Rep. Kennedy optimistic he's on the road to sobriety

Providence Journal

During an interview between sessions at a hearing of one of his committees, the congressman borrowed heavily from the language of Alcoholics Anonymous and ...



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An 83-Year-Old Couple Parties Way More Than You Do!

The Frisky

I go out once a week, maybe, and my mother still sends Alcoholics Anonymous pamphlets and shows concern for the fact that I'll never meet my future husband ...

About 300 expected for local AA conference

Peterborough Examiner

Recovering alcoholics and their supporters will gather to share stories and hear from speakers at the 48th Kawartha District Alcoholics Anonymous Conference ...



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How can I get my mom to go to alcoholics anonymous meetings?
Q. She has an obvious drinking problem and my family and friends can see it but she can't. She doesn't think she drinks too much at all so she refuses to go. Her drinking has affected everyone in the family and it needs to stop. But everytime I bring up her drinking problem, she, not only denys it, but gets mad and just yells at me for it. Is there a way I can bring AA to her? Please help.
Asked by Ashley - Tue Jun 2 19:08:35 2009 - - 7 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Your question suggests that you misunderstand the nature of addiction and the effectiveness of AA. First of all, the decision to quit drinking is an individual one. You cannot make that decision for someone else, and the program of AA has absolutely nothing in it to assist anyone in making a decision to quit. If you are on the fence, they recommend that you go out and drink some more to prove to yourself that you have a problem. This may be why the success rate of AA is the same as for people who quit on their own--because it's the decision to quit, not going to AA, that makes the difference. Now, there is another group, called SMART Recovery, which does have a component in it to help people make the decision to quit. Even there,… [cont.]
Answered by Helen W. - Wed Jun 3 12:49:41 2009

Could Alcoholics Anonymous be legally considered a religion?
Q. 12 principals=doctrine If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck=it's a duck Looks like raysny did his research.
Asked by Terry,JackofHearts - Sat Jan 5 13:52:41 2008 - - 10 Answers - 0 Comments

A. The Second, Seventh, and Ninth Federal District Courts, as well as the New York State Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Tennessee have declared AA at least "religious in nature" and mandated AA a violation of the Establishment Clause. There are 5 things that define a religion: 1) God or gods 2) ritual 3)sacred words or text 4) hierarchy 5) dogma 1) AA defines what its God will and will not do for you and tells you what to ask for, what to expect in return and even uses Christian prayers 2) Meetings follow the same format, use the same readings, prayers. 3) The Big Book, the 12 & 12, the readings. 4) Besides the obvious oldtimers who run the meetings, there are the GSO people, district, all the way up to AA World Services in NYC… [cont.]
Answered by raysny - Sat Jan 5 14:42:02 2008

Are there meetings to attend besides Alcoholics Anonymous that don't force religion on you?
Q. My friend was sentenced to attend AA but is having a hard time with the religious aspect of it. Are there meetings that don't push God down your throat?
Asked by Macpark Melting - Mon Dec 29 17:27:29 2008 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Here's a list: My own favorite is Smart Recovery. Note, though, that it is hard to find actual face to face meetings of any other group than AA. I hope and believe that as more and more people protest the things that go on in AA, including the forcing of God down people's throats, these alternative groups will increase in popularity and accessibility.
Answered by Helen W. - Mon Dec 29 21:38:16 2008