soopy99

I went to AA beginners meetings the past two days, and I think they helped. I plan to keep going at least for now. However, after the meeting today, someone approached me and one of the first questions he asked was whether I was ordered by a court to go to AA.

I was vaguely aware that some courts ordered AA attendance, but I didn't expect that the assumption would be that if I was new, I was under a court order. I question how effective these meetings will be for me if a good percentage of the attendees don't want to be there.

Can any AA experts share some thoughts about this?

Thanks

Venecia

If AA is helping you, don't worry about the rest. What matters is your sobriety.

I'm not an AA member so others can shed some light. I do know that some states permit mandated AA.

sugarbear1

People attend meetings for a variety of reasons. None of them are my concern. I go to save my own life and possibly to help another person to stay stopped, too.

Life is so awesome sober

Mountainmanbob

I have seen some meetings that have as many as 1/3 in attendance court ordered with court slips that have to be signed. It's not a big deal and for many of these if alcoholic, the sober seed may be planted. And some others may make a decision to stop drinking for good.

I have been on a court slip several times.
8 years sober now far away from the court slip days. Still attend many AA meetings. For they say, if it works don't fix it.

MM

MIRecovery

I know a lot of people who say they owe their life to court ordered attendance. I have seen a lot of people come only to get their slip signed then to re-emerge years later when things had gotten even worse.

I go to AA meetings because they help keep me sober

Saskia

I've had court-ordered folks in my AA groups and my reaction is twofold ... 1. There but for the grace ... go I and 2. We are all brothers and sisters under the skin.

I am fortunate that I have never had a DUI but that doesn't make me any better than those who have.

advbike

In the meetings I've gone to there may have been a few who were ordered to be there, but the large majority were obviously there because they wanted to be.. they were having fun, lol. Anyway you can always find a different meeting. Many to choose from in the States.

Jsbodhi

They might have just been trying to be helpful in case you were court ordered and needed something signed

Dee74

Some great responses here.
I'm glad to hear you're going to AA soopy- best wishes

D

BarbieKen

Hi,
I've been the treasurer at my Big Book mtg for 2 years. I sign those cards every Saturday. No stigma, I mean you are in a place for alcoholics and addicts to get help and heal. I've heard the saying " A nudge from the Judge" lots of times. And always with laughter from the group. If you feel it's helping, why not continue?
Bobbi

soopy99

Thanks for all of the responses. It all makes sense to me. I'll stick with it for now because it is helpful being able to talk openly with other alcoholics, regardless why they are attending or whether I buy in to the step program. Before going to an AA meeting, I'd never once spoken in person with someone who admitted to having a problem with alcohol. The meetings reinforce that I'm not alone in this struggle.

tomsteve

i was court ordered. nope, going to meetings didnt do crap. i wasnt ready to admit i hadda problem.
ended up in aa about 30 days after getting off probation. admitted alcohol was the problem and i wanted help.


" I question how effective these meetings will be for me if a good percentage of the attendees don't want to be there."

im not sure what effect youre lookin for.
to screw up your drinking? probably very effective.
to get sober? somewhat effective.

ive seen quite a few people that go to meetings and not drink end up drunk again.
i see many people go to meetings,not drink, and work the program recover from alcoholism,learn how to live lufe on lifes terms, and have pretty good lives.

aasharon90

I was sent into rehab, a court order, where
I remained for 28 days, my choice so that
I wouldn't be sent away to a halfway house.

I spent that first month sober learning
about my addiction to alcohol and its
affects on my mind, body and soul and
receiving a program of recovery consisting
of steps and principle to apply to all areas
of my life once I returned home.

After rehab I continued on with a 6 week
outpatient aftercare program and attending
AA meetings finding balance within my
family and recovery.

August 11, 1990 was the beginning of
my recovery life that Ive maintained for
a many one days at a time for 25 yrs now.

My court order was and has been a
gift provided to me to give me my life
back and enjoy the promises each day
I live my recovery life and remaining
responsible incorporating those tools
and knowledge of an effective program
of AA on a daily bases in all areas of my
life.

It, a program of recovery works because
I continue to work it. What an AWSEOME
gift to treasure, enjoy, protect and pass it on.

Mountainmanbob

Yes and at times those court slips just may ?

Save a marriage, family, job or life ?

I have witnessed the above miracles .

Mountainmanbob

All we can do is plant the seed.

Fly N Buy

I walked in of my own volition without being "on paper". I quickly discerned these friends were just like me, I simply had not been caught by the authorities. YET = you're eligible too (meaning me/us)

I suppose I would have had a major resentment over that. How dare they tell me I have a problem!

I've learned it make no difference how one comes in, do they stay?? It works if we work it........

When I accepted I could not drink and became willing to change, the program of AA worked for me.

From our book -
"....and though perhaps he came to scoff, he may remain to pray"

keep coming back!

thomas11

What Venecia said.

greens

Are you young? When I went to aa I was in my 20's and people assumed I was there to get court cards signed. It was an odd assumption to make but whatever.

Yes a lot of people in aa are court ordered there, I've been to meetings where more then half the people there are court ordered but a lot of members are there by choice. I just used the program in early sobriety and stuck with people who were happy about being sober and avoided the grumpy ones.

soopy99

I am in my thirties, which does bring the average age in the room down.

So far, I've only seen one person there getting a card signed. He was silent the entire meeting and look disinterested. I guess my concerns were a bit overblown.

Dropsie

Path is different, but for the lucky ones, the destination is the same.

We are all on this path together.

Commit yourself, accept your condition, and everything will be okay.

Mountainmanbob

Been out in the desert on vacation for a while. Met a man in AA just released from prison due to his receiving 3 DUI's. He says that he is done drinking. I believe him. He seems to be very serious regarding the Program. Yes, he also has a court slip.
Mountainman