Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous
NicknameAA
Formation1935; 89 years ago (1935)
FoundersBill Wilson
Dr. Bob Smith
Founded atAkron, Ohio
TypeMutual aid addiction recovery twelve-step program
HeadquartersNew York, New York
Membership (2021)
1,967,613
Websiteaa.org

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, peer-led mutual-aid fellowship dedicated to abstinence-based recovery from alcoholism through its spiritually inclined twelve-step program.[1] AA’s Twelve Traditions, besides stressing anonymity and the lack of a governing hierarchy, establish AA as free to all, non-professional, unaffiliated, and non-denominational, as well as apolitical.[1][2][3] In 2021 AA reported a presence in approximately 180 countries with nearly two million members—73% in the United States and Canada.[4][5]

AA dates its beginnings to Bill Wilson's (Bill W.) and Bob Smith's (Dr. Bob) first commiseration alcoholic-to-alcoholic in 1935 in Akron, Ohio. Meeting through the Christian revivalist Oxford Group, they and other alcoholics helped each other until forming what became AA. In 1939 the new fellowship published Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism. Informally known as the “Big Book”, it is the origin of AA's name.

The AA program encourages individuals who identify as alcoholics to admit they are powerless over alcohol and seek help from a 'higher power' through prayer, meditation, and moral self-inventory in order to recover from alcoholism. The Big Book introduces the concept that alcoholism is an "illness," requiring a spiritual solution, though AA refrains from calling it a disease. Members are encouraged to attend meetings, maintain regular contact with other alcoholics, and find a sponsor, who helps guide them through the twelve steps. The program aims for a "spiritual awakening" as the path to sobriety and recovery.

AA meetings vary in format, with some focusing on personal stories, readings from the Big Book, or open discussion. Meetings may cater to specific demographics, but they generally welcome anyone who desires to stop drinking. AA is self-supporting, with donations from members covering expenses, and it operates through an "inverted pyramid" structure, where individual groups function autonomously. The organization does not accept outside contributions and relies heavily on literature sales. AA also provides services in hospitals, treatment centers, and correctional facilities.

Many studies and reviews show AA as an effective and cost-efficient method for achieving abstinence in individuals struggling with alcohol addiction. A 2020 Cochrane review found that AA and Twelve-Step Facilitation (TSF) significantly increased rates and durations of abstinence compared to other treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy, while being more cost-effective.[6][7]

AA has faced criticism for various reasons. Critics have questioned its overall success rate, and others have criticized the religious or cult-like aspects of its program. There have also been concerns about "thirteenth-stepping," where older members pursue new members romantically, as well as lawsuits regarding safety and the religious nature of AA in court-mandated treatment.

Other addiction recovery fellowships, such as Narcotics Anonymous, Sexual Recovery Anonymous, and Al-Anon—with AA’s permission—have adopted and adapted the twelve steps and traditions.[8]

  1. ^ a b AA Grapevine (15 May 2013), A.A. Preamble (PDF), AA General Service Office, archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022, retrieved 13 May 2017
  2. ^ Michael Gross (1 December 2010). "Alcoholics Anonymous: Still Sober After 75 Years". American Journal of Public Health. 100 (12): 2361–2363. doi:10.2105/ajph.2010.199349. PMC 2978172. PMID 21068418.
  3. ^ "Information on AA". aa.org. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Estimated Worldwide A.A. Individual and Group Membership | Alcoholics Anonymous". www.aa.org. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Estimates of A.A. Groups and Members | Alcoholics Anonymous". www.aa.org. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cochrane2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Erickson, Mandy (1 October 2015). "Alcoholics Anonymous most effective path to alcohol abstinence". Stanford Medicine. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  8. ^ Chappel, JN; Dupont, RL (1999). "Twelve-Step and Mutual-Help Programs for Addictive Disorders". Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 22 (2): 425–46. doi:10.1016/S0193-953X(05)70085-X. PMID 10385942.