Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experiences, strengths, and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; it is self supporting through its own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution. It does not wish to engage in any controversy; it neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Its primary purpose is for its members to stay sober and to help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

Worship services; Bible/religious studies; Devotional study/prayer times; Special music, drama, religious events; one-to-one mentoring; Pastoral care and counseling; Crisis intervention; Death notifications (to prisoners and their families); Hospital/medical visitation; Segregation visitation; Management of religious diversity issues; Management of volunteer screening, training, supervision; Religious literature distribution; Critical Incident Stress Management.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a twelve-step program of recovery from drug addition, modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). It describes itself as a nonprofit "fellowship or society of people for whom drugs had become a major problem." The program is group-oriented, and is based on the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions, adapted from AA.