Can drug addicts without a drinking problem attend AA meetings?

My short opinion is yes they can in open meetings as observers but there are plenty of other A groups for problems other than alcoholism. In closed meetings only people who desire recovery from alcoholism ought to attend because new alcoholics that don't have drug histories will have trouble identifying with drug addiction which can be quite different than alcoholism. The focus is effectiveness of AA. AA addresses one problem, alcoholism. Amongst new attendees who use both drugs and alcohol, as well as an unfortunate amount of drug counselors there exists an attitude that drug addiction and alcoholism are same thing. According to AA they are not and in my experience they are not. There are quite a few things different about addiction to alcohol as opposed to addiction to heroin or cocaine.

I will say this. AA does have a singleness of purpose. And for good reason. The short form of the 3rd tradition states "a desire to stop drinking" However the long form states "Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence we may refuse none who wish to recover." So, what I see here is the short form being a summary and the long form being a more in depth explanation which states "all who suffer from alcoholism" The big book is pretty plain about it's description of alcoholism. Loss of control - a two fold disease of body and mind. Complete inability to control drinking using will power. There are plenty of other A groups for people who have problems other than alcohol. Let AA be for alcoholics. (I am an addict too but got sober and clean in AA and don't announce myself as an addict) The good news is there are groups who have charters and meeting introductions that plainly state that their group is for alcoholics or people who think they have a problem with alcohol. They invite others to stay and happily direct them to other A groups after the meeting. If AA fellowship becomes a catch all for any problem under the sun the real alcoholic may find it very difficult to identify, never get the chance at recovery and pay the ultimate price. Groups should make an effort to read literature and practice the traditions in meetings. AA is not as effective if the fellowship becomes a vehicle for those who wish to attend meetings as a social vehicle, or to make friends, for self help, sex addiction, drug addiction etc... It's too bad but I see a lot of that.