Today, our Recovery Topic is Singleness of Purpose.
Alcoholic Anonymous Tradition 3: The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.
Al-Anon Tradition 3: The relatives of alcoholics, when gathered together for mutual aid, may call themselves an Al-Anon Family Group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend.
Alcoholics Anonymous Tradition 5: Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
Al-Anon Tradition 5: Each Al-Anon Family Group has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps of AA ourselves, by encouraging and understanding our alcoholic relatives, and by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics.
Mark, Russ, Spencer, and Chad discuss Traditions 3 and 5 in regards to Alcoholics Anonymous and Spencer represents the Al-anon perspective. Russ starts off the program stating that alcoholism is caused by drinking, so we arrive with that problem. Dual addictions or cross addictions are OK in AA as long as alcohol is the primary problem.
Spencer shared that newcomers are not sure if their loved one is actually an alcoholic. Spencer shared that his understanding that if the newcomer has been affected by someone’s drinking, then you are welcome in Al-Anon.
Chad shared that you can be a member of AA even before they are convinced they are alcoholic. Just a desire to stop drinking is the only requirement for membership.
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