Tradition 6 of Alcoholics Anonymous safeguards the fellowship from the dangers of money, property, and prestige by ensuring it remains independent. AA groups must not endorse or financially support any outside enterprise, keeping the focus on the primary spiritual aim—helping alcoholics recover. But what happens when this tradition is ignored?
Understanding Tradition 6 AA and Its Purpose
The Sixth Tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous is a foundational principle that protects the fellowship from outside influence.
The 6th Tradition States
“An AA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.”
The 6th Tradition AA Long Form States
“While an AA group may cooperate with anyone, such cooperation ought never go so far as affiliation or endorsement, actual or implied. An AA group can bind itself to no one.”
This tradition ensures that AA groups remain focused solely on their primary spiritual aim—helping alcoholics recover—without distractions from financial, political, or organizational ties.
Why AA Must Remain Forever Non-Professional
The primary spiritual aim of AA is to provide a free, accessible solution for alcoholics seeking recovery. This is why AA must remain forever non-professional and avoid financial entanglements. If AA allowed itself to endorse, finance, or lend its name to treatment centers, advocacy groups, or businesses, it would risk losing its neutrality and spiritual foundation.
AA is designed to be a fellowship of equals, where no one profits from the program, no one dictates how groups operate, and no one has authority over another. By refusing to endorse finance or lend its name to any organization, AA ensures that its meetings and message remain pure, untainted by external agendas.
The Temptation to Align with Treatment Centers and Related Facilities
In its early years, some AA groups saw potential benefits in partnering with hospitals, religious organizations, or related facilities. They believed these affiliations could help more alcoholics access the program. However, these connections quickly led to problems.
- Control Issues – Institutions that provided space or funding often wanted input on how meetings were run.
- Message Dilution – Some groups altered their approach to recovery to align with the organization’s beliefs.
- Financial Conflicts – Accepting outside money led to disputes over how funds should be managed.
- Exclusivity Concerns – Affiliated groups sometimes prioritized certain demographics, contradicting AA’s policy of inclusivity.
Because of these dangers, the Sixth Tradition ensures that AA groups operate independently, never becoming a part of any outside enterprise. Instead, A.A. groups may cooperate with outside organizations without compromising their identity or purpose. By upholding this tradition, AA safeguards its effectiveness and remains solely dedicated to helping alcoholics recover.
What Happens When Tradition 6 Is Ignored?
When Alcoholics Anonymous groups ignore Tradition Six, the consequences can be severe. Throughout history, some AA groups have aligned themselves with treatment centers, religious institutions, or advocacy groups, believing that such connections could expand AA’s reach and effectiveness.
However, these affiliations often lead to unintended problems that threaten the primary purpose of AA—helping alcoholics recover through the Twelve Steps.
The Consequences of Ignoring Tradition Six
1. Money, Property, and Prestige Create Division
- When an AA group becomes tied to a related facility—such as a rehab center or religious organization—issues related to money, property, and prestige inevitably arise.
- Financial entanglements lead to power struggles, shifting the focus away from recovery and toward administration and control.
2. Financial Support Creates Conflicts of Interest
- Accepting financial support from outside sources compromises AA’s independence.
- Groups that rely on donations from treatment centers or support groups may feel obligated to align their message with that of their benefactors.
- The problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose, creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
3. Outside Enterprise Lest Problems Influence AA’s Autonomy
- When AA aligns with an outside enterprise, it risks being controlled by external forces.
- If a church provides free space, the leadership might demand that AA members adhere to its religious doctrine.
- Such cooperation with outside organizations can gradually erode the principles that make AA effective.
Personal Experience: A Treatment Center’s Influence
I’ve personally witnessed what happens when an AA group accepts free space from a treatment center. Initially, it seemed like a great arrangement—AA would have a meeting place without financial burden. However, the treatment center soon began imposing rules:
Treatment Center Rules
- No congregating after meetings — Limiting personal recovery discussions.
- Dictating meeting content — Insisting that the meeting operate more like a group therapy session.
- Appointing “trusted servants” from their staff — Rather than allowing the group conscience to decide.
This interference violated AA’s principles. Eventually, the group had to find a new space to maintain personal anonymity and reclaim its sole responsibility for its operations.
Preserving Tradition Six for the Future of AA
To prevent these issues, AA groups must stay separate from other organizations. While AA can create service boards for outreach efforts, these should be separately incorporated to avoid conflicts. Voluntary contributions should come from members alone, and any financial burdens should be freely discarded rather than relying on external funding.
By upholding Tradition Six, AA ensures that personal recovery depends on the AA fellowship, not on outside institutions. Groups must resist the temptation of aligning with such facilities or accepting considerable property, remaining true to the Twelve Traditions to safeguard the fellowship for future generations.
FAQs About Tradition 6 in Alcoholics Anonymous
Why Does AA Avoid Affiliations with Treatment Centers?
AA avoids affiliations with treatment centers because they are outside enterprises with professional and financial motives that differ from AA’s primary purpose—helping alcoholics recover through the Twelve Steps. While secondary aids to AA (such as rehabs or therapy) may be beneficial for individuals, they are not part of the AA program. If AA were connected to a service center, it could give the false impression that medical treatment is required for recovery, which contradicts AA’s core principles.
Can AA Accept Donations from Outside Organizations?
No, AA is fully self-supporting through voluntary contributions from its members. Accepting outside contributions could create conflicts of interest, leading to outside influence over the fellowship’s decisions. For example, if a corporation or foundation donated large sums, they might expect input on how AA operates. This would compromise the autonomy of AA groups and could lead to changes that diverge from the Twelve Traditions. By relying only on member donations, AA protects its independence and integrity.
What Is the Difference Between Cooperation and Affiliation?
AA can create service boards to assist with outreach and public information, but it remains a separate entity from outside organizations. Cooperation means AA may share information or work alongside professionals, but affiliation or endorsement actual or implied means becoming financially or operationally tied to another group. This is a critical distinction because AA must never be influenced or controlled by external organizations.
Why Is Protecting the AA Name So Important?
The AA name must remain unassociated with public controversy or outside agendas. If AA were used to endorse causes or businesses, it could alienate alcoholics in need of recovery. AA follows the principle of one ultimate authority, ensuring that no outside influences disrupt the fellowship’s unity. Protecting the AA name preserves its credibility and keeps the focus solely on recovery.
How Tradition 6 Protects AA’s Future
AA’s primary purpose is to help alcoholics recover, and maintaining neutrality is essential. By staying a separately incorporated fellowship, AA avoids the problems of money, property, and prestige that could arise from aligning with such facilities.
History has shown that when AA groups control much property or become entangled with other groups, conflicts emerge. The sole responsibility of AA is to serve suffering alcoholics, not to seek external funding or affiliations. Any outside influence must be freely discarded to preserve the group conscience and ensure that AA remains focused, undistracted, and free from seeking money.
Adam Vibe Gunton is an American author, speaker and thought leader in addiction treatment and recovery. After overcoming homelessness and drug addiction, Adam found his life’s purpose in helping addicts find the same freedom he found. As Founder and Executive Director of the 501(c)3 nonprofit, Recovered On Purpose, and Managing Partner of Behavioral Health Partners, Adam has helped thousands find freedom from addiction all over the world.