Cooperating with nonalcoholic professionals is an effective way to carry the message to the sick alcoholic. Such people often meet the alcoholic in places where A.A. is not present. Through professionals, alcoholics may be reached who might otherwise never find the program, or they may be reached sooner with the help of informed
non-A.A.s.
Here is a list of jobs and professions that C.P.C. committees have approached: alcoholism or substance abuse counselors; armed forces officers, unit commanders or military chaplains; athletic coaches; corrections officers; court officials; educators; employers or employee assistance professionals; health care professionals (doctor, nurse, psychiatrist, psychologist, etc.); clergypersons; judges; juvenile services professionals; law enforcement officers; lawyers (prosecutor, defense attorney); probation or parole professionals; professional students; public health officials; senior services professionals; social workers; union officials.
A professional can be a family doctor or other health care professional, a member of the clergy, a law enforcement or court official, an educator, a social worker, an alcoholism or other counselor, or anyone who deals with problem drinkers in the course of their work. Many of these people often encounter the suffering alcoholic, and in spite of public awareness, many of them simply don’t know what to do with a drunk.