Alcoholics Anonymous began as the Society in 1935 in Akron, Ohio, founded by an prominent Ohio surgeon and a New York broker, both suffering from severe alcoholism. The first three successful groups were located in Akron, New York and Cleveland. At the beginning, it was a very slow growing fellowship with few success stories.
Then, with the publication of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, in 1939, membership took off. This was is the first text that described alcoholism from the alcoholic’s viewpoint. Soon after publication, the Society took on the same name. In addition to stories of alcoholics’ experiences with recovery, the book contained the Twelve Steps which are a group of principles, spiritual in nature, which, if practiced as a way of life, can expel the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to become happily and usefully whole. These principles are still essentially the same as they were first written.
Between that and the growing number of recovered alcoholics spreading the message, the organization received tremendous free publicity in newspapers and magazines world wide, causing people everywhere to flock to AA meetings. Faced with internal questions and external pressures, the Fellowship set out the Twelve Traditions in 1946 which apply to the life of the Fellowship itself. They outline the means by which AA maintains its unity, how it relates to the world and how it lives and grows.
For more information about AA or to find your local meetings click here.
Then, with the publication of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, in 1939, membership took off. This was is the first text that described alcoholism from the alcoholic’s viewpoint. Soon after publication, the Society took on the same name. In addition to stories of alcoholics’ experiences with recovery, the book contained the Twelve Steps which are a group of principles, spiritual in nature, which, if practiced as a way of life, can expel the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to become happily and usefully whole. These principles are still essentially the same as they were first written.
Between that and the growing number of recovered alcoholics spreading the message, the organization received tremendous free publicity in newspapers and magazines world wide, causing people everywhere to flock to AA meetings. Faced with internal questions and external pressures, the Fellowship set out the Twelve Traditions in 1946 which apply to the life of the Fellowship itself. They outline the means by which AA maintains its unity, how it relates to the world and how it lives and grows.
For more information about AA or to find your local meetings click here.
4 comments:
Good information, bud.
Yes, and there is no need for people to feel ashamed of their addictions when organizations like this exist
Actually I've read the 12-steps and there are things in it all of us can use to help face our demons and live better.
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