"About 50 percent of those coming to A.A. for the first time remain less than 90 days. We often say that few get to A.A. by accident, so the fact in a brief time we lose half of those who begin our program may mean that we lose a great number of alcoholics who desperately need sobriety."
This quote, from the 1989 triennial survey of A.A. members, goes on to point our that it is of small comfort to suggest that many who leave return later, because their numbers have already been factored in. Since the 1983 Membership Survey, which reported that about 60 percent remained after three months (sober or not), there appears to have been a slow but steady attrition during the crucial first year. "This," the survey suggests, "may be a challenge to the membership to change the things we can."
Why have so many newcomers come and gone? It's a little late to tabulate their reasons for departure, but there's room for conjecture. For one thing, a number of newcomers are mandated to A.A. meetings by the courts and treatment facilities. These agencies hope that exposure to A.A. will encourage the newcomer to accept A.A. help for their alcoholism. However, some are not ready for A.A. help.
Also, the survey shows, some 42 percent of newcomers to A.A. have a problem with addiction to drugs in addition to their alcoholism. Some of these new people eventually find their drinking was minimal, and that their primary problem was addiction to drugs, which leads them to another twelve-step program more appropriate to their needs.
The list of possibilities goes on and on, but of greater urgency is the question: What can we do to make the alcoholic newcomer keep coming back? This is especially critical today when groups are apt to be larger and a confused newcomer can easily fall through the cracks or be unnoticed altogether--especially if fresh out of rehab, "dry" and looking good. Following are a few ways for groups and individual A.A.'s to carry the message, as suggested at Regional Forums, workshops and conferences:
1. Station greeters at the A.A. meeting room door.
2. At large meetings, ask those present who have attended fewer than three meetings (or those in their first week or months of sobriety) to identify themselves--"not to embarrass you but so we can get to know you."
3. Break up large meetings into smaller groups, at least for part of the meeting.
4. Offer newcomers you phone number and let them know you'd welcome their call.
5. If newcomers turn out to have a problem other than alcohol, explain A.A.'s singleness of purpose and offer to take them to a meeting of a twelve-step program with which they can identify.
6. If you go out for coffee, cake and sharing after the meeting, include a newcomer. It may be his or her first opportunity to socialize sober.
7. Stress the importance of the Twelve Steps and sponsorship as vital to sobriety, and be willing to share these tools as lifelines to recovery in A.A.
8. Be aware that every day of sobriety counts. The 1989 survey notes that about 40 percent of members sober less than a year will remain sober and active in A.A. for at least another 12 months--and that figure jumps to approximately 90 percent after five years.
Carrying the A.A. message to the newcomers who need our help is a top priority. By leading a beginner meeting, regularly participating in our home groups and greeting each newcomer with A.A. love, we A.A.'s are passing along what was freely given to us.
Box 4/5/9 Oct/Nov 1991