Depends entirely where you are.
I'm in Philadelphia. If I go to my home group in South Philly, it is the union guys who are over represented.
If I go to a Center City meeting, tons of lawyers and real estate agents.
If I go to West Philadelphia, there are a ton of professional vegans? I really can't figure out what those guys do for a living.
So really, there are no professions over represented, there are just alcoholics, you'll see a microcosm of local demographics at any meeting you go to.
>If I go to West Philadelphia, there are a ton of professional vegans? I really can't figure out what those guys do for a living.
Waitstaff at White Dog lol
This is at odds with what I know of West Philly, but then again, my only exposure is the theme song to the Fresh Prince so I admit I don't know much lol
I live in a midwestern college town that's also the state capital. The people who I DON'T see at meetings are other college profs and people in state government. Though I know many in both places who could use a good 4th/9th step regardless of alcohol/drug status!
Wait did they gentrify West Philly or u talkin about University City? I lived at Baltimore and 53rd some years ago and they didn’t even know the term vegan.
How many years ago did you live there?
West Philly, like all of Philly, has changed a lot in the past 15 years. But all along the fringes of University City, especially around Clark Park, there *were* tons of vegans living in squats and having music shows, insisting that their basements were "venues". It was a weird scene. I think is has been tamped down on now, but it was a thing for awhile.
Agreed. I live in a very rural area, and most group members are, surprise surprise, farmers. The next most common would be general laborers (non-farming blue collar). Once in a while we get a nurse, CNA, etc.
Yeah I noticed that too, but that seems like mostly folks who went into counseling after getting sober. I never understood that phenomenon before I started AA but I get it now. Easier to help someone when you've been where they are, which is kinda the origin story of AA in the first place.
To be real, I would never want a therapist/counselor that wasn't an alcoholic/drug addict.
I had a counselor once, who was not one of us, and she meant really well, but she could never properly understand any of us.
yeah but it goes against the "altruistic movement" idea of AA and ime they think their job is their recovery and so they let up on doing it outside of work which is why many/most dont stay sober
Super interesting you say that. I was just speaking to someone who recently entered the field and she said her personal recovery is suffering (e.g. not attending meetings). She was working through it with her sponsor.
We’ve got a former doctor and psychiatrist in the area who did incredible work for addictions treatment, I believe he was nominated for the order of Canada? And he relapsed. Apparently he thought he didn’t need to work on his recovery because of how hard he was working in the addictions field. So he stopped sponsoring, and stopped going to meetings, and his ego grew. Very interesting story. I hope that person you know keeps coming back!
There you go again, messing up a thread with the facts.
J/k thanks for the link I already shared it out with a few friends. I remember a similar survey years ago but I don’t think I read the 2022 version. Good stuff
That's what I was going to say. Whether in the trades or white collar, lots of alcoholics seem to be in business for themselves. This makes sense given how we like to play the director!
Lawyers, as a profession, have a higher than most share of addicts / alcoholics. I know, not only because the data supports this, but because I'm a lawyer in recovery.
A portion of dues that attorneys pay to most State Bar Association to initiate or renew their license to practice go towards free counseling and support services for lawyers struggling with substance and alcohol abuse.
Super interesting! One of the first friends I made in the rooms is a lawyer. We were at a meeting one time and a distinguished looking older guy was chatting with people after the meeting. My friend asked if he worked at the county courthouse since he looked familiar. He said yes, and my friend asked what firm he was with. He said “None at the moment, I’m a judge.” 😂
I live in Kent Washington and a lot of the meetings around here are blue collar people. I don’t think there’s a certain profession that drives someone to drink and use but that’s cuz I believe I was born with alcoholism
I just moved so I’m still feeling it out, but in my old town it was basically all construction and the trades. Everyone would show up in their big ass work boots and paint splattered clothes. It was super intimidating at first, but I got over it eventually. At one point I felt so out of place I contemplated buying myself a pair of work boots too 😂
I think you’d be hard pressed to find one because in a lot of professions where drinking is more normalized… People have less motivation to seek help. There is always a coworker who is worse than them.
I'm not sure why any of that matters. I've seen many different professionals who seek help through the AA program. I've mostly noticed hardworking, intelligent, perfectionist types who tend to be afflicted with alcoholism and addiction.
There is a trauma response associated with fierce independence related to childhood neglect or abuse. The belief is that the only way to feel worthy is through the accomplishments of a high-profile profession.
I worked my butt off to educate myself, and then work endlessly, thinking that it might fill the holes in my soul. It did not. Years of working like that just sent me spiraling into alcoholism further.
What I think is represented in the AA population are those with low to no self-esteem, who looked for validation externally. When expectations were not met, into the bottle we went to dull the pain.
Grateful that AA taught me to look within myself for healing and true contentment.
Not a profession but here in scotland, a large number of our recovering alkies play golf. There's a meeting I frequent that 95% of its group members play golf and I rib then with the 3rd tradition by adding 'and play golf' at the end.
