In 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous was started in Akron, Ohio, by New York stockbroker Bill Wilson and Akron surgeon Dr. Bob Smith.
What Is Alcoholics Anonymous?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global fellowship of men and women who share their experience and hope with each other to recover from alcoholism.
Founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, AA now has over two million members in more than 180 countries. AA uses the 12-step program, which serves as a guide for people to get and stay sober over time.
Today, we will look at the history of AA, the ideas of the 12-step program, and how AA works.
History of Alcoholics Anonymous
In 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in Akron, Ohio, by a New York stockbroker named Bill Wilson and an Akron surgeon, Dr. Bob Smith.
Wilson had struggled with alcoholism for years. While in a hospital for detox, he had a spiritual experience that helped him stop drinking. AA was born after he began helping other alcoholics to get sober.
AA grew slowly in its early years but gained speed after a 1941 article in the Saturday Evening Post gave it national notice. The organization has since grown into a global fellowship with millions of members.
Principles of the 12-Step Program
The 12-step program is the foundation of AA. It gives people a spiritual guide to get sober and stay that way over time. The 12 steps are:
- We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
How AA Works
AA is a peer-support program where members attend meetings to share their experiences, strength, and hope.
Meetings are free and open to anyone. AA does not require membership fees or dues, and it has no religious or political ties.
AA is not a treatment program and does not offer medical or mental health services. Instead, it offers a supportive community for individuals who are dedicated to sobriety.
Members are encouraged to find a sponsor, who is an experienced member of Alcoholics Anonymous, that can offer guidance and support.
Members are also encouraged to work the 12 steps with a sponsor. This process means working through each step, from admitting powerlessness over alcohol to carrying the recovery message to others.
AA meetings come in many forms, such as speaker, discussion, and step meetings. In speaker meetings, a member shares their personal story with the group.
During discussion meetings, members share their thoughts on a specific topic. Step meetings are focused on working through the 12 steps.
The Benefits of Joining AA
Joining Alcoholics Anonymous can provide many benefits for people struggling with alcoholism. Some of these benefits include:
Supportive Community
AA provides a community of people who understand the challenges of addiction and help each other get sober. Members attend meetings to share their stories. This sense of community can be very helpful for people who feel alone in their struggles with alcohol.
Accountability
As members work through the 12 steps, they are encouraged to find a sponsor for guidance. Being held accountable by someone can be a strong motivator for people trying to maintain sobriety.
Coping Skills
By working the 12 steps, members learn skills to cope with stress and triggers that may have led to drinking. They also learn to take responsibility for their actions, make amends when needed, and build healthy relationships.
Continued Growth
AA is not just about getting sober; it’s about ongoing personal growth. Members are encouraged to keep attending meetings after getting sober to work on themselves and help others in recovery.
Overall, joining AA can be a very positive step for people struggling with alcoholism. The program offers a supportive community, accountability, coping skills, and chances for ongoing growth.
Types of AA Meetings
Several types of AA meetings are available, and finding the right one can be key to staying sober. Below are some of the meetings you might find:
Open Meetings
Open meetings are for anyone who is interested in AA or wants to stop drinking, including family and friends of alcoholics.
Closed Meetings
Closed meetings are only for those who want to stop drinking. This creates a safe space for people to share their experiences with others who understand their struggles.
Speaker Meetings
Speaker meetings feature a person sharing their personal recovery story. They might also share how the 12 steps helped them stay sober.
Discussion Meetings
In discussion meetings, members talk about a topic related to alcoholism and recovery. Topics can include ways to cope, how to deal with triggers, or building healthy relationships.Step Meetings
Step Meetings
Step meetings are focused on the 12 steps, where members work through each one together, offering support and guidance along the way.
How to Find an AA Meeting Near You
If you want to attend an AA meeting, there are several ways to find one near you:
- AA’s website: The official AA website has a directory of local meetings you can search by location.
- Local phone book: Listings for local AA groups can often be found in your phone book.
- Your doctor or therapist: Your doctor or therapist may have information on local AA groups and can recommend one that is a good fit.
- Word of mouth: If you know someone in AA, you can ask them for a recommendation.
Attending an AA meeting is a powerful step toward recovery. Finding the right type of meeting for you, whether open or closed, can provide support and help you stay sober.
How to Become a Member of AA
To join Alcoholics Anonymous, you only need a desire to stop drinking. There are no fees or dues, and there is no formal sign-up process.
A desire to stop drinking is the only requirement for membership. If you have that desire, you are welcome at any AA meeting.
At your first meeting, other members will likely greet you and offer support. You might be asked to introduce yourself, but this is completely optional.
After attending for a while, some members get more involved by taking on service roles or becoming sponsors.
It is important to note that anonymity is a key part of AA. Members do not share personal details outside of meetings and do not reveal who attends without permission.
Also, what is said in an AA meeting stays there. Confidentiality is key to creating a safe space where members can be honest about their struggles without fear of judgment.
Overall, joining AA is a simple process; you just need a willingness to stop drinking and attend meetings. You will find support from other members who understand your situation and can offer guidance.
The Role of a Sponsor in AA
A sponsor is an experienced AA member who guides and supports newer members working the 12 steps. Sponsors are people who are already sober and have experience with the program.
Sponsors play a key role in helping new members handle the challenges of recovery. They offer guidance on the 12 steps, provide support during hard times, and listen to members’ thoughts and feelings.
Sponsorship is an informal relationship with no official process for finding a sponsor. A member usually just asks someone with more experience in AA to guide them.
Typically, sponsors have been sober for at least a year and have worked all 12 steps. They are not therapists; they are just people who want to help others get sober.
Working with a sponsor involves regular contact to discuss recovery progress and get guidance. A sponsor might also share their own recovery story, providing hope and inspiration for newcomers.
Accountability is one of the biggest benefits of having a sponsor. Knowing they need to report their progress to their sponsor can be a strong motivator for members to stay sober.
Overall, sponsors play a key role in helping members stay sober long-term. By offering guidance, support, and accountability, sponsors help newer members handle recovery’s challenges and build a strong base for lasting change.
FAQs
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global fellowship of people committed to sobriety. It provides a supportive community where members share their experiences.”
AA is a peer-support program where members attend meetings to share with each other. With a sponsor, they also work through the program’s 12 steps.
No, you do not need to be religious to join AA. The only requirement is a desire to stop drinking. While AA has a spiritual part, members can interpret it in their own way.
No, there are no fees or dues to join AA. Meetings are free and open to anyone who wants to attend.
Yes, some meetings are open to anyone who wants to learn about the program or support a loved one.
Yes, anonymity is a key part of AA. What is said in meetings stays there, as members do not share personal information outside of them. This confidentiality is crucial for creating a safe space where people can be honest about their struggles without fear of judgment.
There are several ways to find an AA meeting near you:
1. Check the official website for Alcoholics Anonymous
2. Look in your local phone book
3. Ask your doctor or therapist for recommendations
4. Ask someone you know who attends meetings
Summary
In summary, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a worldwide fellowship where individuals share their experiences, strength, and hope to support recovery from alcoholism.
AA’s 12-step program provides a structured, spiritual framework to help members achieve and maintain long-term sobriety. As a peer-support organization, it offers a community of people committed to recovery, providing encouragement and accountability.
Meetings are free and open to anyone seeking help. For those struggling with alcoholism—or for friends and family supporting someone in recovery—AA can serve as a valuable and accessible resource.
