For decades, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been a haven for people voluntarily seeking help with alcohol and addiction issues. It’s been a spiritual refuge, offering support, community, and a sense of accountability for those who want to turn their lives around. The motto “Keep Coming Back” wasn’t just a catchphrase—it was a lifeline for many struggling with addiction.
But things have changed.
Now, thanks to drug courts and court-mandated AA participation, this spiritual sanctuary has taken on a darker tone, one more closely associated with the criminal justice system than with recovery. What was once a voluntary community for personal growth is now being flooded with people who are forced into the program as part of their legal punishment. And let’s be real—it’s not just about getting better anymore; it’s about fulfilling a court card to avoid jail time. It’s turning what was once a healing place into a revolving door for criminals.
Drug Courts: A Fast Track to Nowhere?
The rise of drug courts seemed like a good idea on the surface. Rather than clogging up jails with non-violent drug offenders, why not funnel them into treatment programs like AA or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), giving them a chance to rehabilitate? The concept sounds noble, but in practice, it's created a dangerous loophole that whitewashes criminal activity and, in some cases, makes our communities even less safe.
Drug courts essentially use AA and NA meetings as de facto probation check-ins, with participants getting their court cards signed to prove they've attended. The problem is that many of these people have no real interest in recovery. They’re there because they have to be, not because they want to be. And this forced participation creates an uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe environment for those who are genuinely seeking help.
Criminals in AA: A Recipe for Disaster?
AA wasn’t built to be a parole office, yet it’s becoming one. People who are court-mandated to attend meetings bring with them a whole host of problems. Some of them are dangerous, unrehabilitated criminals who treat AA as a temporary pit stop on their way back to their next crime. They’re not there to change their lives—they’re there to avoid jail.
This brings us to the uncomfortable truth: the rest of us, who come to AA voluntarily, are now being exposed to people who might not have our best interests in mind. Criminal activity in AA isn’t just an isolated incident; it's becoming a growing concern. With people from the drug courts filtering in, bringing the street culture of “snitches get stitches” into a place that was once about vulnerability and support, it’s no wonder genuine AA participants are feeling less safe.
The Whitewashing of Crime
Drug courts are meant to offer rehabilitation, but are they really? Or are they just pushing people through a system that rubber-stamps them as “reformed” without truly addressing the root of their problems? It's become a factory of superficial recovery, where attending meetings is just another box to tick on the way to a lighter sentence.
The dark reality is that criminals are using AA to fly under the radar. And it’s not just harmless addicts looking for a second chance—it’s people with long rap sheets who know how to work the system. They hide in plain sight, blending in with those of us who are genuinely trying to better ourselves, and sometimes that blending in comes at a cost—our safety.
Exposing the Rest of Us to Harm
There’s an unspoken rule in AA: what’s said in the meeting stays in the meeting. But what happens when that rule gets exploited by people who have no real intention of changing their lives? When meetings become a place for criminals to network, gather information, and continue harmful behaviors, the lines between recovery and danger start to blur.
AA wasn’t designed to handle this kind of infiltration. The principles of anonymity and spiritual growth don’t work well when you introduce a criminal element into the mix. For those of us who are there to heal, it’s terrifying to realize we could be sitting next to someone who views us as just another opportunity to exploit.
Criminal Activity in AA: What the Research Says
Research into criminal activity in AA is still developing, but the anecdotal evidence is mounting. Stories of theft, harassment, and even assault in meetings have started to surface as more people from the court system flood into these groups. And it's not just happening in big cities—this is a nationwide problem.
Some members have reported feeling pressured to remain silent about criminal activity they witness in meetings, fearing retaliation or being labeled as “snitches.” After all, many of the court-mandated participants come from environments where the rule of “snitches get stitches” reigns supreme. It’s a chilling reality that’s at odds with the spirit of openness and honesty that AA was founded on.
What’s Next?
As drug courts continue to push people into AA and NA meetings, we need to ask ourselves: Is this really helping anyone? Forcing people into recovery programs they don’t want to be a part of does little to change their lives and puts those of us who are genuinely trying to recover at risk.
The solution isn’t easy, but it’s clear that the current system isn’t working. AA should remain a voluntary place for people who are truly ready to change their lives. Until we find a better way to deal with non-violent drug offenders, we’ll continue to see the fallout of this misguided attempt at recovery—where “keep coming back” has turned into something far more dangerous.
What are your thoughts on the state of drug courts and their impact on recovery programs like AA? Share your experiences in the comments below.
by Dan and Bonkers
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