What is AA?
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.
What is alcholism?
According to the American Medical Association, alcoholism is a disease, much like heart disease and diabetes. Alcoholism is a chronic brain disorder, not a behavior problem, not just bad choices. Alcoholism is a progressive disease, it is a medically proven fact that alcohol changes the brain. It causes the brain to ask for more, it teaches the brain to ask for more, and the brain demands more than the previous use to obtain the same result. It’s a progressive disease which, like many other diseases, can’t be cured, but can be arrested with help from groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.
How does A.A help an alcoholic?
Through the example and friendship of the recovered alcoholics in A.A., new members are encouraged to stay away from a drink “one day at a time,” as the A.A.'s do. Instead of “swearing off forever” or worrying about whether they will be sober tomorrow, A.A.'s concentrate on not drinking right now — today. By keeping alcohol out of their systems, newcomers take care of one part of their illness —their bodies have a chance to get well. But remember, there is another part. If they are going to stay sober, they need healthy minds and healthy emotions, too. So they begin to straighten out their confused thinking and unhappy feelings by following A.A.’s “Twelve Steps” to recovery.
These Steps suggest ideas and actions that can guide alcoholics toward happy and useful lives. To be in touch with other members and to learn about the recovery program, new members go to A.A. meetings regularly.
More information about programs in the "Our Program” page.