Twelve-Step slang's definitions

CA

Cocaine Anonymous.
A Twelve-Step fellowship / group in the tradition of AA. For those individuals addicted to cocaine (blow, crack) and their lives have become unmanagable.

"Finding my old crack pipe might be a trigger, so I better get to a CA meeting!"

by Twelve-Step slang October 24, 2004

Big Book

The "bible" of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The book which is actually entitled simply "Alcoholic Anonymous," was written by Bill W., a New York stockbroker, after founding the group with Dr. Bob in a kitchen in Akron, Ohio.


Contains many first person accounts in narrative form of battles with the "cunning and baffling" drink. These narratives are replaced and updated with more contemporary drunkalogues periodically by the bureaucracy controlled from AA World Service Office (WSO) in New York City.

"I'm going to a Big Book study meeting tonight, as part of my 90 in 90."

by Twelve-Step slang October 24, 2004

program people

Persons who are members of Twelve-Step groups (programs), e.g., AA, NA, CA, MA, SA, SLA, OA, CODA, and PA.

Bill hangs out only with program people since he got sober.

by Twelve-Step slang October 24, 2004

earth people

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) speak for non-alcoholic/addicted persons.

Also referred to as normal people.

"I wish I was like that earth person who just left the bar with her drink glass still half full!"

by Twelve-Step slang November 17, 2004

Friend of Bill W.

A member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and therefore (usually) a recovering alcoholic. Derived from the name of Bill Wilson (Bill W.), one of the founding members of AA.

If you are at an airport and have a temptation to head to one of the bars, instead have "Bill W." paged, as code for your need for someone from the program come have a "meeting" with you.

by Twelve-Step slang October 24, 2004

Club Betty

The Betty Ford Center (BFC). A very comfortable drug and alcohol rehab in Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs area), California. Term used by current and former (alumini) patients of the center.

"While getting clean at Club Betty, I took in sun on my patio with the mountain view, hung out at the pool, and worked out with the personal trainer."

by Twelve-Step slang November 10, 2004

running the show

(adverb) How devout members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) describe the attitude and actions of an alcoholic who is not following the principles of the Twelve-Step program and the Big Book.

They believe that this person does not "know how to take direction."

"Sandy still thinks she can drink only on weekends and stop during the week. She continues to run the show."

by Twelve-Step slang November 20, 2004