What A.A. Does Not Do

Tradition Ten: Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

  1. Recruit members or furnish initial motivation for alcoholics to recover.
  2. Keep membership records or case histories.
  3. Follow up or try to control its members.
  4. Make medical or psychological diagnoses or prognoses.
  5. Provide hospitalization, drugs, or medical or psychiatric treatment.
  6. Provide housing, food, clothing, jobs, money or other such services.
  7. Provide domestic or vocational counseling.
  8. Engage in or sponsor research.
  9. Affiliate with social agencies (though many members and service offices do cooperate with them).
  10. Offer religious services.
  11. Engage in any controversy about alcohol or other matters.
  12. Accept money for its services or contributions from non-A.A. sources.
  13. Provide letters of reference to parole boards, attorneys, court officials, schools, businesses, social agencies, or any other organization or institution.

Reprinted from The A.A. Group …Where It All Begins, p. 39, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.