The journey of addiction recovery is difficult. And those who persevere deserve appreciation. While it doesn’t have to be grand, a little acknowledgment of a recovering addict goes a long way in making an impact and reducing the chance of relapse. Here is where support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and their AA chips come in.
What Is Alcoholics Anonymous?
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who come together to solve their drinking problem. Attending A.A. meetings is free, and there are no age or education requirements to participate. 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.
AA meetings are held all over the United States and the world. You can find a local group online through the Alcoholics Anonymous World Services website.
AA groups gather to support one another on the path to sobriety. The recovery meetings become a safe space where Alcoholics Anonymous members share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. As integral components of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) ideology, the AA chips hold significant meaning for fellowship members.
What are AA Chips and Sobriety Tokens?
AA sobriety chips, also known as sobriety tokens, are emblematic symbols of progress and commitment to addiction recovery. These small, round tokens, which resemble plastic poker chips, are passed out to AA members of the fellowship at various points along their recovery journey, helping them mark sobriety milestones such as 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, etc. On some sobriety chips, the serenity prayer is printed on one side.
A Brief History of AA Coins
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.
The origin of A.A. sobriety chips is uncertain, but they are considered to have been started by Doherty S, who started AA meetings in Indianapolis. Colored AA poker chips originated with the Portland (Maine) group.
The Yellow AA Chip – 60 Days of Sobriety
The AA chips are available in various colors. Each color represents a specific milestone in one’s sobriety journey. For example, the yellow poker chip represents 60 days of continuous sobriety.
What Are The Other AA Sobriety Chip Colors?
The AA plastic chips come in various colors. Each color in the AA coin or recovery chip signifies the number of days one has remained sober. Some important AA day chips and month chips include:
- White: This is the traditional color of the new ‘surrender chip’ given to members right after joining AA. It represents their promise to quit drinking and become sober.
- Silver: The 24-hour chip. This chip is awarded after 24 continuous hours of sobriety. An important milestone for long-term addicts
- Red: This chip represents 30 days of being sober.
- Dark blue: This marks six months of sobriety
- Bronze: This chip marks the first year of recovery, marking a huge milestone
Where to Buy Sober Gifts?
Amazon offers ceramic coffee mugs in various colors if you are looking for a congratulatory gift for a friend in recovery. You can also find plastic AA poker chips, AA sobriety coins, key tags in various colors, and poker chips. You can also use any browser search engine to find a sobriety gift for special occasions.
Conclusion
No matter how long we’ve been sober, we celebrate being sober just for today. In every 12-step program, every day that we abstain from drinking is a victory.