CPC – Cooperation with the Professional Community

For Professionals

Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) has A.A. members and service committees available to provide information about Alcoholics Anonymous to you. From the beginning A.A. has cooperated but not affiliated with outside organizations and makes itself available to provide A.A. meetings or information about A.A. upon request. A.A. communicates with such professionals as: doctors or other health care professionals, members of the clergy, law enforcement or court officials, educators, social workers, alcoholism counselors, therapists, those whose work brings them into contact problem drinkers in their work.

As professionals, you may be able to reach still-suffering alcoholics who might otherwise never find the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. We want to strengthen and expand communication to help the alcoholic who still suffers. Cooperating with nonalcoholic professionals is an effective way to carry the message to the sick alcoholic. Such people often meet the alcoholic in places where A.A. is not present. Through professionals, alcoholics may be reached who might otherwise never find the program, or they may be reached sooner with the help of informed non-A.A.s.

Our CPC committee informs professionals and future professionals about A.A. — what we are, where we are, what we can do, and what we cannot do. They attempt to establish better communication between A.A.s and professionals, and to find simple, effective ways of cooperating without affiliating.

We Can Come to You

Many professionals are looking for time-friendly, informative presentations that help them better understand Alcoholics Anonymous. We believe that meeting professionals where they are — and on their schedule — can be an important first step in extending the hand of A.A. to those who may benefit from it.

Our committee offers both virtual and in-person presentations tailored to your needs. Sessions can be 20 minutes or longer (or shorter) and are available for professionals, colleagues, students, classrooms, and community groups. Contact us at cpc@baltimoreaa.org

We would welcome the opportunity to connect and provide a presentation that fits your schedule.

How the Program Works

A.A. ‘s primary purpose, as stated in our Preamble, is: “. . . to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.”

The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. Members share their experiences in recovery from alcoholism on a one-to-one basis and introduce the newcomer to A.A. ‘s Twelve Steps of personal recovery and its Twelve Traditions that sustain the Fellowship itself.

Meetings. At the heart of the program are its meetings, which are conducted autonomously by A.A. groups in cities and towns throughout the world. Anyone may attend open meetings of A.A. These usually consist of talks by one or more speakers who share impressions of their past illness and their present recovery in A.A. Some open meetings — to which helping professionals, the media and others are invited — are held for the specific purpose of informing the nonalcoholic (and possibly alcoholic) public about A.A. Closed meetings are for alcoholics only.

Alcoholics recovering in A.A. generally attend several meetings each week.

Anonymity. Anonymity helps the Fellowship to govern itself by principles rather than personalities, by attraction rather than promotion. We openly share our program of recovery, but not the names of the individuals in it.

What A.A. Does NOT Do

A.A. does not: Furnish initial motivation for alcoholics to recover; solicit members; engage in or sponsor research; keep attendance records or case histories; join “councils” of social agencies; follow up or try to control its members; make medical or psychological diagnoses or prognoses; provide drying-out or nursing services, hospitalization, drugs, or any medical or psychiatric treatment; offer religious services; engage in education about alcohol; provide housing, food, clothing, jobs, money or any other welfare or social services; provide domestic or vocational counseling; accept any money for its services or any contributions from non-A.A. sources; provide letters of reference to parole boards, lawyers, court officials, social agencies, employers, etc.

Singleness of Purpose and
Problems Other Than Alcohol

Some professionals refer to alcoholism and drug addiction as ‘substance abuse’ or ‘chemical dependency.’ Non-alcoholics are, therefore, sometimes introduced to A.A. and encouraged to attend A.A. meetings. Anyone may attend open A.A. meetings, but only those with a drinking problem may attend closed meetings.

A Resource for Helping Professionals

Professionals who work with alcoholics share a common purpose with Alcoholics Anonymous: to help alcoholics stop drinking and lead a healthy, productive life.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a nonprofit, self-supporting, entirely independent fellowship— “not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution.” Yet A.A. can serve as a resource to you through its policy of “cooperation but not affiliation” with the professional community.

We can serve as a source of personal experience with alcoholism as an ongoing support system for recovering alcoholics.

Alcoholics are never alone-Alcoholics Anonymous has meetings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to be found locally through The Meeting Guide App available on the play store for Android or Apple, or by visiting or calling the local intergroups (which also have and sell literature). The Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous at www.AA-intergroup.org is also available.

Resources for Those Still Suffering:

  • Alcoholics Anonymous main organizational website can be found on the internet at aa.org.
  • Our “Meeting Guide App” available on the play store has local meetings and is searchable by zip code. AA.org/meeting-Guide-App
  • Local Intergroups support local groups/needs and have meeting lists and directories and a telephone hotline, many with phone availability 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year where a recovering alcoholic can be reached.
  • The Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous at AA-intergroup.org has worldwide online and telephone meetings and for special interest groups such as “Young People”, “Seniors” and “People of Color” as well as in multiple languages including ASL for the Deaf and meetings for those with low vision and other needs.

Resources for Professionals:

Professionals Can Include:

Healthcare Professionals

Mental Health Professionals

Social Workers

Human Resources Professionals

Legal Professionals

Corrections Professionals

Treatment Center Staff

Educators

Members of the Clergy

Police Officers

Members of the professional community have been our advocates since the early days of AA in the 1930’s. This has played a key role in AA’s growth. Alcoholics Anonymous has maintained a policy of being “friendly with our friends.”

If you have any questions, contact us at cpc@baltimoreaa.org