Is it possible that people go to AA meetings that aren't alcoholics?

Question

It seems that a few people I have met are just lonely and are there to socialize. They seem to exaggerate their drinking stories.

Answer 1

Yes. Also, the opposite can be true. People that are alcoholics don't go there. The road is not one way, my friend.

Answer 2

Yes. I used to go because I thought I belonged. I didn't realize that my issues at the time were similar to the issues alcoholics have. Also I was quite a heavy drinker and drug user in High School. I didn't realize until I was older that I didn't have the gene after all. But I'm glad I went because it helped me get through a difficult time in my life and taught me some invaluable coping skills. Many people go for different reasons, and there are a lot of people in AA who have some serious problems. It's best to focus on yourself and your issues and not socialize too much with the scene. It's easy to get sucked into other people's drama and I know from experience that sometimes relationships can come out of it (quite unhealthy ones). If you keep a safe distance than you will get the most out of the program and you'll create a safe environment for yourself.
If you work on the steps and focus on that then what other people do is pretty irrelevant.

Answer 3

It is possible that's the case. It is possible that they are just the sort of people that exaggerate stories in general or because there is a crowd. Maybe these are true stories, but now they have re-covered and it's hard to imagine they would have ever experienced what they said happened. Maybe they are re-covered alcoholics who don't want to leave the group and continue to make up stories to continue to go to AA meetings.

There's many reasons for this. You shouldn't let it bother you and your recovery (assuming you're the person recovering).

Answer 4

I've found out the hard way in life that what people say in a meeting may or may not be true, it seems that there is some who are there can be true, some of those who aren't well do they ask to go for coffee afterwards, lunch,dinner,etc.. Those are the ones who expect something in return. Many meeting in the past I went to were filled with people who got caught by the law were forced to go, however some were real. This is best life lesson pay attention to the the one who,walks,talks, of his/her past just sit back listen. If you listen you'll find that one in a meeting who has the most clean time, the most to offer. Best of all remeber it is just like high school some are there to score, some are there just to be there, then you have a few who are real. The ones who have learned their lesson in life can be truthfull, without being hatefull, thats the one you want to talk too. Stay away from the opposite sex, only meangle with the same sex. People are judgemental, very opposed to this. Just listen, learn, if you have something to say be very thoughtfull, carefull, some people can will use your past against you even in meetings/outside of meetings. If some seem angry all the time well keep in mind that newcomers are there for a reason. Oldtimers are there to help guide. Some oldtimers can be very,very, spitefull, forget about where they came from. GOODLUCK

Answer 5

There are a few people who go to 12 step meetings because they're lonely.

I know of one English lady, who wrote a book about her bicycle ride across America, who stated in her book that she'd gone to an AA meeting out of loneliness. I believe the book was title, "Daisy, Daisy" after an old song about bicycling. She was in the mid-west during her cross country ride and found herself feeling just devastatingly alone. She saw a sign for an AA meeting and went to it just to be among other people.

I go to an Al-Anon meeting which takes place at the same time as a very large AA meeting. During coffee breaks, the Al-Anon and AA groups mingle. I would guess that there are a couple of people there who come for the company. I've also noticed that some mentally ill people are drawn to the meetings.. perhaps due to loneliness. People who've been working their program tend to be generous and understanding, so they're kind to the misfits who come looking to be with other people.

Answer 6

That would be accurate. People are sentenced to and coerced into AA for a variety of reasons, housing, DUI, employment, marital, mental health, drug addicted, dual addicted, etc, etc.

Answer 7

Sometimes al-anon people will go to open meetings if they can't find one of their own. They will usually state they are not drinkers but their family member is.

Answer 8

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then its probably a duck.

Answer 9

Yes its possible but not probable!

Answer 10

It would be possible for sure. Didn't you see fight club?