1. Alcoholics Anonymous

2. How CPC Started What Does CPC Do?
Became a distinct entity in trustees’ committee was formed as an outgrowth of the Public Information Committee.
In 1971, the Conference C.P.C. Committee was established.
Today, many local communities, areas, and regions consider CPC an activity separate from public information, treatment or corrections work. In some places there is overlap.
What Does CPC Do?
C.P.C. committees inform 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. 2

3. Alcoholism as we understand Alcoholism
Alcoholism was recognized by both the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association as a “disease” in 1956.
There are many different ideas as to what alcoholism really is!
The explanation that seems to make most sense (to us) is that alcoholism is an illness – a progressive illness – which can never be cured but which, like some other diseases, can be arrested.
Many feel that it represents a combination of a physical sensitivity to alcohol ( allergy of the body ) and a mental obsession ( of the mind ) to drink, which, regardless of consequences, cannot be broken by willpower alone.

4. How Did A.A. Start?
What is A.A.?
How Big is A.A.?
What does A.A. Do?
What does A.A. Not Do?
The Twelve Steps of A.A.

5. HOW DID A.A. START?
The birth of A.A. and its growth in the U.S. and Canada has its beginnings in 1935 in Akron, Ohio, as the outcome of a meeting between Bill W., a New York stock analyst, and Dr. Bob S., an Akron surgeon
Both had been hopeless alcoholics!
Prior to that time, Bill and Dr. Bob had each been in contact with the Oxford Group, a mostly non-alcoholic fellowship that emphasized universal spiritual values in daily living.
Bill and Dr. Bob

6. Early in 1939, the Fellowship published its basic text book: “Alcoholics Anonymous” usually referred to as “The Big Book” by members of A.A.
The text, written primarily by Bill W., explained A.A. philosophy and methods, the core of which was the now well-known Twelve Steps of Recovery
The book was also reinforced by case histories of some thirty recovered members. From this point forward, the development of Alcoholics Anonymous was rapid.

7. WHAT IS A.A.? Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women……
A.A. is not a religious group, cult, business, etc. Nor is it a social club or dating service. A.A. membership is open to men and women of all ages, race, creed and color.

8. …we are self-supporting through our own contributions
A.A. accepts money from no one but its own members! There is a $ 3,000 limit per member per year
A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution;
A.A. has no religious, political or business affiliations. We are not linked to any other 12-step programs. A.A. has no connection with any medical or treatment centers

9. Does not wish to engage in any controversy;
A.A. does not support one medical or psychological viewpoint over another as it relates to alcoholism
Neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
A.A. is not a temperance movement. A.A. is not opposed to or in favor of drinking alcohol.

10. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
A.A. members have no other agenda or objectives but to maintain their sobriety and pass along what was freely given to them. “Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.” People recover if they work the “12 Steps”

11. HOW BIG IS A.A.?
Because A.A. has never attempted to keep formal membership lists, it is extremely difficult to obtain completely accurate figures on total membership at any given time.
Some local groups are not listed with the U.S./Canada General Services Office (in New York). Others do not provide membership data, so they’re not recorded on the G.S.O. computer records.
The membership figures we have are based on 2006 and 2011 Membership Surveys, plus average allowances for groups that have not reported their membership

13. Age of Members (in 2011) (in 2006) Under age 21 2 % Age 21 – 30 11% 8%
Over %
The average age of an AA member is 49 years

14. Average sobriety of members is almost 10 years
Status of Members
Married 36 %
Single 34 %
Divorced 22 %
Other %
Sober more than 10 years 36 %
Sober 5 – 10 years 12 %
Sober between 1 – 5 years 24 %
Sober less than 1 year 27 %
Average sobriety of members is almost 10 years

15. Introduction to AA
Through an A.A. member 34 % Treatment facility 32 % Self-motivated 29 % Family 25 % Court order 12 % Counseling agency 7 % Health Professional 7 % Employer or fellow worker 4 % Non-A.A. friend or neighbor 3 % Al-Anon or Alateen member 2 % Correctional facility 2 % A.A. literature 2 % Newspaper, magazine/radio/TV 1 % Member of clergy 1 % Internet 7 %

16. WHAT DOES A.A. DO?
The relative success of the A.A. Program seems to be due to the fact that an alcoholic who no longer drinks has an exceptional faculty for “reaching” and helping an uncontrolled drinker.
In its simplest form, the A.A. Program operates when recovered alcoholics pass along the story of their own problem drinking, describing the sobriety they have found in A.A. and invite the newcomer to join the informal Fellowship.
“Pass It On” is the operative slogan here!

17. What Does A.A. Do
A.A. members share their experience, strength and hope with anyone seeking help with a drinking problem; they give person-to-person service or “sponsorship” to an alcoholic coming to A.A. from any source.
The A.A. Program, set forth in our “Twelve Steps”, offers the alcoholic a way to develop a satisfying life (“a way of living”) without alcohol. It is the program that we discuss at A.A. meetings.
The heart of the suggested program of personal recovery is contained in A.A.’s famous “Twelve Steps” describing the experience of the earliest members of the Fellowship.

18. WHAT A.A. DOES NOT DO! Solicit members Engage in or sponsor research
Keep attendance records or case histories
Follow up or try to control its members
Provide drying-out or nursing services, hospitalization, drugs or any medical or psychiatric treatment
Offer religious services

19. WHAT A.A. DOES NOT DO! 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.

20. THE TWELVE STEPS OF A.A.
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

21. THE TWELVE STEPS OF A.A… contd.
Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.
Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

22. Pamphlets for Professionals22

23. Suggestions on how you can cooperate
By offering to help the sick alcoholic get in touch with A.A. (explaining this will entail no obligation to become a member)
By explaining to individuals that only they themselves know whether they are really alcoholic and suggesting a talk with someone from A.A.
By talking to the alcoholic always in terms of suggestions, avoiding threats or duress
By acquiring a better personal understanding of A.A. through attending some A.A. open meetings and reading A.A. literature
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

24. If you or a loved one would like more information about Alcoholics Anonymous, please feel free to call our local Lakeshore Intergroup Office of Alcoholics Anonymous at
The local Intergroup Office can also be reached by writing to AA, Lakeshore Intergroup, 200 Thornton Road North, Oshawa, ON. L1J 6T8
Family members and friends can obtain information on Al-Anon or Alateen by calling or by visiting our website at