The Twelve Traditions

The twelve traditions comprise the organizational guidelines under which the autonomous groups of Co-Anon function.

1 Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon Co-Anon unity.
2 For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3 The only requirement for membership is that there is a problem with cocaine or other mind-altering substances in a relative or friend.
4 Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups, or Co-Anon Family Groups or Cocaine Anonymous as a whole.
5 Each group has but one primary purpose—to help the family of addicts or alcoholics. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps of Cocaine Anonymous ourselves, by understanding addiction, and by carrying the message of hope and personal recovery to the family and friends of someone addicted to cocaine or other mind-altering substances.
6 Co-Anon Family Groups ought never endorse, finance or lend our name to any outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose. Although a separate entity, we should always cooperate with Cocaine Anonymous.
7 Every group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8 Co-Anon Family Groups should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9 Co-Anon Family Groups, as such, ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10 The Co-Anon Family Groups have no opinions on outside issues; hence our name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11 Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, television and films. We need to guard with special care the anonymity of all Cocaine Anonymous members.
12 Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

The Co-Anon Family Groups World Service Board shall use its best efforts to ensure that these Twelve Traditions are maintained, for it is regarded by the fellowship of Co-Anon Family Groups as the custodian of these Traditions and accordingly, it shall not identify itself nor, so far as it is within its power to do so, permit others to modify, alter, or amplify these Traditions.

The Twelve Traditions are reprinted with permission of Cocaine Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Permission to reprint and adapt the Twelve Traditions does not mean that A.A. is affiliated with this program. A.A. is a program of recovery from alcoholism. Use of the Traditions in connection with programs and activities which are patterned after A.A., but which address other problems, does not imply otherwise.