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The Village Voice has a feature titled "AA Unmasked: The Premier 12-Step Program Has a Killer Drug Problem." Written by MT, a member of both AA and NA and author of A Sponsorship Guide to 12-Steps the article details a growing conflict in the Fellowship around the organization's 'primary purpose.'
Spelled out in Tradition 5, Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers, there is another move on to limit member's to talking about their alcohol use only and to eliminate any discussion of drugs.
According to the article, the General Service Office (GSO) focused on the "issue of people sharing about problems other than alcohol" at this year's Annual Meeting and took action to emphasize that AA is for alcoholics only.
The article includes some history, and snippets of stories from AA's who have been told by their respective meetings they must not talk about their drug use. CI, well known Santa Monica AA Member is quoted as suggesting "Since AA is based so much on identification rather than information, it is imperative that alcoholics talk about their experiences" and that alcoholic-addicts should "glide over their drugs."
As MT makes clear, from a practical standpoint this is utter nonsense. It's also an issue that will be decided by the individual groups and meetings, and not from some ruling by GSO or pronouncement by so-called elder statesmen.
Meetings are Autonomous
After all, AA groups and meetings are autonomous. I've been in meetings where conservatives tried to insist I couldn't talk about my abuse of prescribed drugs. Each time, such proposals were voted down. I've attended AA meetings where the reading at the beginning included a reference to not talking about issues other than alcohol, and I've shared about my drug use. They never kicked me out.Narcotics Anonymous understands the issue, insisting that anyone who claims drug addiction is also, automatically, an alcoholic simply because alcohol is a drug. AA would do well to recognize this and quit trying to push the river.
What should you do if one of your meetings tries to limit your sharing? Tell your truth!
If that includes drugs, as it does for so many of us, go right ahead. If they give you heat, call for a group conscience vote on the subject. You'll probably be pleasantly surprised, and if the group tries to censor what's being said, find another meeting - or start a new one.
Just because GSO or a particular meeting shoots itself in the foot doesn't mean you have to. AA is self-correcting when its members are willing to stand up for what's real.
Anne Wayman is the author of Powerfully Recovered! Her website is and you can contact her at wayman@inetworld.net.
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