The Twelve Traditions and Concepts of CMA

The Twelve Traditions and Concepts of CMA

The Twelve Traditions of CMA

  1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon CMA unity.
  1. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as expressed in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
  1. The only requirement for CMA membership is a desire to stop using.
  1. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or CMA as a whole.
  1. Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the Addict who still suffers.
  1. A CMA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the CMA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
  1. Every CMA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
  1. Crystal Meth Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centres may employ special workers.
  1. CMA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
  1. Crystal Meth Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the CMA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
  1. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films and all other media.
  1. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous have been reprinted and adapted with the permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc (A.A.W.S.). Permission to reprint and adapt the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous does not mean that Alcoholics Anonymous is affiliated with this program. AA is a program of recovery from alcoholism only—use of A.A.’s Steps and Traditions, or an adapted version of its Steps and Traditions in connection with programs or activities which are patterned after A.A., but which address other problems, or in any other non-A.A. context, does not imply otherwise.

The Twelve Concepts of CMA

  1. Final responsibility and ultimate authority for CMA world services should always reside in the collective conscience of the Fellowship of CMA as a whole.
  1. The General Service Conference of CMA has become, for nearly every practical purpose, the active voice and the effect conscience of the Fellowship in its world affairs.
  1. To create and ensure effective leadership, we should endow each element of CMA with a traditional “RIGHT OF DECISION,” which allows our trusted servants to decide what matters can be disposed of by themselves and what matters require them to report, consult, or ask for direction.
  1. At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional “RIGHT OF PARTICIPATION,” allowing our trusted servants voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.
  1. Throughout our structure, a traditional “RIGHT OF APPEAL” and a “RIGHT OF PETITION” ought to prevail, thus assuring that minority opinions will be heard, and personal grievances will be carefully considered.
  1. Although the General Service Conference has the final decision respecting overall matters of general policy and finance, it recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most of these matters, especially the day-to-day functioning of CMA’s world services, should be exercised by the Trustees acting together as the Board.
  1. The Bylaws of Crystal Meth Anonymous is a legal instrument that fully empowers the Board of Trustees to manage and conduct all of CMA’s world services. The Conference Charter itself is NOT a legal document; it relies instead upon the force of tradition and the power of the CMA treasury for its final effectiveness.
  1. Our Board of Trustees is the principal planner and administrator of overall policy and finance, as decided by the General Service Conference. It also has custodial oversight of CMA’s separately incorporated service entities, which the Board exercises by its ability to select the executives of these entities.
  1. Good service leadership at all levels is indispensable for our future functioning and safety. Primary world service leadership, once exercised by the founders of CMA and the General Service Committee, must necessarily be assumed by the Board of Trustees.
  1. Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.
  1. While the Trustees hold responsibility for the administration of CMA’s world services, they should always have the assistance of the best possible committees, staffs, consultants, and, if necessary, corporate executives who are not Trustees. Such individuals, whether volunteers or paid employees, should be chosen with care. Serious concern should be given as to how they are selected, what qualifications they possess, and what rights and duties they will have.
  1. The General Warranties of CMA’s General Service Conference: In all its proceedings, the General Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the CMA tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority over any of the others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote and, whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; and although it may act for the Fellowship of CMA as a whole, it will never perform acts of government, and it will always remain democratic in thought and action like the Fellowship which it serves.