What Are AA Sobriety Chips?
In Alcoholics Anonymous, chips are given for both months of sobriety, or clean time, and years of sobriety, or clean time. Depending on where you live, these AA medallions may be called a different name: sober medallion, AA chips, month AA chips, AA sobriety chips, or AA sobriety tokens, to name a few. Some chips have the AA triangle symbol on the front and the serenity prayer inscribed on the back or Roman Numerals signifying years of sobriety.
The chips are given out at Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-anon, Adult Children of Alcoholics, and other 12-step program meetings called sober birthday or celebratory meetings, where members celebrate their years of abstinence from the substance or behavior. Most groups keep a small collection of recovery tokens to give away at celebratory meetings.
Why Are 18-Month Chips Given?
Picking up AA coins celebrating 18 months of sobriety has significant meaning for recovering alcoholics and addicts. It represents hard work in the program, learning the principles of honesty and cleaning house, growing a connection to a Higher Power, and, above all else, giving hope to the newcomer.
Eighteen months is a long time. Receiving this sobriety token serves as a daily reminder of the promise you made to claim your sober life and celebrate your recovery birthday. If someone you know has a drinking problem, find support groups that celebrate birthday meetings to attend and take them with you. AA members will be available to talk with them, and they will attend a 12-step meeting, perhaps for the first time. Birthday meetings are full of hope and excitement for newcomers. Usually, many AA sober chips in various colors are given out, which gives newcomers something to look forward to.
A Brief History of The Chips
The first tokens were distributed when Sister Mary Ignatia, who worked at St. Thomas Hospital, gave out a Sacred Heart medallion to people discharged from the alcoholic treatment facilities there and at other places where she worked. The medallion was given so the recipients could hand it back to Sister Ignatia before they took their next drink.
Another story is that the origin of A.A. sobriety chips is uncertain, but they are considered to have been started by Doherty S, who started AA recovery meetings in Indianapolis. Colored AA poker chips originated with the Portland (Maine) group.
Months Sobriety Chip Colors
Silver Chip – 24 hours of sobriety given to a new member
Bronze Chip – the first year of sobriety and each year thereafter
What Is Alcoholics Anonymous?
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who come together to solve their common problem of drinking. Attending A.A. meetings doesn’t cost anything. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about their drinking problem.
A.A.’s primary purpose is to help alcoholics to achieve sobriety. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services website offers a meeting locater to find local groups in your area.
Conclusion
No matter how many weeks, months, or years of recovery we have behind us, the one constant cause for celebration is that members of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step recovery communities have been sober just for today. Every day we have been sober, and every day we will be sober is a victory, but the best victory is not in sobriety coins but in going without a drink just for today.