Format For Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings
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Is there a format for
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings? Yes there is. But one must always keep in mind that there are many different kinds of meetings
and also that no two Alcoholics Anonymous groups are identically the same.
Indeed, this diversity among groups is due to the unique features of the people who make up the particular group. As a
result of this diversity, many different kinds of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings can be found at the various AA locations throughout the
world.
The Importance of Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings
Meetings are one of the foundational components of Alcoholics Anonymous. A chairperson, who is typically a member of the group, will open the meeting (call the meeting
to order) and follow the format for the type of meeting he or she is conducting: speaker meeting, beginner meeting, discussion meeting,
etc.
If the chairperson asks if there are any
newcomers, visitors should free to raise their hands and give their first name.
For the most part, a "single share" protocol is followed in meetings which means that members do not speak for any length of time
more than once during the meeting. At times, however, exceptions to this standard are made, depending upon the group or the
circumstances.
In all meetings, "cross talk" is kept to a minimum. "Cross talk" from the Alcoholics Anonymous perspective means giving
direct advice to others who have already shared, speaking directly to another person rather than to the group, telling another member what to
think or how to act, and questioning or interrupting the person who is sharing and speaking at the time. In a related manner, the usual
etiquette during all meetings is for members to remain silent until the speaker has finished.
The Meeting Goes Around The Room
Every once in a while, the meeting "goes around the room" and all attendees have the opportunity to speak if they want
to. Other times the discussion leader might call on specific members and invite them to share their experiences. Members who do not
wish to speak simply say "Thanks, I'll pass" or "I'll just listen tonight." Responses such as these are always accepted due to the fact that
pressure is never exerted for people to speak.
If a person does not have a chemical dependency problem, he or she should attend open meetings. Stated differently,
closed meetings are specifically for people who have a chemical dependency problem.
| Children of alcoholics demonstrate a three- to four-time increased risk of developing alcoholism. |
Meeting Size
Meeting size varies from small to large depending on where the meeting is held and on the specific meeting format (i.e.,
discussion, Big Book, step, speaker) and who attends the meeting (men, women, mixed, young people, and so on). Whereas "small"
meetings usually have 15 or fewer members, "large" meetings can have as many as 30, 40, 50 or more attendees.
| Every year in the United States, more than 40,000 babies are born with some degree of alcohol-related impairment.
Although many, if not most, women understand that excessive drinking during pregnancy can lead to birth defects, many woman,
apparently, are unaware or do not comprehend that moderate or even light drinking can seriously impair or harm the unborn
fetus. |
Smoking, Nonsmoking and the Close of the Meeting
The traditional "smoke filled room" is
becoming a thing of the past as more and more meetings are nonsmoking only. Smokers still flock together outside the meeting areas; however, meetings that permit smoking inside are becoming
increasingly rare. Meetings usually end on time and are closed in a way that is decided upon by the particular group.
A basket is typically passed around the room for voluntary contributions to cover expenses. No contribution is
required. Indeed, first-timers are frequently advised not to contribute. The usual donation is one dollar.
At the close of the meeting it is common for the chairperson to remind everyone of the Twelfth Tradition (the principle of
anonymity) and to invite the group to stand, join hands in a circle, and recite the Serenity Prayer or the Lord's Prayer.
| 6.6 million American children under the age of 18 live in homes with at least one alcoholic parent. |
Types of AA Meetings
No two Alcoholics Anonymous groups are the same. In fact, there is a great degree of diversity among groups due to the
unique features of the individuals that make up the particular group.
| Problem drinkers are mostly found in young adults between the ages of 18 and 29. Conversely, the age group with
the fewest alcohol problems is adults who are 65 years old or older. |
The AA "Fourth Tradition" states that "Each group
should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole." This tradition is taken seriously by group
members. Indeed, there is a great degree of variety from group to group regarding what is emphasized, the selection readings, the type
of ritual, the meeting philosophy, the emotional tone of the meetings, and the informal group norms.
This great variety appears to be one of the secrets of success of Alcoholics Anonymous and usually means that newcomers, if they
are willing to spend the effort and time, will be able to find a meeting that closely matches their needs.
| In Canada, an estimated 4% of the population over the age of 15 is dependent on alcohol and there are twice as
many male alcoholics as female alcoholics. The highest rate of alcoholism in Canadians occurs between the ages of 20 and 24. In
Canadian surveys, about 20% of the current and former drinkers stated that their alcoholic drinking negatively affected them,
usually affecting their finances or their jobs. |
The following represents some of the different AA meetings that are available:
Open Meetings: These meetings are open to anyone: to alcoholics, non-alcoholics, and to anyone
interested in solving a personal drinking problem or helping someone else to solve such a problem.
