that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop drinking.”
If I go to an AA meeting, does that commit me to anything?
No. AA does not keep membership files or attendance records.
You do not have to reveal anything about yourself. No one will bother you if you don’t want to come back.
What happens if I meet people I know?
They will be there for the same reason you are there! They will not disclose your identity to outsiders.
At AA you retain as much anonymity as you wish. That is one of the reasons we call ourselves Alcoholics Anonymous.
What happens at an AA meeting?
An AA meeting may take one of several forms, but at any meeting you will find alcoholics talking about what drinking did to their lives and personalities, what actions they took to help themselves, and how they are living their lives today.
How can this help me with my drinking problem?
We in AA know what it is like to be addicted to alcohol, and to be unable to keep promises made to others and ourselves that we will stop drinking. We are not professional therapists.
Our only qualification for helping others to recover from alcoholism is that we have stopped drinking ourselves; and problem drinkers coming to us know that recovery is possible because they see people who have done it.
£1 billion in costs p.a. to ratepayer
NI DRUGS & ALCOHOL ABUSE
Related deaths up 33% in a decade
NI ALCOHOL DEATHS
Female alcohol deaths up by 65%
NI IMPACTS ON WOMEN
Let's start with some frequently asked
questions...
What is Alcoholics Anonymous?
We are a Fellowship of people who have lost the ability to control our drinking and have found ourselves in various difficulties as a result of drinking.
We attempt, most of us successfully, to create a fulfilling way of life without alcohol.
For this we find we need the help and support of other alcoholics in AA.
Why do AA members keep on going to meetings after they are in recovery?
We in AA believe there is no such thing as a cure for alcoholism. We can never return to normal drinking, and our ability to stay away from alcohol depends on maintaining our physical and mental health. This we can achieve by going to meetings regularly and putting into practice what we learn there. In addition, we find it helps us to stay sober if we help other alcoholics.
How do I join AA?
You are an AA member if and when you say so. The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking, and many of us were not very wholehearted about that when we first approached AA.
How much does AA membership cost?
There are no dues or fees for AA membership. An AA group will usually have a collection during the meeting to cover expenses, such as rent, coffee, etc., and to this all members are free to contribute as much or as little as they wish.
Can I bring my family to an AA meeting?
Family members or close friends are welcome at “Open” AA meetings. You can discuss this with your local contact.
What advice do you give new members?
In our experience, the people who recover in AA are those who:
a) stay away from the first drink
b) attend AA meetings regularly
c) seek out the people in AA who have successfully stayed sober for some time
d) try to put into practice the AA program of recovery
e) obtain and study the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous.
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