Description
Pamphlet P-11, The A.A. Member — Medications and Other Drugs, is an A.A. General Service Conference-approved resource. It provides guidance on minimizing the threat of relapse for members taking prescribed medications and includes shared experiences from nine A.A. members.
Core Guidelines for Medication
Alcoholics Anonymous is not a medical organization and does not give medical advice. The pamphlet emphasizes several key principles regarding medication:
- Consult a Qualified Physician: Members should not “play doctor”. All medical advice must come from a licensed medical professional.
- Be Fully Honest with Your Doctor: Be transparent about your history with alcoholism and the exact way you take your medicine (including missed doses or taking more than prescribed).
- Communicate Concerns: If you feel the desire to misuse a medication or experience adverse side effects, alert your doctor immediately.
- Specialized Care: If you feel your doctor does not understand your history of alcoholism, consider seeking out a physician who specializes in addiction medicine.
Safeguards Against Relapse
The pamphlet emphasizes that active participation in the A.A. recovery program is a primary safeguard against relapse. Stopping or altering prescribed treatments based on layperson advice from A.A. peers can lead to severe health consequences, as well as the return of conditions like depression or bipolar disorder.
2026 GTA
