Friday, January 9, 2009

WOMEN SWELLING AA RANKS

Women are gaining a dubious equality in the once male-dominated world of Alcoholics Anonymous. Women account for nearly one in 3, (31 percent) of new members of Alcoholics Anonymous in the last three years, and more than one quarter of AAs total membership.

These facts were revealed in a survey of 13,467 AA members in the United States and Canada, the largest-ever survey of recovered alcoholics. Dr. John L. Norris, AA board chairman, told a press conference at the North American Congress on Alcohol and Drug Problems that drinking no longer is regarded as purely a man's domain and that women are less inclined to hide their drinking. "When I was coming up, the acceptable social drink for women was tea," said Dr. Norris. "Now, its cocktails."

Women now make up 28 percent of the group's membership compared to 22 percent in 1968, and 26% in 1971. The survey was designed to provide a profile of Alcoholics Anonymouse and is conducted every three years among FAA groups in North America.

The latest survey also showed that one in four members of AA at a typical meeting has not had a drink for five or more years; 91 percent of these, each succeeding year, will enjoy continued sobriety and will continue to attend AA meetings regularly.

Over the past six years, the percentage of young people in AA shows no increase, Dr. Norris reported. The 1974 survey puts 7 percent in the under-30 years bracket, 55 percent between 30 and 49 and 37 percent at 50 or older.

Thirty-eight percent of the membership polled, identified themselves in the executive-professional-technical category. Another 32 percent were identified as clerical or blue-collar workers and 11 percent as housewives.

Counselling agencies are mentioned more often as a primary factor in coming to AA by those entering in the last three years.

There is a corresponding decline in the citing of "another AA member" as a prime factor, although this remains the single reason most often named.

In a separate survey, questionaires were distributed to some 1000 U.S. and Canadian corrections institutions which have functioning AA groups. An inmate's chances of "making it on the outside" are improved by participation in AA;. according to 95 percent of the responding administrators. Further, 90 percent regarded AA as "contributing to the obbjectives of the institution." Alcoholics Anonymous operates chiefly through more than 22,000 local AA groups meeting in 92 countries.

There are nearly 13,000 such groups in the U.S. and over 2,100 in Canada. Estimated world-wide membership stands at 800,000.

THE JOURNAL

DON says: The above article has been in my file for a number of years now, and I do not have up to date figures, however I feel certain that the figures of successes has greatly grown. I often think - what if there had been no AA? The many thousands that have been helped over the years is substantial and without AA's guidance and help, many more deaths from alcoholism, and greater numbers in jails would have occurred. God Bless AA.

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