A Minority Report to Alcoholics Anonymous General Service
Conferences worldwide
Authors: Members of Alcoholics Anonymous resident in Great Britain
Submitted to GSO (Great Britain) for consideration as a
topic for Conference 2018
For full report PDF click here
Abstract:
“This report documents a brief history of the Synanon cult
and its influence on Alcoholics Anonymous, addiction treatment and the criminal
justice system. By drawing upon published research in the fields of addiction
treatment, sociology, criminology, cultic studies, journalism, and government
reports, this report examines the complex international relationships between
the Synanon cult, Alcoholics Anonymous, the ‘Therapeutic Communities’ and
‘Recovery’ movements, and government agencies in the USA and UK. In recent
decades there has been a proliferation of treatment centres which attempt to
combine the Synanon based Therapeutic Community treatment model with Alcoholics
Anonymous in addiction treatment. There has also been a proliferation of
commercial enterprises which target A.A. members with products ranging from
literature explaining the Twelve Steps, how to sponsor newcomers, and how to
organise A.A. meetings, to novelty items such as CDs, bumper stickers, sobriety
chips and key rings. Certain sectors of the addiction treatment industry have
collaborated with government agencies to facilitate alcoholics to A.A. through
treatment centres and courts. Despite the number of people facilitated to A.A.
in recent decades, official A.A. membership estimates indicate overall A.A.
membership levels have become static and may even have fallen. The attempt to
integrate Synanon philosophy with Alcoholics Anonymous in addiction treatment
may explain A.A.’s stagnant growth, public criticism of cult-like practices and
reports of disunity in some areas of the fellowship in Great Britain. It may
also explain A.A. discontinuing use of the Circle and Triangle trademark in the
USA, in favour of commercial enterprises. In an age which has seen the
development of highly sophisticated thought reform programmes which bypass
psychological defence mechanisms, this report discusses how A.A. members,
Conference Delegates, G.S.O. Staff and General Service Boards, might protect
themselves, and the fellowship, against automatic compliance to professionally
presented packages of ‘mutual aid,’ which in the long term benefit the vendors
at the expense of the targeted population.”
Comment: If you are an A.A. member resident outside Great Britain, it
is suggested that you read the report PDF in full and file it to your national General
Service Conference along with any information relevant to your locality.
For full report PDF click here
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