The Twelve Traditions of Nicotine Anonymous (Extended Version)
Whenever a society or civilization perishes, there is always one condition present; they forgot where they came from.
- Carl Sandburg
INTRODUCTION
The Twelve Steps, based on ancient and universal spiritual principles, describe a personal path for our recovery. The power of individual recovery is in one member carrying the message to the next, without any thought of personal gain or financial reward - and it works.
The Twelve Traditions are to recovery fellowships what the Twelve Steps are to the individual. They have spiritual significance separately and as an equal partner to the Steps. Groups are encouraged to give adequate time to discuss the Traditions; while sponsors can emphasize this wisdom to newcomers. If the Traditions are watered down, diluted or abandoned, a group's survival or an individual's recovery may be placed at risk.
Bill Wilson (co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous) first drafted the Traditions as a distillation of the shared experiences of the early Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) groups. They are the result of trial and error, sometimes serious error. He expanded them into their present form and they were adopted in 1950 at the AA International Convention held in Cleveland.
The Traditions have withstood the test of time. They provide a tried-and-true guide for groups while still allowing for individuality. As Wilson poignantly notes in AA's first tradition- "On anvils of experience, the structure of our Society was hammered out."
The Traditions were developed over time in response to problems as they arose. They are based on experience particular to the common welfare of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our fellowship has adopted them because they have served AA well.
Our fellowship is non-commercial and non-professional, our leaders but trusted servants. No member can tell another, "You can't do that," or "You must do this." If a group fails to observe the Traditions, it risks the possibility of confusion and conflict. Confusion and conflict may turn newcomers away, depriving them of the benefits Nicotine Anonymous has to offer.
The Traditions provide form and unity to our entire fellowship. They help guide local groups in a way that has worked at bringing recovery to many people over many years. They gently keep the focus on our primary purpose and ensure that any member of our fellowship can go to any meeting and find the same basic spiritual principles at work. They foster a safe place for each individual by stressing the importance of group unity. Humility is the foundation on which the Traditions are built. The Traditions protect our fellowship from our individual shortcomings; they protect us from ourselves and keep us right-sized, just like the Steps.
May we all continue to deepen our understanding of these principles so that our recovery and our fellowship continue to grow and serve all those who seek freedom from nicotine.
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The Twelve Traditions of Nicotine Anonymous
Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon Nicotine Anonymous unity.
For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
The only requirement for Nicotine Anonymous membership is a desire to stop using nicotine.
Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or Nicotine Anonymous as a whole.
Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the nicotine addict who still suffers.
A Nicotine Anonymous group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the Nicotine Anonymous name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
Every Nicotine Anonymous group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
Nicotine Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
Nicotine Anonymous, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
Nicotine Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the Nicotine Anonymous name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, TV, and films.
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
Copyright 1990, 1992 by Nicotine Anonymous The Twelve Traditions reprinted and adapted with permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Permission to reprint and adapt the Twelve Traditions does not mean that AA is affiliated with this program. AA is a program of recovery from alcoholism - use of the Twelve Traditions in connection with programs and activities which are patterned after AA, but which address other problems, does not imply otherwise. See Alcoholics Anonymous' Twelve Traditions below.
1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity. 2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern. 3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. 4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole. 5. Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. 6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose. 7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. 8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers. 9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. 10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy. 11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films. 12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
Copyright 1939, 1955, 1976 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
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