AA - Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide, non-profit organization for people suffering from alcoholism. It is based on the "big book", and a 12 step process. It was founded 75 years ago by Bill Wilson and Dr Bob Smith in Akron Ohio.

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The History of Alcoholics Anonymous

• As AA grew in size and popularity from over 100 members in 1939, other notable events in its history have included the following;



1944 In June, AA Grapevine magazine was published containing first-person stories of AA members. Its slogan "an AA meeting in print" was adopted after receiving supportive letters from AA members in overseas military

• 1945 AA adopted the AA Grapevine as its national journal.

• 1946 In April, AA Grapevine first published the Twelve Traditions (in the long/original form) as Twelve Points to Assure Our Future. They were derived by Wilson from group letters to AA headquarters asking how to handle disputes over such issues as finance, publicity, and outside affiliations, and were intended to be guidelines on group conduct and avoiding controversy.

• 1949 AA Grapevine became the international journal of AA due to added readership in Canada and Europe.

• 1949 A group of recovering alcoholics and AA members founded Hazelden Farm, a Minneapolis refuge and treatment center. Since then, 93 percent of alcohol rehabilitation clinics use AA concepts in their treatment, and a reverse influence has also occurred, with AA receiving 31 percent of its membership from treatment-center referrals.

• 1950 The Twelve Traditions were unanimously adopted at AA's First International Convention.

• 1950 On November 16, Dr. Bob Smith died. There were about 100,000 AA members.

• 1953 The Twelve Traditions were published in the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.

• 1953 Narcotics Anonymous received permission from AA to use the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions in its own program

• 1955 Second Edition of the Big Book released with estimated 150,000 AA members.

• 1957 Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age was published

• 1962 The Twelve Concepts for World Service were adopted by AA as a guideline for international issues.

• 1962 The movie Days of Wine and Roses depicted an alcoholic in AA

• 1971 Bill Wilson died. His last words to AA members were, "God bless you and Alcoholics Anonymous forever."

• 1976 Third Edition of the Big Book released with estimated 1,000,000 AA members. • 1980 Dr. Bob and the Good Old timers gave an account of AA development in and around Akron and Cleveland, Ohio.

• 1984 Pass It On detailed Wilson's life story

• 1988 The movie Clean and Sober depicted such aspects of AA culture as sponsorship.

• 1989 The movie My Name Is Bill W. portrayed the AA story.

• 2001 Fourth Edition of the Big Book released with an estimated 2,000,000 or more members in 100,800 groups meeting in approximately 150 countries around the world.

Alcoholics Anonymous