“Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as much as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. This is our twelfth suggestion: carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill…perhaps you are not acquainted with any drinkers who want to recover. You can easily find some by asking a few doctors, ministers, priests or hospitals, they will be only too glad to assist you .Don’t start out as an evangelist or reformer. Unfortunately a lot of prejudice exists. You will be handicapped if you arouse it. Ministers and doctors are competent and you can learn much from them, if you wish, but it happens that because of your own drinking experience you can be uniquely useful to other alcoholics. So cooperate, never criticize. To be helpful is our only aim.”-pg. 89 Working With Others from the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
As alcoholics we have the amazing opportunity to be of service to other alcoholics that are seeking out alcohol addiction help. Since we have been through the same struggles and came out the other side we are more able then most people to be of maximum service. It is important that we don’t preach but rather lead by example. Weather we are being of service at a drug addiction detox, meeting, 30 day rehab program, hospitals, institutions, or one on one our best bet when it comes to reaching a fellow alcoholic is by listening and sharing your experience, strength and hope. This way of life is based on attraction rather than promotion. We need not sell sobriety to others. If someone wants to get sober nothing we say can stop them from trying or make them want it more. Our only responsibility is to be there when someone reaches out for help and needs us to show them the way.