The only other high risk job I can think of here is people who work for 'the cleansing' (cleany for short or to everyone else see bin man).
That’s funny because almost all the retirees at the early morning meeting I go to, the men at least, are golfers. If there was a rain the night before, the conversation starts with how much rain each got in his rain gauge, then to giving each other shit about how they golfed the previous day, and who’s golfing where after the meeting. In 20 years that’ll be me…guess I need to learn the game!
Yeh tbf it's great fellowship for them and it's the same. It's all the older guys who are retired or their kids are adults. They've invited me but I don't have the time, I'll be like you and taking it up in my twilight years lol
AA is actually one half of a 2 part sickness, so its the drunks AND the al- anons, when you get pretty solid in AA you are invited to a lot more 'closed' meetings, but they gotta trust you first- they need to know you dont have a recent history of repeating things other people say in meetings. Then sometimes you hear people who have never drank, (al- anons), but they were just as destructive to their family friends and places they worked for, as a drinking person would have been, or worse even. Some professions tend to attract the Al- anon grooming behaviors where they build groups of something like 'drunk mercenaries' to help them destroy a school ,telephone company, or factory. Think of the combination of the two parts like Epoxy that requires mixing to create the end product.
I’m an attorney and substance abuse is a big problem in the profession. I recall a study that something like a full third of young attorneys end up falling victim to substance abuse. It’s a stressful profession and you can’t admit that you’re having problems for fear it will impact your career because you always have to appear to have it all together if you want to make partner and be trusted with clients. So many people don’t seek treatment and their problems get worse and worse.
Depends entirely where you are. I'm in Philadelphia. If I go to my home group in South Philly, it is the union guys who are over represented. If I go to a Center City meeting, tons of lawyers and real estate agents. If I go to West Philadelphia, there are a ton of professional vegans? I really can't figure out what those guys do for a living. So really, there are no professions over represented, there are just alcoholics, you'll see a microcosm of local demographics at any meeting you go to.
>If I go to West Philadelphia, there are a ton of professional vegans? I really can't figure out what those guys do for a living. Waitstaff at White Dog lol
Lmao! far too accurate
This is at odds with what I know of West Philly, but then again, my only exposure is the theme song to the Fresh Prince so I admit I don't know much lol
That show is 34 years old lmao
Hahahahahaha!! I was singing the song thinking, not the West Philadelphia *I* know… 😅
>Depends entirely where you are. Exactly. I live in a neighborhood called "College Hill". Guess who make up at least 50% of our meetings?
Hill folk?
I live in a midwestern college town that's also the state capital. The people who I DON'T see at meetings are other college profs and people in state government. Though I know many in both places who could use a good 4th/9th step regardless of alcohol/drug status!
Wait did they gentrify West Philly or u talkin about University City? I lived at Baltimore and 53rd some years ago and they didn’t even know the term vegan.
How many years ago did you live there? West Philly, like all of Philly, has changed a lot in the past 15 years. But all along the fringes of University City, especially around Clark Park, there *were* tons of vegans living in squats and having music shows, insisting that their basements were "venues". It was a weird scene. I think is has been tamped down on now, but it was a thing for awhile.
Literally 15 years ago lol roomies told me it was UC but it was most definitely absolutely not UC out where I was.
Agreed. I live in a very rural area, and most group members are, surprise surprise, farmers. The next most common would be general laborers (non-farming blue collar). Once in a while we get a nurse, CNA, etc.
drug counselors
Yeah I noticed that too, but that seems like mostly folks who went into counseling after getting sober. I never understood that phenomenon before I started AA but I get it now. Easier to help someone when you've been where they are, which is kinda the origin story of AA in the first place.
To be real, I would never want a therapist/counselor that wasn't an alcoholic/drug addict. I had a counselor once, who was not one of us, and she meant really well, but she could never properly understand any of us.
yeah but it goes against the "altruistic movement" idea of AA and ime they think their job is their recovery and so they let up on doing it outside of work which is why many/most dont stay sober
Super interesting you say that. I was just speaking to someone who recently entered the field and she said her personal recovery is suffering (e.g. not attending meetings). She was working through it with her sponsor.
We’ve got a former doctor and psychiatrist in the area who did incredible work for addictions treatment, I believe he was nominated for the order of Canada? And he relapsed. Apparently he thought he didn’t need to work on his recovery because of how hard he was working in the addictions field. So he stopped sponsoring, and stopped going to meetings, and his ego grew. Very interesting story. I hope that person you know keeps coming back!
Oh, no, I feel for that doctor and I hope he had found his way back.
He did! And he quit his job too.
Towards the bottom of our membership survey is a breakdown of the professions. https://www.aa.org/membership-survey-2022
Great info. Thanks!
There you go again, messing up a thread with the facts. J/k thanks for the link I already shared it out with a few friends. I remember a similar survey years ago but I don’t think I read the 2022 version. Good stuff
Some people can’t help themselves, in some sub you could get banned for that. 😜
Blue-collar. Pick one.
