I left the AA program after 8 months and decided not to be a member. I worked the steps with a sponsor, but I did not end up sponsoring another. For the fellowship, this is considered taking and not giving back. I did a few service commitments, but yesterday I saw my hair stylist who is a member for several years and invited me to a local women's AA/Alanon conference because she believes that taking someone through the steps is necessary. Does anyone have thoughts on this? I am sober, but not clean. I intermittently use THC for social harm reduction versus alcohol use since alcohol is poison in every way possible for me.
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Social harm reduction? What is that?
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The only requirement in AA is the desire to stop drinking! You don’t have to do a thing but that. Don’t let anyone in the rooms pressure you. Keep going to AA and take what you need and leave the rest.
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Taking someone through the steps is very rewarding but it’s not a requirement. A lot of people in AA need to mind their business.
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Erika, everyone has their own path. I respect other people’s journey and hope they respect mine. However, I found taking suggestions and seeing how things go has really helped too. Not always but I try to have an open mind and open heart.
I hope this helps🙏
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After 8 months you decided not to be a member of AA. Did you have to pay dues to be a member? The 3rd tradition states that "The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking",
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You worked all 12 steps in 8 months? That's incredible. Its not for me to question how thoroughly you worked them.,
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No were does it state that you "have" to sponsor anyone.,
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What does having a service commitment to do with your hairstylist?,
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Go to the conference. You'll learn something,
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Your sober but not clean. so then you're not sober. You need to be both. You can't half measure it.,
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In your own words what in the name of sweet babe Jesus is "Social Harm Reduction"? ,
Educate me Ericka, please educate me.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
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Thank you all very much for your replies. Taking CBD and/or THC helps me with insomnia and social anxiety around the family and friends using alcohol. Keeps me calm. My aunt who is 35 years in AA and a retired social worker calls it Harm Reduction. I'm 8 months sober but not straight edge clean. Therefore, I do not meet the requirements of the fellowship and cannot be sponsored or pick up chips or celebrate my year anniversary coming in January, etc. I'm not a match for AA and so the program has run its course and I am no longer a member.
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Hey, 60 days is big.
That’s 2 months of saying yes to sobriety!
You’ve made it through a some of the hardest days, keep going!
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I started with AA. After 59 meetings or so I realized that AA wasn’t for me. I’m almost 4 years sober and happy!! AA isn’t absolutely necessary for sobriety and happiness. I just realized that I can’t and will never drink again. It was that simple.
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I know AA here in California is a little more laid back, but as others stated: The only requirement is a desire to stop drinking. There are plenty of people here that are "California Sober," meaning they don't drink or do "illegal drugs". Does everyone agree that that's truly sober? No. Does anyone make the Cali sober people feel unwelcome? Not at the vast majority of meetings. Can they take chips? Some do, and some don't. It's your program, you do you! I don't judge how other people work their program, as I don't want mine judged.
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i tried without AA and the degree of difficulty is 10x. please do AA go with her let go and step in read the 164 pages
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If alcohol is a problem for you then don't drink.If a/a has helped you stay sober then continue to be a part of what is working for you.Dont beat yourself up over the smoking.Do what is best for you.I agree with with what a lot of others have said.I t is your program and not anyone else's.You are welcome in a/a and I think you should stay with it.Your choice though good luck.
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It doesn't say that you have to sponsor anyone but the program does require that we freely give what's been given to us and that's by being of service and there is plenty of ways to be of service. “nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics” (A.A., 2001, p. 89).
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It's not necessary to come up with long words that dont mean anything to justify getting high. You can just say you want to get high. We understand that, we're addicts
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Do what works for you. I have MS so I use THC occasionally as well. Don’t listen to any judgement from anyone 
(like Brett above) I think since you seem to show interest in going you should go - you can always get something from it. 🫶🏼
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Have you heard of SMART Recovery? It’s an alternative to the 12 step program. They have national regional and online meetings. Check out their website. I totally understand smoking weed as harm reduction in your situation.
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I think you’re doing the right thing and some THC is fine. Their side effects to every drug. Stay off the bottle it’s much worse. God bless.
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Hi,
I wrote in another response that my aunt calls it Harm Reduction. I got that term from her.
Aside from that, not being a member means that I am not interested in giving up THC, Kombucha, NA beer, being told by a sponsor that I am supposed to tell her everything which I absolutely did, but then she gaslit me and said I am paranoid, told me to read AA literature ever morning before praying the way I am used to praying. Women in the program told me the chip system is to give others hope. I stopped picking up chips because of the THC but then they still wanted me to pick up chips and become a sponsor. There's so much more, but in a nutshell not being a member means I am no longer attending meetings and no longer in the program.
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Exactly 
that's why I am not in the program anymore. Are you aware though that I am not the only person out of approximately 2 million members of AA that use THC and just don't admit it to anyone in the program and still pick up chips and their medallions?