Are You Looking for Help with Your Own Drinking?

If you are concerned about your drinking and think you may need help, please contact the free Alcoholics Anonymous helpline on 0800 917 7650 or email [email protected].

This page is for organisations and professionals who would like to understand more about Alcoholics Anonymous and how AA may help the people they work with.

Helping Young People Find AA
There can be a perception that alcoholism is something that happens later in life. For a young person who is struggling with their drinking, this can make it harder to recognise that they may have a problem or believe that Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) could be relevant to them.
Youth services, charities, colleges, universities and other organisations supporting young people may come into contact with someone whose drinking is causing concern but be unsure whether AA is appropriate for a younger person.
Alcoholics Anonymous includes people who developed problems with alcohol and found recovery at a young age. AA is available to anyone who has a desire to stop drinking, whatever their age.
What Is Alcoholics Anonymous?
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who have recovered from alcoholism and help each other to live without alcohol.
AA members share their own experiences of alcoholism and recovery, offering hope and support to others who want to stop drinking. Meetings provide an opportunity to hear from people who understand the challenges of alcoholism because they have experienced them themselves.
AA is based on one alcoholic helping another. It is not a professional treatment service or a replacement for medical care, counselling or other specialist support. Instead, AA offers support through the shared experience of its members.
The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for membership.
Helping the Young People You Support
Young people can sometimes find it difficult to identify with the idea of alcoholism or imagine themselves attending an AA meeting.
Our Young Persons Liaison Officer has personal experience of getting sober at a young age and can help organisations understand why AA may be relevant to younger people.
AA members who found recovery when they were young can share their own experiences of drinking, coming to AA and learning to live without alcohol. This can help a young person see that they are not too young to have a problem with drinking and that recovery is possible.
Where appropriate, we can also help a young person take their first steps towards AA and understand what to expect when attending a meeting.
Helping Your Organisation Understand AA
Our Young Persons Liaison Officer works with organisations and services across Wiltshire and Bath that support young people, helping them understand what Alcoholics Anonymous is, how it works and how young people can access support.
The Liaison Officer can provide information and literature designed for younger people, answer questions about AA and arrange talks, workshops or briefings for young people and the professionals who support them.
These can help your organisation better understand when AA may be appropriate for a young person and give staff greater confidence when discussing the support available.
This is a free service: There is no charge for talks, visits or information provided by Alcoholics Anonymous.
Would You Like to Know More About Alcoholics Anonymous?
If you would like to understand more about AA, or arrange for AA members to speak to your team or organisation, please contact our Young Persons Liaison Officer.
There is no charge for talks, visits or information provided by Alcoholics Anonymous.
Email: [email protected]