Here are some observations on this topic from visitors to an online discussion board.
I have no quarrel with this.
Perhaps the word ‘membership’ is the catch.
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One does not ‘have’ to become a member of Alcoholics Anonymous.
We still have freedom of choice.
We must honor the ‘closed meetings’ format to protectthe spiritual foundation of anonymity.
I would like to close with this.
The founding fathers of A.A. learned through trial and error.
I am a traditionalist at heart.
I want A.A. to be here whenever someone reaches out for help.
Just as it was for me.
This is why the traditions were founded.
I will protect them to the best of my ability."
Having had both types of abusers in my life, the program has not changed.
Technically,alcohol is a drug.
I have yet to meet an alcoholic who can play with drugs or vice versa.
Not that I have been around all that long.
Debbi
No Other Affiliation
“I’m a grateful Al-Anon member.
I never heard the suggestion that a substance abuser not be admitted.
Perhaps the person is an abuser because they can’t cope with a traumatic childhood due to alcoholism.
Perhaps the person is an abuser to deaden the pain from an abusive alcoholic spouse.
I think ALL should be welcome.
Several people in face-to-face meetings I’ve attended are “double winners” and that makes me proud.
That’s just MY interpretation of this tradition.”
I also heard that it came down from the front office that we can and should help them.
I have never met a drugger who didn’t have a drinking problem also.
I myself would never turn away a so-called drugger; they are one and the same.
If a person doesn’t belong in A.A. they weed themselves out.
Would you belong to an overeaters program if you were skinny?
I am no judge to turn anybody away at any time.
This is why we have closed meetings.
Let’s let God do the judging."
