It is the 12 steps of AA and the 12 traditions of AA, that have kept millions sober over the years. It wasn't AA that got me sober, it was good drug and alcohol treatment that did that. It was AA that kept me sober on an ongoing basis. I gladly attribute still being in addiction recovery to the 12 step programs. Here is a brief history of Alcoholics Anonymous by Morgan Hamilton
I guess you've heard about Alcoholics Anonymous. This is a fellowship of people who try to stay sober and help others achieve sobriety, as well. Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, was founded in 1935. Two alcoholics who were committed to stop drinking and felt like helping others with the same problem established this fellowship of men and women. Soon after 1935, there were many Alcoholics Anonymous established in different countries. According to the AA website which is www.alcoholics-anonymous.org there are more than 100,000 groups and 2 million members worldwide. These AA groups do not require membership fees as they are self funded by voluntary contributions. One thing which unites these people is the strong desire to overcome alcohol dependency and stay sober.
Many people who are alcohol dependent look for treatment on their own, others rely on their families while some seek help because it is required by the court or their employer. There are many victims of alcohol whose lives have been disrupted. In many inpatient treatment facilities even if the participant doesn't want to take part in Alcoholics Anonymous he is obliged to. However, most frequently treatment will not work unless the alcoholic is committed to staying sober. Many people addicted to alcohol have tried to stop more than once before they decided to seek help. Alcoholics Anonymous is for all those people who want to stop drinking and live a sober life. The AA program includes twelve steps through which the alcoholics get over their addiction and confront the problems coming along their drinking.
AA meetings are held all around the world at places such as churches or private meetings facilities. What is really great about the program is that all members are encouraged to be open and share their experience with others, but they don't have to do that unless they want to. Of course, it is much harder for the new members. They should begin the program by finding a sponsor, someone who would be always ready to help them when experiencing a weak moment or just need some encouragement. The main idea of the Alcoholics Anonymous program is that all members can only take it one day at a time and one drink at a time. Every recovering alcoholic knows that the motto "one drink is too many and a hundred aren't enough" is completely true. That's why these fellowships actually work, because members work together to reach their goal - sobriety. It makes no difference what your profession is, how much money you have, how old you are or where you live. That's anonymous. Everything shared on these AA meetings is kept a secret between the members.
Recovery is hard but precious. If you are an alcoholic but get the proper support and have motivation, you do stand a good chance of remaining sober for the rest of your life. But you will have to change your lifestyle; you will have to learn to take one day at a time, one hour at a time, and one minute at a time. This is the only way you could fight it, the only way you can achieve your goal - sobriety. Alcoholics Anonymous has helped thousands of people willing to fights against alcoholism. For further information and more details about the program you can visit www.alcoholics-anonymous.org or give us a call at the local office of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The author, Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning lifestyle. Learn more at Alcoholics Anonymous
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2 responses so far ↓
1 joe // Jun 18, 2007 at
Quote "Recovery is hard but precious" I could not agree more. But it is worth it completely.
2 Richard G. Burns, J.D. (pen name Dick B.) // Jan 8, 2008 at
Thank you for this resource, and I respectfully call your attention to our new site devoted exclusively to Dr. Bob, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. God Bless, Dick B. Also please note the following short comment about Dr. Bob:
What A.A. Can Still Offer
from
Dr. Bob—“the Prince of All Twelfth Steppers”
Dick B.
© 2008 by Anonymous. All rights reserved
[Note: None can deny that many people in A.A. today have not had a drink and do not drink. Thus, if the statistics show that there is a 5% success rate among the 2 million members of A.A., you can say that there are 100,000 people who have neither had a drink or wanted a drink. These facts leave two questions: (1) Is that all the 100,000 people wish for their lives—“I didn’t have a drink today?” (2) Are we offering the estimated 18 million other alcoholics in America the same dismal “recovery?” Let’s see what A.A. cofounder Dr. Bob suggested for those who wanted a cure, not just dry abstinence; for those who wanted a godly life, not just one of attending meetings; and for those who wanted a relationship with God that promised eternal life, an abundant life, and health with prosperity.]
• Dr. Bob asked: “Do you believe in God, young fella?” You either did or you didn’t.
[Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, 1980, p. 144]
• “If someone asked him a question about the program, his usual response was: ‘What does it say in the Good Book?’”
[Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, 1980, p. 144]
• Describing the program, Dr. Bob said: “When we started in on Bill D., we had no Twelve Steps, either; we had no Traditions. But we were convinced that the answer to our problems was in the Good Book.”
[The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical sketches. Their last major talks, 1972, 1975, p. 13]
• On the last page of his personal story, Dr. Bob said: “If you think you are an atheist, an agnostic, a skeptic, or have any other form of intellectual pride which keeps you from accepting what is in this book, I feel sorry for you. . . . Your Heavenly Father will never let you down!”
[Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., 2001, p. 181]
Today society is changing the solution and often says: “You need treatment.” But early AAs said clearly: “You need to find God” (4th ed., 59). They described the “miracle of healing” (4th ed., 57). And then “each individual, in the personal stories, describes in his own language and from his own point of view the way he established his relationship with God” (4th ed., 29). Bill Wilson summed up what God will do when he related to Henrietta Dotson, the wife of A.A. Number Three: “Henrietta, the Lord has been so wonderful to me, curing me of this terrible disease, that I just want to keep talking about it and telling people” (4th ed., 191). That’s what A.A. still can offer–a relationship with God! For those who want to be blessed with a Heavenly Father.
Please note: Early A.A. had a documented, 75% to 93% success rate among seemingly-hopeless, medically-incurable, real alcoholics who went to any lengths in trusting God and helping others
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