Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary organisation operating worldwide. It is free to everyone seeking help and there are a number of groups operating throughout Shropshire with a range of evening and daytime meetings.
What is Alcoholics Anonymous?
A.A. is a fellowship of individuals wishing to share their experiences and offer each other support to solve a common problem.
A.A. is built upon 12 main principles: the Twelve Traditions. These include the fact that membership is based on a desire to stop drinking and the beliefs that personal recovery depends on group unity, that anonymity and autonomy are important and that the A.A. does not have opinions on public issues and so cannot be drawn into public controversy.
Alcoholics Anonymous also focuses on 12 steps that are used to describe how individuals can move away from alcohol misuse towards recovery.
What happens at a meeting?
A.A. members share their experiences and offer mutual support. The 12 steps of the A.A. programme are discussed at meetings. There are two main types of meetings: open and closed.
Open meetings
- Open speaker meetings are open to everyone: people with and without alcohol problems. People tell their stories, describe their experiences with alcohol and how they came to join A.A. Individuals often describe how their lives have changed as a result of joining Alcoholics Anonymous.
- Open discussion meetings are based on one member speaking briefly about his or her drinking. This then leads to a discussion on any drinking-related problem people wish to discuss.
Closed meetings
- Closed discussion meetings are only for A.A. members or those with alcohol problems who wish to join A.A.
- Step meetings are usually closed and these focus around a discussion of one of the 12 steps.
- Meetings are also sometimes offered at treatment centres, prisons and in other types of residential centre.
Who can join?
Anyone can join: the only membership requirement is a desire to stop drinking.
Does it cost to join?
No. There is no fee. A.A. groups are self supporting through voluntary member contributions.
Where do local groups meet?
Meetings take place throughout Shropshire including Broseley, Bridgnorth, Shrewsbury, Shifnal and Telford.
How can I contact A.A.?
- to find out more about the Shropshire and Boarders Intergroup phone 01792 301907
- to contact the national helpline number call 0845 769 7555
- to find out more about Alcoholics Anonymous or to search for local meetings see the website on this page