P.O. Box 91648, Tucson, AZ 85752-1648 ~ Tel: (520) 297-9348 ~ Fax: (520) 297-7230

E-mail: wallyp@theriver.com ~ Website: www.aabacktobasics.org

(Date)

(Addressee Name)
(Street Address)
(City, State, Zip Code)

Subject: Court Ordering Alcohol and Drug Offenders to the Back to Basics Beginners' Meetings

Dear (Judge/Sheriff/Officer, etc.) (Addressee Name)

(Mr./Ms) (Back to Basics Meeting Leader) has asked me to write you about an option that is now available to the (City/County/ State) judicial system. Instead of ordering alcohol and drug offenders to "open" A.A. or other Twelve-Step programs, we request that you consider sending them to the Back to Basics Beginners’ Meetings

Back to Basics is based on an original A.A. format from the mid 1940’s whereby "newcomers" TAKE all Twelve Steps in four one-hour sessions. This format produced a 50-75% recovery rate in the 1940’s and 1950’s. We are seeing similar results today for those who are willing to stay involved for 90-180 days. Involvement includes taking the Steps, "sponsoring" others through the Steps, and if possible, leading the meetings.

Back to Basics provides a safe, structured environment in which "newcomers" learn the fundamentals of the Twelve-Step process, participate in their own recovery, and learn the value of being of service to others. At their first Back to Basics meeting, "newcomers" are assigned "sponsors" or sharing partners who assist them through the Steps. No one attends the Back to Basics meetings alone.

In addition, no one is asked to identify him or herself in terms of an addiction or affliction--everyone is welcome to take the Twelve Steps together. But, because Back to Basics is based on an A.A. meeting format and the "Big Book" is the only book used in the sessions, we do ask those with problems other than alcohol to substitute their addiction or affliction for the word alcohol each time they see or hear it during the meetings.

Back to Basics is also a clearinghouse that directs attendees to the appropriate Twelve Step fellowship once they have taken the Steps. This helps insure each Twelve Step program’s "singleness of purpose" and improves the effectiveness of "regular" meetings because the attendees are now living in the solution rather than floundering around in the problem.

Your local Back to Basics meeting is located at:

(Name of Meeting / Group)
(Name of Meeting Location--Church, Club, etc)
(Meeting Address—including directions)
(Day and Time of Meeting)

The coordinator for the Back to Basics meeting in your area is (Mr./Ms.) (First Name / Last Initial). If you have any questions, please contact (him / her) at the following telephone number (Telephone Number).

In Tucson AZ, we coordinate Back to Basics activity throughout the world and publish the Back to Basics book, Back to Basics Meeting Leader Guide and other recovery literature. We also conduct Back to Basics workshops and seminars throughout the United States and Canada.

We have included a copy of the Back to Basics book and various articles on the success of the Back to Basics program. You can obtain additional information at our website: www.aabacktobasics.org. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us at the Back to Basics Foundation (520-297-9348).

We thank you for the opportunity to be of service to the suffering alcoholic / addict.

Respectfully submitted,

Wally P.
Archivist, Historian and Author