Alcoholics Anonymous a/k/a AA is a support group for alcoholics or those with an alcohol abuse problem. Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are classified according to the symptoms of each in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence disorders are characterized by alcohol getting in the way of an individuals normal daily activities. Examples are alcohol taking precedence over relationships, work, school and sound financial decisions. Individuals with an alcohol disorder may also have experienced medical or legal consequences as a result of their alcohol use.Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is not treatment. AA is a mutual support group where alcoholics who are currently in recovery help alcoholics who are new to the AA program and wish to enter recovery. The basis of the Alcoholics Anonymous program is the Twelve Steps which can be found in the “Big Book” or the book entitled Alcoholics Anonymous.AA meetings typically meet several times per day in almost every city and town in America. AA meetings have proliferated since the founding of AA in 1939 by Bill Wilson. The membership in AA has exploded by one alcoholic helping another alcoholic to stay sober by taking that alcoholic through the twelve steps as a sponsor. The premise is that the sponsor is helping himself to stay sober by helping the sponsee and the sponsee is encouraged to in turn sponsor an alcoholic earlier in recovery than himself and so on. One purpose of regular AA meetings is for sponsors to find new sponsees. Another purpose of AA meetings is for AA members to share their experience, strength and hope with each other and to hold each other accountable to their sobriety and working the twelve step program.Boulder, Colorado has many wonderful AA meetings which individuals with an alcohol use disorder can use to supplement other forms of substance abuse treatment. A complete list of Boulder, CO AA meetings can be found here: Boulder, Colorado AA MeetingsRemember there are many types of Boulder AA meetings: Men’s AA meetings, Women’s AA meetings, Young People’s AA meetings, LGBTQ AA meetings and so on. If you are new to AA you are encouraged to try many different types of AA meetings to see which ones work best for you.Some of the Boulder AA meetings NorthStar Transitions clients attend include the Campus Group on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Saturday night Jive and the Fourth Dimension group on Friday nights. There is also an excellent Men’s AA meeting on Sunday nights at 6pm.
