Safety in AA: Help, Hype or Something Else?Safety in AA: Help, Hype or Something Else?
Alcoholics Alive!
Shank and Wayne talk candidly about safety in AA, contrasting official safety materials with real-life experience and common sense group action. The conversation focuses on protecting the fellowship’s purpose while still allowing people space to recover and grow.
1:00:06•14 Jul 2026
Safety in AA: Common Sense, Tough Conversations and Protecting the Group
Episode Overview
- Safety in AA is seen as each member’s responsibility, grounded in common sense and group traditions rather than blanket statements.
- "Love and tolerance of others is our code" is discussed as allowing others to be themselves while still addressing harmful behaviour directly.
- Extreme situations like threats, stalking, theft and drug dealing at meetings are handled best by prompt, case-by-case action, sometimes including police involvement.
- Members, especially sponsors and long‑sober individuals, are encouraged to quietly intervene to protect newcomers and the group’s primary purpose.
- If a meeting feels unsafe or unwelcoming, the suggestion is to find another group where recovery and safety are genuinely supported.
“"Making a statement at the beginning of your meeting about safety is not going to make your group any safer than it would have been if you had not read the statement."”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? This conversation between Shank and Wayne on Alcoholics Alive! takes aim at one of AA’s touchiest subjects: safety in meetings, and how to handle real-life chaos without losing the spiritual heart of the fellowship.
Kicking off with the Big Book’s line, "Love and tolerance of others is our code," the hosts talk about what tolerance actually means in practice: allowing people to be themselves without trying to control them, while still using common sense when behaviour crosses the line. You’ll hear them share raw stories of threats, stalking, theft and mental health crises in AA rooms, including one member who "threatened to kill" another and had to be removed by the police.
There’s no sugar-coating here, just honesty about what really happens when very sick people show up. Shank and Wayne weigh up the usefulness of the AA safety card and flyer, questioning whether reading statements at the start of meetings truly helps. They argue that "reading a safety card or a safety statement... is not going to stop any of that," and suggest that responsible members, strong home groups and quick, direct action are far more effective than blanket announcements.
The episode digs into tricky areas like sexual harassment, teenagers in meetings, prison AA, people dealing drugs at meetings, and members who feel unsafe because of sexual orientation or race. The recurring message is simple and practical: use common sense, talk to sponsors and trusted members, protect your group’s purpose, and remember you do *not* have to engage with anyone who makes you uncomfortable.
If you’ve ever wondered how safety, tradition and spiritual growth can sit together in AA, this honest chat might help you think about your own group differently and ask: where could you step up to keep recovery spaces both free and safe?
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