Welcome Newcomer!
We're glad you decided to join us. If you are new to Alcoholics Anonymous, or just coming back, we have some resources below to answers questions you may have about the fellowship and help you on your journey in sobriety.
A.A. Preamble
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Copyright © The AA Grapevine, Inc., Reprinted with permission
Getting a Sponsor
A sponsor is someone who can help guide you through the 12 steps of AA and share experience on how to live a sober life. Sponsorship assures the newcomer that there is at least one person who understands the situation fully and cares — one person to turn to without embarrassment when doubts, questions or problems linked to alcoholism arise. Sponsorship gives the newcomer an understanding, sympathetic friend when one is needed most. Sponsorship also provides the bridge enabling the new person to meet other alcoholics — in a home group and in other groups visited.
Select an A.A. member with whom you can feel comfortable, someone with whom you can talk freely and confidentially, and ask that person to be your sponsor.
Questions and Answers on Sponsorship
Literature
Pamphlets
Is A.A. for Me?
A Newcomer Asks
This is A.A. - An Introduction to the A.A. Recovery Program
Frequently Asked Questions about A.A.
The Twelve Steps Illustrated
The God Word: Agnostic and Atheist Members in A.A.
Everyone is Welcome
A.A. for the Black and African American Alcoholic
A.A. for the Native North American
A.A. for the Older Alcoholic - Never Too Late
Do You Think You're Different?
LGBTQ Alcoholics in A.A.
Too Young? and Young People and A.A.
Women in AA
A.A. for Alcoholics with Mental Health Issues
Books
Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Edition (Big Book)
Living Sober
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 and 12)Living Sober
Purchase books from the Grapevine (english/spanish)
More Resources
Daily Reflections
Purchase literature at AA.org
Purchase Grapevine magazine subscriptions at aagrapevine.org
Connecting with Others
Chat Box - At the end of every meeting, members will post their contact information in chat box chat box.
Private Chat - At the beginning and end of each meeting, you may privately direct-chat someone and ask if they would be willing to talk with you about recovery. We suggest women chat with women and men chat with men.
Parking Lot - After the meeting, stay and hang around in the parking lot and ask for phone numbers or email addresses of people willing to talk with you about your drinking.
Find a Meeting
Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous - List of online meetings around the world
A.A. Near You - US and Canada Intergroup offices listing in-person and online meetings
Meeting Guide - Smart phone meeting finder application for Android and IOS
"Remember that alcoholism is a progressive disease. Take it seriously, even if you feel you are only in the early stages of the illness. Alcoholism kills people. If you are an alcoholic, and if you continue to drink, in time you will get worse."
Copyright © 2018, A Newcomer Asks, p3, by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.