Problems Other Than Alcohol
By Doug W.
webservant@aascv.org
Problems Other Than Alcohol (P-35) is a Conference Approved Pamphlet which is written from Bill W. articles on the subject. It is a short in length at 8 pages from cover to cover.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has the Traditions which were written to protect the fellowship and has long grappled with how to address addiction issues beyond alcohol while maintaining its core mission and identity. The Severity of Drug Addiction Drug addiction, particularly involving substances like morphine and heroin, presents unique challenges. As Bill W. notes from page 1, “Perhaps there is no suffering more horrible than drug addiction... Such drugs twist the mind, and the awful process of withdrawal racks the sufferer’s body.” This recognition of the severity of drug addiction has led to important discussions within AA about how to help those suffering from multiple addictions.
AA’s Primary Purpose
While sympathetic to all forms of addiction, AA maintains clear boundaries about its mission. As stated in the text on page 2, “Sobriety — freedom from alcohol — through the teaching and practice of the Twelve Steps is the sole purpose of an A.A. group.” This focus helps ensure the fellowship’s effectiveness and survival.
Guidelines for Membership
The fellowship has established clear guidelines regarding membership and participation: Non-alcoholic drug addicts cannot become AA members Drug addicts can attend open AA meetings with the group’s approval Individuals with both alcoholic and drug addiction histories can become A.A. members
Special Purpose Groups
Page 3, “Very effective answers to problems other than freedom from alcohol have always been found through special-purpose groups, some of them operating within A.A. and some on the outside.”
AA recognizes the need for addressing drug addiction while maintaining its primary focus. As Bill W. explains on page 5, “A.A. members who are so inclined should be encouraged to band together in groups to deal with sedative and drug problems. But they ought to refrain from calling themselves A.A. groups.”
Bill continues on that page, “There seems to be no reason why several AAs cannot join, if they wish, with a group of straight addicts to solve the alcohol and the drug problem together. But, obviously, such a dual-purpose group should not insist that it be called an A.A. group, nor should it use the A.A. name in its title. Neither should its straight-addict contingent be led to believe that they have become A.A. members by reason of such an association.”
A Path Forward
The pamphlet on page 5, concludes with an optimistic view of how AA members can help address addiction beyond alcohol: “In A.A., the group has strict limitations, but the individual has scarcely any. Remembering to observe the Traditions of anonymity and non-endorsement, he can carry A.A.’s message into every troubled area of this very troubled world.”
This pamphlet and other Conference-Approved material is available at your Central Office.