| Research indicates that adolescents who use alcohol may remember 10 percent less of what they have learned than
those who don’t drink. |
Closed Meetings: These meetings are limited to alcoholics. They provide an opportunity for members to share with
one another regarding drinking patterns and problems and about the struggle to remain sober. Closed meetings also provide a forum for
detailed discussion of the different aspects in the recovery program.
| There are basically four different types of alcohol tests: breathalyzer tests, blood alcohol tests, urine tests,
and saliva alcohol tests. It can be pointed out that hair tests cannot detect alcohol. |
Beginners Meetings: These meetings are typically targeted at newcomers, i.e., those individuals with less
than one year of sobriety. A topic will be suggested by a chairperson and then members who want to, can share their personal hopes, fears, or
experiences related to the topic. In this manner, beginners will start to understand the AA program of Alcoholics Anonymous and how they can
refrain from drinking, one day at a time.
| Research has shown that people who start drinking at an early age, for instance at 13 years old or younger,
significantly increases the likelihood that they will experience alcohol problems later in life. |
Speaker Meetings: One or two members of AA will share their story-- what alcoholism was like, what
happened to them while they drank, and what life is like now that they are
sober. The speaker, usually chosen in advance, agrees to tell his story of drinking and recovery to the group. Speakers are
typically members with a year or more of sobriety who have previously been asked to share their story.
A common format at speaker meetings is to start the meeting with the usual opening readings and then to devote the rest of the
meeting to the speaker's story. When the story is finished the meeting is closed without any formal discussion. Some meetings are combined
"speaker-discussion meetings." In this type of meeting, the main speaker shares his or her story for 15 to 30 minutes, and then opens the
meeting to a group discussion of the topics raised in accordance with the typical protocol of a discussion meeting. During speaker
meetings, newcomers or beginners are encouraged not to compare, but to relate to each member's experiences.
| The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that there were 17,000 alcohol-related traffic
fatalities in each of the last three years. |
Discussion Meetings: A topic will be suggested by a chairperson and then other members can share
their own experiences about the topics. Newcomers are encouraged not to compare, but to relate to each member's experiences.
Remember, attendees come to the meetings for the same reason: to stay sober, one day at a time. In discussion
meetings, sharing that consists of personal experience and an application of the referenced text is valued over purely theoretical and impersonal
discussions.
| Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a group of symptoms manifested by individuals who stop drinking alcohol after a
pattern of continuous and excessive consumption. These symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe and include both
psychological and behavioral aspects |
Step Meetings: One person will present a 10 or 15-minute discussion about one of the twelve steps and then
will invite other members to share their experiences about working on the particular step. Not unlike the discussion meetings, sharing that
consists of personal experience and an application of the referenced text is seen as more important than theoretical or impersonal discussions
during step meetings.
| Recent research demonstrates that the drugs most likely to produce effective results when treating alcohol
withdrawal symptoms are the benzodiazepines: the shorter-acting benzodiazepines such as Serax and Ativan or the longer-acting
benzodiazepines like Valium and Librium. |
Big Book Study Meetings: Members discuss a specific reading from the “Big Book,” a term AA
members use in reference to the program's basic text, Alcoholics Anonymous. Similar to the step meetings, sharing that
consists of personal experience and an application of the referenced text is seen as more important than theoretical or impersonal
discussions.
| In the United States, the correlation between the battering of women and alcohol abuse is the highest for men who
believe that male control and power over women are acceptable in various situations. |
Key for Meeting Types
The following represents the "Key" for the
different types of meeting on the schedule:
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12 & 12 = 12 Steps and 12 Traditions
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BB = Big Book
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C = closed (Alcoholics Only)
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CC = Child Care Available
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DSP = Does Not Sign Court Papers
- D = Discussion
- FF = Floating Format
- G = Gay
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HS = Heavy Smoking
- L = Lesbian
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LS = Limited Smoking
- M = Men only
- M/L = Mini Lead with Topic
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NS = Non Smoking
- O = open
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P = Panel
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S = Speaker
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SLI = Sign Language Interpreter
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W = Women only
Format For Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings: Conclusion
As discussed, it can be seen that there is indeed a format for Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Variety and
diversity, however, are also hallmarks of the Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Due to the fact that most people find various meeting formats
more helpful than others, local Alcoholics Anonymous advisers can offer a wide variety of meeting formats such as seminars, study groups, panels,
orientation, and so on. In addition, group meetings can be offered for specific groups of people such as lesbians, gays, families of
alcoholics, and women.
And finally, advisers can sponsor group meetings for particular groups of students such as disabled students, first-year
students, honors students, transfer students, students who are seniors, international students, students on probation, and non-traditional
students.
| In many instances, people abuse drugs or alcohol in order to have "fun" or to get a "buzz." Many people, in fact,
report that having a few drinks makes them feel more comfortable in social situations. The danger, however, is this: repeated
alcohol or drug abuse can result in addiction |
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