August 16 - 90 in 90

90 in 90


A common misinterpretation in 12 step programs is the attending of 90 meetings in 90 days. There’s a funny story about how that slogan came into being. Apparently, an alcoholic appeared before a judge who had just heard about Alcoholics Anonymous. The judge had been prepared to pass a sentence of 90 days in the local jail but he decided to give the drunk a choice, so his judgment was that the drunk either spend 90 days in jail or attend 90 AA meetings. The drunk never appeared before the judge again on alcohol-related charges and follow-up reports indicated that the meetings had sobered the drunk up. So, the judge began handing this sentence out to all drunks who appeared before him. Over time, the phrase was shortened to 90 meetings or 90 days and somewhere along the way it slurred into 90 meetings in 90 days. 

I am not knocking daily attendance at meetings but it certainly shouldn’t end at 90 days. Nor should it be viewed as an alternative to jail. That makes it sound like a punishment. And like most punishments it only works while it is in effect. Most alcoholics mandated to treatment will only remain in treatment until their sentence is finished, then they leave. Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but it doesn’t work that way. Oh, it might work if you came to AA to avoid going to jail, or if you came to AA to get your job back, or if you came to AA to meet a girl and fall in love. But if you came here to recover from alcoholism, you’re going to have to hang around a lot longer than 3 months. I’ve been here almost 17 years and although I am a recovered alcoholic, I can’t see myself leaving anytime soon.