If you are a professional looking for information about Alcoholics Anonymous:
Many thousands of alcoholics owe their lives to a non-alcoholic professional — a medical doctor, psychiatrist, counselor, law enforcement official, member of the clergy — who was knowledgeable enough about alcoholism to recognize the illness and take the actions that would cut through the alcoholic’s denial and start him on the road to recovery. Often, non-alcoholics are able to help drunks long before they might have reached Alcoholics Anonymous on their own. For example, in the 2001 AA Membership Survey, 27% of those surveyed identified courts, counseling agencies, and healthcare providers as the factor “most responsible for members coming to AA”
— Adapted from the Spring 2004 issue of About AA, A Newsletter for Professionals.
You might have patients, clients, employees, students or members of your congregation who have — or may have — a drinking problem. Perhaps they or their family members have come to you for guidance. Even if you’ve heard of Alcoholics Anonymous (“AA”), you may have questions about “how it works,” and you want to find out more information about our Fellowship before you refer anyone to us. We are happy to help you learn more about AA.
AA has individuals and service committees who are available to provide professionals with specific information about our Fellowship: What AA is, What it Does and Doesn’t Do, and how people can find us. In Colorado, as in many other areas, we have established the CPC committee as a resource for providing that kind of information. Upon request from professionals, the CPC committee can:
- Send out pamphlets and other informational materials about Alcoholics Anonymous
- Send out local meeting schedules
- Take professionals to an open AA meeting so they can see for themselves what it is
- Put professionals in contact with other AA members who would be available to accompany their patient, client, etc. to his/her first AA meeting
- Present an overview of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous to the professional or his/her staff
If you’d like more information, specific or general, about any of the items mentioned above, please feel free to contact the CPC chairperson.
There is no charge associated with any of these services. Our members participate in these outreach activities because it helps them stay sober, and we would welcome the opportunity to be of service.