New to AA?

AA Central Services:  Find your local office number here 

Al-Anon Meeting Information: 1-888-4AL-ANON (1-888-425-2666)

Alateen information

National Suicide Prevention:  1-800-273-8255 

SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-622-HELP (4357)

Al-Anon - An independent fellowship with the stated purpose of helping relatives and friends of alcoholics.

AWOL: A way of life” is a kind of meeting devoted to the study of the 12 Steps. AWOL meetings use a specific format to study the 12 Steps of AA for a prescribed period of time, usually six to 12 months.

Closed Meeting: An AA meeting for members only, of whom have a desire to stop drinking.

Cross Talk: giving advice to others who have already shared, speaking directly to another person rather than to the group and questioning or interrupting the person speaking at the time. 

Dry Drunk: A person who has stopped drinking alcohol but who still acts impulsively, behaves in dysfunctional ways and makes risky decisions associated with addiction. Signs of dry drunk syndrome can include dishonesty, isolation, depression, anxiety and glamorizing alcohol use.

Fellowship: A fellowship refers to a group of people who share similar goals. Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship where the common goal is to stay sober.

Friend of Bill: A recovering alcoholic, especially one who is a member of AA.  Are you a friend of Bills? Is a safe way to ask someone if they are in AA.

Geographical Cure: This is when people try to escape their alcoholism by moving to a new location. Such attempts are unlikely to be successful because the individual will take their addiction with them.

H.A.L.T:  Means hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. For recovering addicts and alcoholics, this word is how they monitor their state of physical and mental well-being.

Higher Power: A vital element of the AA program is accepting that some higher power can help the individual defeat their addiction. For many people, this higher power is thoughts of as God. This is why non-believers can feel comfortable with AA. There is no rule that says that people need to have God as their higher power. They may decide to choose the power of the group to be their higher power instead.

Home Group: Most AA members will have one group that they attend most frequently. It is beneficial to have one regular group because it makes it possible to build relationships with other members.

IOP: intensive Outpatient Treatment (also known as IOP for "Intensive Outpatient Program") is a primary treatment program recommended in some circumstances by a clinical and medical assessment.

Pink Cloud: A is a phenomenon many recovering addicts experience when they first go into recovery. When pink clouding, they feel a sense of euphoria that's then followed by a crash once reality sets in.

Rooms/Halls: AA slang for meetings.

Jackpot: Terrible things that happen as a result of drinking.

Old Timer:   Generally considered someone who has at least a decade of sobriety.  

Mocus: A state of confusion, often referring to the state of mind brought about by detoxification.

Open Meeting: An AA meeting that welcomes everyone who has an interest in AA.

7th Tradition: The Seventh Tradition states: “Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.” While contributions cover each group's rent and other expenses, the Seventh Tradition is essential at every level of A.A. service.              

Sobriety: Sobriety means more than just staying sober. It also means living a good life and doing the right things.

Sponsor: A sponsor is an experienced member who will be able to provide support and advice on a one to one basis.  Sponsor also take the sponsee through the Big Book and the 12 Steps

Step Study Meeting: This is meeting where the main focus is studying the program. Members share about their experience of working the step under discussion.

Stinking Thinking: Negative thinking can be dangerous for people in recovery. They may start to believe that staying sober is not so wonderful. Stinking thinking can easily lead to relapse.

Thirteenth Stepping: This is where more experienced members of the group take sexual advantage of vulnerable new members.

Twelve Steps: This is the AA program in the form of steps that members should take.

Twelve Traditions: These are the guidelines for how the meetings should be managed and how the organization functions.

Two Stepper: This refers to those members who attend meetings but do not follow the AA program.

Zoom Bomber: An unwanted, disruptive intrusion of the meeting usually by teenagers or internet trolls.

12 Steps: click here