outside field whatever, A DECLARATION OF UNITY …

1 That could not be met by an group, as such. outside field whatever, provided that we guard Therefore, we formed a board of trustees (the anonymity and refuse to use the name for A DECLARATION OF UNITY . Problems Alcoholic Foundation) to look after these matters. money-raising or publicity purposes. This we owe to 's future: To place our Some of the trustees were alcoholics , and some I'm very sure that these experiences of yester- common welfare first; to keep our fellowship were nonalcoholics. Obviously, this was not an united. For on UNITY depend our lives other day can be the basis of resolving today's confu- group. Instead, it was a group of 's and sion about the narcotics problem . This problem and the lives of those to come. 's who devoted themselves to a special is new, but the experience and Traditions than alcohol task. which can solve it are already old and time-tested. Another example: In 1940, the New York I think we might sum it up like this: got lonesome and installed themselves in a club.

2 We cannot give membership to nonal- The club had directors and dues-paying coholic narcotics addicts. But, like anyone else, members. For a long time, the club members and they should be able to attend certain open directors thought that they were an group. meetings, provided, of course, that the groups by Bill W., But after a while, it was found that lots of themselves are willing. co-founder of who attended meetings at Old 24th didn't care members who are so inclined should be alcoholics anonymous one hoot for the club, as such. Hence, the man- encouraged to band together in groups to deal agement of the club (for its social purpose) had with sedative and drug problems. But they ought to be completely separated from the management to refrain from calling themselves groups. of the group that came there to hold its There seems to be no reason why several meetings. It took years of hassling to prove that cannot join, if they wish, with a group of you couldn't put an group into the club busi- straight addicts to solve the alcohol and the I am responsible.

3 Ness and make it stick. Everywhere today, club drug problem together. But, obviously, such When anyone, anywhere, reaches out managements and their dues-paying mem- a dual-purpose group should not insist that it for help, I want the hand of always bers are seen as special-purpose groups, not as be called an group, nor should it use the to be there. groups. name in its title. Neither should its straight- The same thing has happened with drying-out addict contingent be led to believe that they have And for that: I am responsible. places and Twelfth Step houses managed by become members by reason of such an We never think of these activities as association. groups. They are clearly seen as the functions of Certainly, there is every good reason for inter- interested individuals who are doing helpful and ested 's to join with outside groups working on often very valuable jobs. the narcotics problem , provided the Traditions of Some years ago, a number of us 's wanted anonymity and of no endorsements are respected.

4 To enter the field of alcohol education. I was one In conclusion, I want to say that throughout of them. We associated ourselves with some non- 's history, most of our special-purpose groups alcoholics , likewise interested. The nonalcoholics have accomplished very wonderful things. There wanted because they needed our experi- is great reason to hope that those 's who are This is General Service ence, philosophy, and general slant. Things were Conference-approved literature now working in the grim regions of narcotics fine until some of us publicly disclosed addiction will achieve equal success. our membership in the educational group. Right away, the public got the idea that this particu- In , the group has strict limitations, but lar brand of alcohol education and alcoholics the individual has scarcely any. Remembering anonymous were one and the same thing. It to observe the Traditions of anonymity and non- took years to change this impression. But now endorsement, he can carry 's message into that this correction has been made, plenty of every troubled area of this very troubled world.

5 Members work in this field , and we are glad For additional information, visit (Information for that they do. Professionals) or contact the Cooperation with the Professional Community desk at the General Service Office: It was thus proven that, as individuals, we or 212-870-3400. can carry the experience and ideas into any P-35. 1 8/23/17 11:50 AM. has a genuine alcoholic history, become a mem- save a few exceptions, could they identify with ber of (4) Can who have suffered new members. Hence, they couldn't do con- both alcoholism and addiction form themselves tinuous Twelfth Step work. into special-purpose groups to help other Close to us as these good folks were, we had Problems other who are having drug trouble? (5) Could such a to deny them membership. We could only wel- than alcohol special-purpose group call itself an group? come them at our open meetings. (6) Could such a group also include nonalcoholic Therefore, I see no way of making nonalcohol- By Bill W.

