What AA does not do.

[nandm]

We always here about what AA does but what about what it doesn't do.
I found this interesting and hope you do to.

What A.A. Does Not Do


A.A. does not:


* Furnish initial motivation for alcoholics to recover

* Solicit members

* Engage in or sponsor research

* Keep attendance records or case histories

* Join "councils" of social agencies

* Follow up or try to control its members

* Make medical or psychological diagnoses or prognoses

* Provide drying-out or nursing services, hospitalization, drugs, or any medical or psychiatric treatment

* Offer religious services

* Engage in education about alchohol

* Provide housing, food, clothing, jobs, money, or any other welfare or social services

* Provide domestic or vocational counseling

* Accept any money for its services, or any contributions from non-A.A. sources

* Provide letters of reference to parole boards, lawyers, court officials, social agencies, employers, etc.

[best]

Originally Posted by nandm

We always here about what AA does but what about what it doesn't do.
I found this interesting and hope you do to.

What A.A. Does Not Do


* Provide domestic or vocational counseling

I tend to not agree with this one because if a person works the steps, they will gain a counseling from the inside out that no one else can give them.
The 12 steps work in all parts of life.

[nandm]

Originally Posted by best

I tend to not agree with this one because if a person works the steps, they will gain a counseling from the inside out that no one else can give them.
The 12 steps work in all parts of life.

Interesting perspective best, thank you for your input.

[Emimily]

* Engage in education about alchohol

* Provide housing, food, clothing, jobs, money, or any other welfare or social services

i think, as a whole, AA does not provide these services but i think that if you're in AA and are curious about alcohol, other AA members can often answer basic questions about alcohol. carol d, one of the SR members who is also in AA, contributes info on alcohol to this site. also, i have seen members of AA organize to take clothing to the county detox here, and there are plenty of alcoholics i know (myself included) that will lend a hand wherever possible to an alcoholic who might need help in the areas of housing, food, clothing, jobs, money, or any other welfare or social services. it says in the big book (the chapter "working with others") that it may be necessary to give a drunk a place to stay, with certain expectations on their part.

just my opinion.

[nandm]

Originally Posted by Emimily

i think, as a whole, AA does not provide these services but i think that if you're in AA and are curious about alcohol, other AA members can often answer basic questions about alcohol. carol d, one of the SR members who is also in AA, contributes info on alcohol to this site. also, i have seen members of AA organize to take clothing to the county detox here, and there are plenty of alcoholics i know (myself included) that will lend a hand wherever possible to an alcoholic who might need help in the areas of housing, food, clothing, jobs, money, or any other welfare or social services. it says in the big book (the chapter "working with others") that it may be necessary to give a drunk a place to stay, with certain expectations on their part.

just my opinion.

Good point, the people of AA can be great resources for that type of information. But AA in general is does not provide it.

[miss communicat]

My take on the publication that contains the list of what AA does not do, is that it is intended as clarification (based, I am sure, upon nescessity borne from past experience with unrealistic expactations and confusion) not as an unyielding, rigid declaration of unwillingness nor condemnation towards any AA personally offering things such as charity, alcohol information, food or other assistance.

[mike_mass]

Originally Posted by nandm

* Engage in education about alchohol

I used to attend a meeting near a nursing college and every so often students would come with notebooks to record observations. It was a small (and I think open) meeting so we never addressed it (plus they were cute). Anyway, I always felt a nagging doubt about the whole thing.

[nandm]

Originally Posted by miss communicat

My take on the publication that contains the list of what AA does not do, is that it is intended as clarification (based, I am sure, upon nescessity borne from past experience with unrealistic expactations and confusion) not as an unyielding, rigid declaration of unwillingness nor condemnation towards any AA personally offering things such as charity, alcohol information, food or other assistance.

Well put Miss communicator. I posted it because I found the information interesting. When I was a newcomer I did not know what AA was or what it did or did not offer. For me this information would have been useful to me for clarification. I have experienced the generosity of individual AA members who have helped me in times of need but that was individuals not AA as an organization. Thank you for your clarification.

[miss communicat]

We had a meeting recently where this was the topic. I marveled then, and still do, at how precise and clearminded the writers were;I marvel at the power of the word when used with care.

Reading AA literature was a beginning for me, of wanting sobriety in AA, that I may soemeday use my God given brain to such positive ends.

Thank you for sharing the piece. I love it.