This finding indicates that men and women may respond differently to AA and that AA involvement may be less beneficial to women. One potential explanation is that women may require different treatment settings than men for optimal treatment outcome . Some studies indicate that women may prefer more one-on-one treatment and, consequently, may benefit less from the group-oriented AA setting. Alternatively, AA involvement may be less beneficial for women because co-occurring disorders that are more prevalent among women, such as depression, often are not addressed explicitly in AA programs. Therefore, the women would not have to rely on AA to serve as their sole source of treatment for both alcohol-related and psychiatric problems.

“Thirteenth-stepping” is a pejorative term for AA members approaching new members for dates. A study in the Journal of Addiction Nursing sampled 55 women in AA and found that 35% of these women had experienced a “pass” and 29% had felt seduced at least once in AA settings. This has also happened with new male members who received guidance from older female AA members pursuing sexual company.

Manitoba has more than 500 A.A. meetings held at over 130 different locations.

Given the lifelong commitment expected of AA members, it is doubtful whether such a short period is sufficient to detect meaningful changes. Tonigan and colleagues analyzed whether sample origin (i.e., sample recruitment from outpatient or inpatient settings) affected the correlation what is alcoholics anonymous between consumption-related factors and AA affiliation. One explanation for this difference could be that, in general, there was much greater variation in these factors (e.g., alcohol consumption levels of the patients) among inpatient samples than among outpatient samples.

• When matching clients to AA, differences between individual AA groups also may need to be considered.
• According to AA traditions, the only qualification for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
• Several concepts used in AA add to the success of the program, including sponsorship, anniversaries, and social support.
• AA’s program is an inheritor of Counter-Enlightenment philosophy.
• For example, the patient samples used in many studies do not represent adequately the general AA member population, and demographic patient characteristics often are not described thoroughly.

When possible, having a client escorted to the first few meetings by an established stable member is a good introduction. Clients need to be reminded that self-help groups may provide contradictory and sometimes even counterproductive information that is in contrast to their standard therapies. This can be particularly problematic for patients with a dual diagnosis and special needs who are on pharmacotherapies for psychiatric disorders. One client with bipolar disorder said, “I was told that being drug free, meant not taking my lithium, too.” Re-hospitalization and personal and family suffering can be the result. Therapeutic processing of early self-help group experience is extremely valuable. Individuals who attend AA groups are committed to stop abusing alcohol and remain sober.

AA Meetings During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Since this time, local chapters of Alcoholics Anonymous were popping up all over the United States and around the world. According to the Alcoholics Anonymous web site at it is estimated that there are currently more than 100,000 groups with approximately 2,000,000 members worldwide. These are grass roots efforts to provide alcohol and drug treatment service to those who truly want to change. When choosing a treatment center, we hope you choose us and recognize that the experience at Experience Recovery is one like no other. Under the direction of our Medical Director, Dr. Mario San Bartolome and our Clinical Director, Michael Mazzarino our program is scientifically based, medically driven, and therapeutically sound.

Some face-to-face Alcoholics Anonymous meetings allow you to take a person for support. You can find further details of these meetings on the AA website. Anyone with an honest desire to stop drinking is able to attend AA. There are no membership fees, conditions or contracts. If when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop drinking.