NOTICE
In line with our statement of 01/01/08:
“This site intends to encourage a more active role to be played by AA members in countering the pernicious influence of the cult locally, regionally and nationally until the cult has either been completely removed from our fellowship or at least marginalised so that the damage that it can inflict on our society is minimised.”
It is our view that all the usual methods of intervention that are available through the service structure of AA, AA groups and AA members have failed to have any serious impact on the cult’s malign influence within an otherwise benign organisation. AA as such has no power to regulate the conduct of AA members or AA groups who breach guidelines or traditions. The fellowship historically has relied upon the need to maintain AA unity and abide by AA traditions through a collective awareness of the potentially life threatening consequences for individual members of a breakdown in that unity. Since it is the case that AA has no ability to control the conduct of its members it has equally no power of enforcement over cult members and cult groups that have established a significant foothold in the Fellowship in Great Britain. Since aacultwatch is not part of AA, nor is it an AA website but is run by individuals who happen to be members of AA who are deeply concerned at the damage that the cult is doing to both Fellowship members and AA as a whole we have decided to adopt the following policy with regard to the activity of the “Visions cult” in Great Britain.
The following will apply forthwith with specific reference to the prescribed medication issue (no action will be undertaken without the full written consent of the AA member concerned):
Where we become aware that any AA member in Great Britain has suffered serious harm as a result of being given advice on the use of prescribed medications (contrary to AA guidelines on the matter) by someone who does not hold the appropriate medical qualifications and we have sufficient evidence that that advice was a directly causal or contributory factor to their subsequent condition we will then contact the appropriate local health authority and forward all the relevant information on the matter for their attention and we will refer that authority to this website. Where the member who has given the advice is associated with a group full details will be supplied as to the name and location of that group to the LHA (and these will also be published on this website).
Additionally we will make it clear that AA has clearly specified guidelines on the matter and these will be cited in our communication. We will also make it clear that these guidelines have been widely publicised throughout the Fellowship. Therefore it may be concluded that it is extremely unlikely that any AA group (or member) would be unaware of those guidelines and that if they acted contrary to these they did so knowingly. Additionally if an AA member who has suffered harm as a result of this advice has been referred to AA by another agency (eg. probation service, treatment centre, hospital, church etc) then the same information will be supplied to these organisations. Additionally copies of these communications (in email form) will be sent to GSO York and where necessary to the Trustees of The General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous (Great Britain) Limited.
It is our hope that the above policy will never need to be employed but will rather serve to deter individuals from giving irresponsible and dangerous advice in relation to medication issues in which they have no competence, expertise or indeed experience to vulnerable members of the Fellowship.
In line with our statement of 01/01/08:
“This site intends to encourage a more active role to be played by AA members in countering the pernicious influence of the cult locally, regionally and nationally until the cult has either been completely removed from our fellowship or at least marginalised so that the damage that it can inflict on our society is minimised.”
It is our view that all the usual methods of intervention that are available through the service structure of AA, AA groups and AA members have failed to have any serious impact on the cult’s malign influence within an otherwise benign organisation. AA as such has no power to regulate the conduct of AA members or AA groups who breach guidelines or traditions. The fellowship historically has relied upon the need to maintain AA unity and abide by AA traditions through a collective awareness of the potentially life threatening consequences for individual members of a breakdown in that unity. Since it is the case that AA has no ability to control the conduct of its members it has equally no power of enforcement over cult members and cult groups that have established a significant foothold in the Fellowship in Great Britain. Since aacultwatch is not part of AA, nor is it an AA website but is run by individuals who happen to be members of AA who are deeply concerned at the damage that the cult is doing to both Fellowship members and AA as a whole we have decided to adopt the following policy with regard to the activity of the “Visions cult” in Great Britain.
The following will apply forthwith with specific reference to the prescribed medication issue (no action will be undertaken without the full written consent of the AA member concerned):
Where we become aware that any AA member in Great Britain has suffered serious harm as a result of being given advice on the use of prescribed medications (contrary to AA guidelines on the matter) by someone who does not hold the appropriate medical qualifications and we have sufficient evidence that that advice was a directly causal or contributory factor to their subsequent condition we will then contact the appropriate local health authority and forward all the relevant information on the matter for their attention and we will refer that authority to this website. Where the member who has given the advice is associated with a group full details will be supplied as to the name and location of that group to the LHA (and these will also be published on this website).
Additionally we will make it clear that AA has clearly specified guidelines on the matter and these will be cited in our communication. We will also make it clear that these guidelines have been widely publicised throughout the Fellowship. Therefore it may be concluded that it is extremely unlikely that any AA group (or member) would be unaware of those guidelines and that if they acted contrary to these they did so knowingly. Additionally if an AA member who has suffered harm as a result of this advice has been referred to AA by another agency (eg. probation service, treatment centre, hospital, church etc) then the same information will be supplied to these organisations. Additionally copies of these communications (in email form) will be sent to GSO York and where necessary to the Trustees of The General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous (Great Britain) Limited.
It is our hope that the above policy will never need to be employed but will rather serve to deter individuals from giving irresponsible and dangerous advice in relation to medication issues in which they have no competence, expertise or indeed experience to vulnerable members of the Fellowship.
