Common AA Terms and Definitions

Terms and Phrases in AA

Shared terminology in alcoholics anonymous has provided members a discreet way to ask for help or speak in public while protecting the identities of participants. Furthermore, sharing common phrases and lingo fosters a sense of community and increases cohesion within the group. When someone asks “Are you a friend of Bill’s?”, they are asking if you are looking to attend an AA meeting. Some other common phrases in AA include:

‘90 in 90’. This means 90 meetings in 90 days and is the practice of attending an AA meeting every day for 90 days in a row. Newcomers are recommended to make meeting a daily habit for the first three months to gain a solid foundation in recovery.

Higher Power. A subjective term to describe a supreme deity or greater power than oneself, but does not need to be connected to any religion or spiritual belief.

Working the Steps. Refers to how all AA members work through the 12 Steps, or phases.

Big Book. The Book of Alcoholics Anonymous describes the 12-step program and how someone can recover from addiction.

Carry the Message. While the primary purpose of AA is to help members stay sober, they are also encouraged to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.

Sponsor. Experienced AA members can serve as mentors to newcomers and help them follow the 12 steps, provide support, instill hope, and help keep the sponsee on track.

Dry Drunk. This term refers to someone who has stopped drinking but has not taken steps to participate in other recovery services or taken actionable steps toward recovery.

Chips. AA members receive coins to mark milestones such as 90 days or a year.

It Works if You Work It. This phrase refers to employing the AA fellowship, working the 12 steps, and implementing the steps into daily life.

ESH. This phrase refers to Experience, Strength, and hope

Key Concepts in AA

AA is an international organization of peer groups that meet to support each other. They use the 12-step approach to reach recovery, often with the help of a sponsor.

The 12 steps can be broken down into the following three key stages:

• Surrender. Admitting they are powerless over addiction, and they must seek help from a higher power and others.

• Spiritual Awakening. Individuals in AA must thoroughly examine themselves and their actions, admit fault, and work towards improving themselves spiritually.

• Service. Members must continue to practice the 12-step principles while helping other addicts start and continue their journey toward recovery.

Meeting Types and Terminology

Meetings are typically listed as “open” or “closed” meetings. Open meetings are open to people with and without an alcohol use disorder. This typically means AA members and their loved ones including community members, coworkers, bosses, and anyone else interested in learning about AA may attend. Meetings may include a speaker who talks about addiction and recovery topics, members telling their stories of alcohol use and recovery, and an open discussion about an AA topic.

Closed meetings have closed speakers and closed discussions similar to open meetings but are not open to the general public. These meetings are only for AA members or those with drinking problems who have a desire to stop. Both open and closed meetings are free to attend, with no intake process, and an expectation of anonymity and privacy.

Beginner’s meetings are aimed at helping newcomers familiarize themselves with the community. They focus on the foundations of early recovery to avoid relapse, offer resources, and provide literature on recovery. They also help newcomers get started on the 12 Steps and often members complete their first three steps in beginners’ meetings.

Some communities hold AA meetings focused on individual needs, referred to as demographic-specific meetings. AA is useful to many as they are a community of individuals who have shared similar experiences. Demographic-specific AA meetings include men’s and women’s AA meetings and LGBTQ AA meetings. These meetings can help connect individuals working towards recovery to find communities with more specific shared needs.