6 Drug users? (7) If so, should these nonalcoholic alcoholics anonymous is a fellowship of men and . ic addicts into members. Experience says women who share their experience, strength and (co-founder, alcoholics anonymous ) pill or drug users be led to believe that they have loudly that we can admit no exceptions, even hope with each other that they may solve their become members? (8) Is there any objection though drug users and alcoholics happen to be common problem and help others to recover Perhaps there is no suffering more horrible than if who have had the dual problem join out- first cousins of a sort. If we persist in trying this, from alcoholism. drug addiction, especially that kind which is pro- side groups, such as Narcotics anonymous ? I'm afraid it will be hard on the drug user himself, The only requirement for membership is a duced by morphine, heroin, and other narcotics. While some of these questions almost answer as well as on We must accept the fact that no desire to stop drinking.

7 There are no dues or Such drugs twist the mind, and the awful pro- themselves, others do not. But all of them, I nonalcoholic, whatever his affliction, can be con- fees for membership; we are self-supporting cess of withdrawal racks the sufferer's body. think, can readily be resolved to the satisfaction verted into an alcoholic member. through our own contributions. Compared with the addict and his woes, we of everyone if we have a good look at the alcoholics are pikers. Barbiturates, carried to Suppose, though, that we are approached by is not allied with any sect, denomination, Traditions which apply, and another look at our politics, organization or institution; does not wish extremes, can be almost as bad. In we have a drug addict who nevertheless has had a gen- long experience with the special-purpose groups uine alcoholic history. There was a time when to engage in any controversy; neither endorses members who have made great recoveries from in which 's are active today both within nor opposes any causes.

8 Both the bottle and the needle. We also have a such a person would have been rejected. Many and without our Society. early 's had the almost comical notion that Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help great many others who were or still are . Now there are certain things that cannot they were pure alcoholics guzzlers only, no other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. victimized by goofballs and even by the new do for anybody, regardless of what our several other serious problems at all. When alcoholic tranquilizers. Copyright by Grapevine, Inc.; desires or sympathies may be. ex-cons and drug users first turned up, there Consequently, this problem of drug addiction reprinted with permission Our first duty, as a society, is to insure our was much pious indignation. What will people in its several forms lies close to us all. It stirs own survival. Therefore, we have to avoid distrac- think? chanted the pure alcoholics . Happily, this our deepest interest and sympathy.

9 In the world tions and multipurpose activity. An group, foolishness has long since evaporated. around us, we see legions of men and women as such, cannot take on all the personal problems One of the best I know is a man who had who are trying to cure or escape their problems of its members, let alone the problems of the been seven years on the needle before he joined Copyright Grapevine, Inc., February 1958 by this means. Many 's, especially those who whole world. up with us. But prior to that, he had been a terrif- Reprinted with permission have suffered these particular addictions, are now asking, What can we do about drugs within Sobriety freedom from alcohol through ic alcoholic, and his history proved it. Therefore, our Fellowship, and without? the teaching and practice of the Twelve Steps is he could qualify for , and this he certainly Copyright 2017 the sole purpose of an group. Groups have did. Since then, he has helped many 's and Because several projects to help pill and drug by alcoholics anonymous World Services, Inc.

10 Repeatedly tried other activities, and they have some 's with their pill and drug troubles. takers are already afloat projects which use always failed. It has also been learned that there Of course, that is strictly his affair and in no 's Twelve Steps and in which members is no possible way to make nonalcoholics into way the business of the group to which he are active there has arisen a whole series of All rights reserved. members. We have to confine our membership belongs. In his group, he is a member because, in questions as to how these efforts, already meet- to alcoholics , and we have to confine our actual fact, he is an alcoholic. ing with not a little success, can be rightly related groups to a single purpose. If we don't stick to Such is the sum of what cannot do for to the groups and to as a whole. Mail address: these principles, we shall almost surely collapse. narcotics addicts or for anybody else. Specifically, here is a list of questions: (1) Can And if we collapse, we cannot help anyone.