Question 1

What is AWNA?

Accepted Answer

Air, Water, Nourishment Anonymous (AWNA) is a free, anonymous 12-step fellowship for recovery from five substances at once: alcohol, drugs, nicotine, caffeine, and sugar and carbohydrates. Meetings are online every day of the week at 3:00 PM Eastern on WhatsApp. AWNA uses the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous as its framework, with one adaptation: where the original first step names alcohol, AWNA's names all substances that affect us above the neck.

Question 2

Who is AWNA for?

Accepted Answer

AWNA is particularly useful for people who have tried single-substance fellowships (AA, NA, OA, Nicotine Anonymous, etc.) and found that putting one substance down led to escalation of another. It is also for people struggling with two or more of: alcohol, drugs, nicotine, caffeine, and sugar and carbohydrates. The only requirement to attend is willingness to entertain the idea of life without those substances.

Question 3

What does 'nothing that affects us above the neck' mean?

Accepted Answer

It is the founding principle of AWNA. The fellowship abstains from any substance put past the lips that clouds the mind — alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, mood-altering drugs, and sugar and carbohydrates, treated as one substance, which compulsive eaters experience as substance-like. One rule, five substances, clear edges.

Question 4

Is AWNA a diet program?

Accepted Answer

No. AWNA does not prescribe food plans, count calories, or weigh members. Sugar and carbohydrates are treated as one substance category for AWNA members — not because of any weight or health agenda.

Question 5

Do I need to believe in God to join AWNA?

Accepted Answer

No. AWNA is a spiritual program but not a religious one. Members are invited to find a Higher Power of their own understanding. Many begin with the group itself as that Higher Power. Atheists, agnostics, and members of any tradition are welcome.

Question 6

How much does AWNA cost?

Accepted Answer

Nothing. AWNA is free and self-supporting through voluntary contributions. There are no fees, no dues, no sign-ups, and no membership lists.

Question 7

How do I attend my first AWNA meeting?

Accepted Answer

Open the AWNA homepage, pick the next meeting time, and click the WhatsApp link. Meetings are every day at 3:00 PM Eastern. Camera off is fine. Microphone muted is fine. Listening for ten minutes counts. You do not have to register, identify yourself, or commit to coming back.

Question 8

When does AWNA meet?

Accepted Answer

AWNA meets every day of the week, online, at 3:00 PM Eastern on WhatsApp. The meeting link is on the homepage.

Question 9

Is AWNA affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous?

Accepted Answer

No. AWNA is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous, but uses the Big Book, the Twelve Steps, and the Twelve Traditions as guides, with one adaptation to the first step to encompass all substances that affect the mind.

Question 10

Can I attend AWNA if I'm already sober from one substance?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and many AWNA members came in by exactly this route. They put one substance down through another fellowship, noticed something else taking its place, and found AWNA when looking for a room that covered the whole pattern.