Are you new to A.A.?

The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.

What is Alcoholism?

As A.A. sees it, alcoholism is an illness. Alcoholics cannot control their drinking, because they are ill in their bodies and in their minds (or emotions), A.A. believes that if they do not stop drinking, their alcoholism almost always gets worse and worse. Both the American Medical Association and the British Medical Association, chief organizations of doctors in those countries, also have said that alcoholism is an illness.

What are the symptoms?

Not all alcoholics have the same symptoms, but many – at different stages in the illness – show these signs. They may:
  • Find that only alcohol can make them feel self-confident and at ease with other people.
  • Often want “just one more” at the end of a party.
  • Look forward to drinking occasions and think about them a lot.
  • Get drunk when they had not planned to.
  • Try to control their drinking by changing types of liquor, going on the wagon, or taking pledges.
  • Sneak drinks, lie about their drinking, and hide bottles.
  • Drink at work (or in school) or drink alone.
  • Have blackouts (cannot remember what they said or did the night before).
  • Drink in the morning to relieve hangovers, guilty feelings, and fears.
  • Fail to eat and become malnourished.
  • Get cirrhosis of the liver.
  • Shake violently, hallucinate, or have convulsions when withdrawn from liquor.
Excerpt from the Pamphlet P-42 A brief Guide to A.A.

We in Alcoholics Anonymous do not pronounce anyone as alcoholic or non-alcoholic. This you must decide for yourself. If you think that you might be an Alcoholic and would like to know more about A.A. and how it works then check out the links below.

What is A.A.?

Find out about what A.A. does and does not do, how meetings work and get answers to some of your questions.
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How does an AA Meeting Work?

If you are looking for help for someone else that is struggling with a drinking problem, then read more below.
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Personal Stories of AA Members

As a professional you may encounter people daily struggling with a drinking problem. We want to work with you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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