Alcoholics Anonymous
Twelve-step recovery group
Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship of people recovering from alcohol addiction, founded in 1935.
Members follow a twelve-step program emphasizing personal accountability, spiritual growth, and mutual support.
Meetings are free and confidential; the "anonymous" reflects both privacy protection and the principle that no individual speaks for the organization.
Often shortened to AA: He's been in AA for fifteen years.
Structured path from addiction
- sponsorFunder of activities
- meetingGathering for discussion
- home groupSmall religious gathering
- chipSmall broken-off piece
medallion · anniversary · sobriety date · amends · personal inventory · higher power · spiritual awakening · powerlessness
Unimpaired mental state
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- clean timeDuration of abstinence
- relapseReturn to former illness
- slipMinor error or misstep
rock bottom · surrender · acceptance · willingness · honesty · humility · amends · making amends
Transcendent spiritual entity
- prayerAddress to deity
- meditationFocused attention practice
- spiritual awakeningProfound inner consciousness shift
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
faith · humility · gratitude · serenity · acceptance · willingness · letting go · trust
Gathering for discussion
- home groupSmall religious gathering
- sponsorFunder of activities
- old-timerLong-tenured person
- newcomerRecent arrival somewhere
sharing · intergroup · central office · open meeting · closed meeting · lead · fellowship hall · greeter
Funder of activities
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- phone listRecorded callable numbers
- sharingDividing among others
- listeningAttending to sound
identification · witness · encouragement · nonjudgmental · safe space · confidentiality · service · unity
twelve steps
Structured path from addiction
- sponsorFunder of activities
- meetingGathering for discussion
- home groupSmall religious gathering
chip · medallion · anniversary · sobriety date · amends · personal inventory · higher power · spiritual awakening · powerlessness · unmanageability
sobriety
Unimpaired mental state
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- clean timeDuration of abstinence
- relapseReturn to former illness
slip · rock bottom · surrender · acceptance · willingness · honesty · humility · amends · making amends · one day at a time
higher power
Transcendent spiritual entity
- prayerAddress to deity
- meditationFocused attention practice
- spiritual awakeningProfound inner consciousness shift
surrender · faith · humility · gratitude · serenity · acceptance · willingness · letting go · trust · grace
meeting
Gathering for discussion
- home groupSmall religious gathering
- sponsorFunder of activities
- old-timerLong-tenured person
newcomer · sharing · intergroup · central office · open meeting · closed meeting · lead · fellowship hall · greeter
sponsor
Funder of activities
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- phone listRecorded callable numbers
- sharingDividing among others
listening · identification · witness · encouragement · nonjudgmental · safe space · confidentiality · service · unity · love
- recoveryrecovery, sobriety, rehab, recover, recovery room
- support groupssupport groups, support group, self-help groups, group therapy, peer support
- alcohol problemsalcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol dependency, binge drinking, heavy drinking
- Alcohol Recoveryalcohol recovery, AA, rehab, detox, AA meetings
- Alcoholismalcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, alcohol dependence, dependence, dependency
- Recovery ProgramsAA, twelve steps, higher power, sponsor, meeting
Alcoholics Anonymousbar culture
Social norms of taverns
drinking culture · party scene · wine club · beer culture · pub culture
alcoholic, anonymous, alcoholism, anonymity, alcoholics, anonymously, nonalcoholic