Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous, also called
A.A., is a fellowship that was founded in 1935 by a
stockbroker and a doctor who were both chronic alcoholics.
Bill W., the stockbroker, and Dr. Bob, the medical doctor,
founded Alcoholics Anonymous in order to help other
alcoholics get sober and to stay sober themselves. Today,
Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship that
has helped millions of people to recover from alcoholism.
Membership in A.A. is voluntary. The only requirement
for membership in A.A. is a desire to stop drinking.
Alcoholics Anonymous cooperates with other organizations
but is not affiliated with any organization. It is concerned
only with recovery from alcoholism and does not endorse
or oppose any causes. Neither are there dues or fees
for Alcoholics Anonymous; it is self-supporting through
its members’ contributions. A.A. is a program
of total abstinence. Alcoholics Anonymous members stay
sober one day at a time, and maintain sobriety by sharing
experience, strength, and hope with others. You may
find more information about Alcoholics Anonymous online
at aa.org.
You may also find a listing for Alcoholics Anonymous
in your phone directory, or request information about
A.A. by writing to Alcoholics Anonymous at Grand Central
Station, P.O. Box 459, New York, N.Y. 10163.
12-step program
Alcoholics Anonymous is the world’s
first 12-step program. It offers its members a way to
develop and maintain a satisfying and useful life without
using alcohol, and to continue to stay free of alcohol
by helping others achieve sobriety. There are many other
12-step programs that help people to recover from other
addictions. Examples of other 12-step programs are Gamblers
Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Marijuana Anonymous,
Cocaine Anonymous, Sex Addicts Anonymous and Overeaters
Anonymous. In addition to these programs, there are
12-step programs that exist to help family and friends
of those with addictions. All of these other 12-step
programs follow modified versions of Alcoholics Anonymous’
12 steps. A 12-step program focuses on principles of
recovery, not on the personalities of its individual
members – this is why 12-step programs are anonymous.
These programs are societies of peers whose members
attempt recovery from various addictions and compulsions
by using a plan, or program, referred to as the
12 steps. The 12 steps have been proven
to be an extremely useful tool in allowing people to
live lives free of addiction or compulsion.
12-Steps (click to read
more)
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