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The Definition of an AA Sponsor

An Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) sponsor is an alcoholic who has made strides in the recovery program and chooses to share that experience with other alcoholics trying to obtain sobriety and maintain recovery from alcoholism. An AA sponsor is the added personal support needed by someone trying to overcome the grip of alcohol abuse, and the sponsor can be defined as a friend, confidant and mentor.

  1. History of AA Sponsorship

    • The Book "Living Sober" describes how the sponsorship program in AA came about. In the early days of AA, there were no sponsors. A few hospitals in Akron, Ohio, and New York started to accept alcoholics as sick inpatients only if another recovering alcoholic would sponsor them. The term "sponsor" became an accepted part of the AA program, and in 1944 the first AA Sponsorship Pamphlet was produced defining a sponsor's duties.

    Success of AA Sponsors

    • The original AA sponsors would visit the sick alcoholic in the hospital, were present when the alcoholic was discharged, and would escort the recovering alcoholic to AA meetings. The sponsor introduced the new AA member at the meeting and was there for the member to answer questions and be supportive during the recovery process. The sponsorship program worked so well that it became a regular part of the AA 12-step recovery process.

    Duties of an AA Sponsor

    • AA defines the sponsor in the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" (the basic text for the organization), as: "An alcoholic who has made some progress in the recovery program who shares that experience on a continuous, individual basis with another who is attempting to attain or maintain sobriety through AA." The sponsor acts as a friend, teacher, tutor and experienced guide to the recovering alcoholic. The sponsor also presents the AA plan to the alcoholic, helps him work the recovery steps, tells his own story and listens to that of the alcoholic, talks about AA values, inspires confidence in the alcoholic and takes the alcoholic to AA meetings. The sponsor leads by example, which is why the sponsor must be an alcoholic who has completed the 12-step program, and experienced its spiritual, emotional and mental healing process himself.

    AA Sponsorship Pamphlet

    • The original AA Sponsorship Pamphlet was written in 1944 by Clarence S. The original title was, "AA Sponsorship...Its Obligations and It Responsibilities," but when reprinted by the Cleveland Central Committee, the title was changed to, "AA Sponsorship...Its Opportunities and Its Responsibilities." In defining the personal gains of an AA sponsor, the pamphlet states that anyone who has not experienced the joys and satisfaction of helping others does not completely realize the benefits of the AA fellowship. Being a sponsor should only be for the rewards of helping a fellow AA member get back on the path toward being a happy, healthy, useful and sober member of society.

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