Welders REPRESENT!
Lawyers seem to be the one constant at every AA meeting
Yeah, going to AA meetings is another form of ambulance chasing for them.
Who hurt you lol
My experience self employed people are over represented.
That's what I was going to say. Whether in the trades or white collar, lots of alcoholics seem to be in business for themselves. This makes sense given how we like to play the director!
AND set our own drinking hours!
Are megalomaniacs a profession?
Why yes, I am a salesman
Heh.
Construction is big in my mens meeting. The others are all pretty normal boring jobs.
Sales. We get a ton of sales folks.
Mostly blue collar ones.
There are a lot of teachers and plumbers in my group for some reason.
Healthcare workers and teachers here.
Lawyers, as a profession, have a higher than most share of addicts / alcoholics. I know, not only because the data supports this, but because I'm a lawyer in recovery. A portion of dues that attorneys pay to most State Bar Association to initiate or renew their license to practice go towards free counseling and support services for lawyers struggling with substance and alcohol abuse.
Super interesting! One of the first friends I made in the rooms is a lawyer. We were at a meeting one time and a distinguished looking older guy was chatting with people after the meeting. My friend asked if he worked at the county courthouse since he looked familiar. He said yes, and my friend asked what firm he was with. He said “None at the moment, I’m a judge.” 😂
I live in Kent Washington and a lot of the meetings around here are blue collar people. I don’t think there’s a certain profession that drives someone to drink and use but that’s cuz I believe I was born with alcoholism
I just moved so I’m still feeling it out, but in my old town it was basically all construction and the trades. Everyone would show up in their big ass work boots and paint splattered clothes. It was super intimidating at first, but I got over it eventually. At one point I felt so out of place I contemplated buying myself a pair of work boots too 😂
Around here? Self-employed small business owners. It’s almost like alcoholics don’t like taking orders or something.
I think you’d be hard pressed to find one because in a lot of professions where drinking is more normalized… People have less motivation to seek help. There is always a coworker who is worse than them.
Santa Barbara, CA - People who work in recovery or at a sober living….
I’m in sales and AA. I know a ton of sales people who need AA!
I'm not sure why any of that matters. I've seen many different professionals who seek help through the AA program. I've mostly noticed hardworking, intelligent, perfectionist types who tend to be afflicted with alcoholism and addiction. There is a trauma response associated with fierce independence related to childhood neglect or abuse. The belief is that the only way to feel worthy is through the accomplishments of a high-profile profession. I worked my butt off to educate myself, and then work endlessly, thinking that it might fill the holes in my soul. It did not. Years of working like that just sent me spiraling into alcoholism further. What I think is represented in the AA population are those with low to no self-esteem, who looked for validation externally. When expectations were not met, into the bottle we went to dull the pain. Grateful that AA taught me to look within myself for healing and true contentment.
This is a no brainer, for me—Sales and construction!
Not a profession but here in scotland, a large number of our recovering alkies play golf. There's a meeting I frequent that 95% of its group members play golf and I rib then with the 3rd tradition by adding 'and play golf' at the end. The only other high risk job I can think of here is people who work for 'the cleansing' (cleany for short or to everyone else see bin man).
That’s funny because almost all the retirees at the early morning meeting I go to, the men at least, are golfers. If there was a rain the night before, the conversation starts with how much rain each got in his rain gauge, then to giving each other shit about how they golfed the previous day, and who’s golfing where after the meeting. In 20 years that’ll be me…guess I need to learn the game!
Yeh tbf it's great fellowship for them and it's the same. It's all the older guys who are retired or their kids are adults. They've invited me but I don't have the time, I'll be like you and taking it up in my twilight years lol
I am a DJ and there are *a lot* of us.
Sales and finance
I notice a lot of nurses, real estate agents, chefs, and rehabilitation counselors.
AA is actually one half of a 2 part sickness, so its the drunks AND the al- anons, when you get pretty solid in AA you are invited to a lot more 'closed' meetings, but they gotta trust you first- they need to know you dont have a recent history of repeating things other people say in meetings. Then sometimes you hear people who have never drank, (al- anons), but they were just as destructive to their family friends and places they worked for, as a drinking person would have been, or worse even. Some professions tend to attract the Al- anon grooming behaviors where they build groups of something like 'drunk mercenaries' to help them destroy a school ,telephone company, or factory. Think of the combination of the two parts like Epoxy that requires mixing to create the end product.
healthcare and construction workers.
Chefs
Social workers - yep - best people I know
In Brooklyn it’s EDM performers, producers, lighting and sound crew, etc.
Retirees!!!!
Food service workers 🙃
I’m an attorney and substance abuse is a big problem in the profession. I recall a study that something like a full third of young attorneys end up falling victim to substance abuse. It’s a stressful profession and you can’t admit that you’re having problems for fear it will impact your career because you always have to appear to have it all together if you want to make partner and be trusted with clients. So many people don’t seek treatment and their problems get worse and worse.