*Much of this was borrowed from Bill White's writings.

Face It! believes in cooperating with all recovery groups and recovery service providers in our community. We respect all recovery philosophies and support people along the journey of recovery. Most 12 Step groups interact with Face It! the same way they interact with other recovery service organizations by following the A.A. General Service Conference-approved pamphlet, "Let's Be Friendly With Our Friends."

There is some concern within the recovering community that discussing one's addiction and path to recovery violates the tradition of anonymity in 12-step programs. However, it is possible to share your experience, strength and hope on the road to recovery without violating this important tradition.

The A.A. General Service Conference-approved pamphlet "Understanding Anonymity", states that "A.A. members may disclose their identity and speak as recovered or recovering alcoholics, giving radio and TV interviews, without violating the Traditions--so long as their A.A. membership is not revealed."

The brochure "Advocacy With Anonymity" provides guidance to people in long-term recovery and family members who want to speak publicly about the power of addiction recovery and advocates for policies that will make it possible for others to get the help they need.

Anonymity at the level of the media is the cornerstone principle of many twelve-step groups. Anonymity does not, however, preclude you from speaking out about your recovery or from advocating for the rights of other alcoholics and addicts, as long as you do not involve the twelve-step group by name.

The general public rarely sees the faces of recovering alcoholics and addicts. By speaking out publicly about our recovery, we demonstrate that we can lead full and healthy lives in recovery - and if there is hope for so many of us, there is hope for anyone.

*** Please note that speaking publicly about one's own recovery is a personal decision, and should be weighed carefully. Some of our character defects (such as grandiosity, arrogance, and ego) can emerge if one is not spiritually fit, not actively working a program of recovery, or is seeking to "look good" in front of others. If you choose to be open about your recovery status, we suggest you do so with humility - and with the sole purpose of carrying the message to those who still suffer. Our suggestion is to talk to your sponsor.

***Please note that Face It! is not affiliated with A.A./N.A./Al-Anon or any other 12 Step program.

How Does Face It! Respect 12 Step Traditions?

There are four of the Twelve Traditions that have particular relevance to the Face It! Recovery Movement.

Tradition Eleven states that “Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.”   There is a vast misconception that anonymity means silence at all levels. As recovering people, we are able to maintain our anonymity and speak to others about our experience, strength and hope – even in public venues and at the media level – so long as we do not reveal our membership in A.A./N.A./Al-Anon and/or other 12 Step programs. We can say that we “actively work a program of recovery,” or “attend recovery support meetings,” – all without breaking anonymity. Face It! never encourages anyone to mention a 12 Step group by name (publicly or at the media level).

Tradition Six states that “An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.”  A.A./N.A./Al-Anon’s name should thus not be drawn into the Face It! Recovery Movement, other than for purposes consistent with traditions (i.e. attracting/referring potential new members to a program of recovery, posting meeting schedules, etc.). Face It! has meeting space that can be utilized by any recovery support group, including 12 Step groups. Meetings at Face It! do not constitute endorsement of Face It! any more than meeting at a church represents an endorsement of that particular church.

Tradition Ten states that “Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.” Face It! may from time to time be drawn into public policy issues. However, the name of A.A./N.A./Al-Anon should never be brought into those advocacy efforts. All people participating or supportive of recovery advocacy efforts would do so as “people in recovery”, not as A.A./N.A./Al-Anon members.

Tradition Five states that: “Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.” If we keep our recovery status silent at ALL levels, we may miss the opportunity to carry the message and help those who still suffer. How can we carry the message to those that still suffer if we are silent?

Anonymity Does Not Mean Silence

Silence at all levels is not anonymity. Sociologists call this “passing” - hiding one’s stigmatized status by failing to disclose one’s link to a stigmatized condition or group and, in effect, passing as “normal”.

Senator Harold Hughes, two years before he died, spoke out on the effect “passing” had on others. We in recovery have been part of the problem.  By hiding our recovery, we have sustained the most harmful myth about addiction: that it is hopeless. And without the examples of recovering people, it’s easy for the public to continue thinking that victims of addiction are moral degenerates - and that those who recover are the morally enlightened exceptions. We are the lucky ones – the ones who got well. It is our responsibility to change the terms of the debate, for the sake of those who still suffer. The Face It! Recovery Movement is calling people to respect the recovery fellowship tradition of anonymity, but to carefully consider the costs of “passing” (refusing to acknowledge not their AA affiliation, but their recovery status) on their own emotional health and its effect on those still suffering from alcohol and other drug problems.

Face It! Sioux Falls is declaring that it is time for a vanguard of recovering people to stand up and announce their presence in this culture – NOT as members of any identified recovery fellowship, but as members of a larger recovery community. This invitation explicitly includes family members in recovery. Even those of us who have lost loved ones to addiction must become more than saddened spectators of such loss. We must find a way to tell our loved one’s story wrapped within our own story.  We must be witnesses, speaking for them as well as ourselves.