If you continue to attend AA and not drop out you have nearly double chance of remaining abstinent.

Estimated Alcoholics Anonymous Membership 1991-1992

• New members during past year – 0.9 million
• On-going members – 1.5 million
• Total membership – 2.4 million

Continuation Rate in Alcoholics Anonymous

In 1991-1992 4.8 million respondents reported ever attending an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting, for reasons related to their drinking, prior to the last 12 months and 31% reported continued AA attendance during the last 12 months.

Rate of continued AA attendance was associated with years since first AA meeting

• 1-4 years since first AA meeting – 36% remained
• 5-9 years since first AA meeting – 30% remained
• 10-19 years since first AA meeting – 29% remained
• 20 years or more since first AA meeting – 32% remained

Comparison of Past Year Drinking Status – Dropouts and Continuing AA Members

Dropouts:

• Abstinent 33%
• Low risk drinking 14%
• High risk drinking 53%

Continued AA attendance:

• Abstinent 62%
• Low risk drinking 9%
• High risk drinking 29%

1. low risk drinking = never exceed 4 drinks per day(male) or 3 drinks per day (female)
2. high risk drinking = exceeds 4 drinks per day (male) or 3 drinks per day (female)

Research Source: NIAAA 1991-1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey (NLAES). Data Brief – National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey (NLAES) Findings on Alcoholics Anonymous Membership by Loran Archer.

Thus, 36% remain attending A.A. at the end of one year and 32% are still attending at the end of 20 years.

The impact of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) on professional treatment.

Several forces combined in the 1950s to profoundly change the way alcoholism was treated in the United States. Anderson, Bradley, and Hazelden staff combined strategies to revolutionize alcoholism treatment across the spectrum of social rehabilitation services and hospital-based care.

Prevailing psychiatric services, heavily influenced by psychoanalytic practices, were abandoned in favor of an emphasis on patient education, therapeutic group process, peer interaction, and the development of life-long support systems through AA.

The addition of the alcoholism counselors, many of whom were recovering AA members, was a key ingredient in aligning a closely identified professional with the alcoholic to foster integration of Twelve Step principles and practices in everyday life.

Dignity, respect, and hope for recovery became the cornerstone of the Minnesota/Hazelden Model. The resulting treatment model is recognized as an effective, evidence-based approach for alcohol and drug dependence. One of the strongest commendatory statements has come from the staff of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism who, in a report to the U.S. Congress, identified Twelve Step-based professional treatment as effective as other approaches and a model that "…may actually achieve more sustained abstinence" (2000, p. 448).

Clearly, AA’s impact on professional treatment cannot be underestimated. Perhaps Dan Anderson summarized it best: "Without the initial and sustaining impetus of [AA], none of our treatment efforts could have been realized"

Slaymaker VJ, Sheehan T. The impact of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) on professional treatment. Recent Dev Alcohol. 2008;18:59-70.

See also;

• ABC’s of Recovery
• Alcoholic Recovery for Gay and Lesbian People
• Definition of Codependency
• Spiritual Assessment

A.A. is concerned solely with the personal recovery and continued sobriety of individual alcoholics who turn to the Fellowship for help.

Alcoholics Anonymous does not engage in the fields of alcoholism research, medical or psychiatric treatment, education, or propaganda in any form, although members may participate in such activities as individuals.

The Fellowship has adopted a policy of “cooperation but not affiliation” with other organizations concerned with the problem of alcoholism.

Traditionally, Alcoholics Anonymous does not accept or seek financial support from outside sources, and members preserve personal anonymity in print and broadcast media and otherwise at the public level.

A.A. experience has always been made available freely to all who sought it — business people, spiritual leaders, civic groups, law enforcement officers, health and welfare personnel, educators, representatives of military establishments, institutional authorities, representatives of organized labor, and many others. But A.A. never endorses, supports, becomes affiliated with, or expresses an opinion on the programs of others in the field of alcoholism, since such actions would be beyond the scope of the Fellowship’s primary purpose.

A.A.’s relations with professional groups, agencies, facilities, and individuals involved with the problems of alcoholism are handled by the trustees’ Committee on Cooperation with the Professional Community/Treatment Facilities. Mutual understanding and cooperation between A.A. members and others who work with alcoholics are the concerns of this standing committee of the General Service Board.

A.A. FACT FILE; PREPARED BY GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS at www.aa.org