Noah Vinter
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, peer-led mutual-aid fellowship with a focus on an abstinence-based recovery model from alcoholism. AA's Twelve Traditions, besides emphasizing anonymity, stress a lack of hierarchy, staying non-promotional, and non-professional, while also unaffiliated, non-denominational, apolitical, and free to all. AA has helped more than two million alcoholics stop drinking. While AA does not require complete alcohol abstinence, it does encourage it. The 12 steps of AA discourage the use of alcohol in any amount. AA understands that individuals may not be fully sober when they join or may experience relapses. There are no absolute rules in AA, and no one will check on you to make sure you aren't drinking.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Requirement to attend AA meetings | A desire to stop drinking |
| Effectiveness | AA is the most effective path to abstinence, according to a Stanford School of Medicine researcher |
| Membership | Nearly two million members in 180 countries |
| Cost | Free |
| Anonymity | Members retain as much anonymity as they wish |
| Alcohol abstinence | AA encourages it, but it is not a requirement to attend meetings |
| Belief | AA believes there is no cure for alcoholism, and that members can never return to normal drinking |
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What You'll Learn
AA's effectiveness in achieving abstinence
Abstinence is a common goal for those in recovery from alcohol use disorder, and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is one of the most well-known programs for achieving this goal. AA is a fellowship of "men and women who have had a drinking problem", and it is based on the idea of one alcoholic sharing their experiences with another. The only requirement to attend AA meetings is "a desire to stop drinking", and the program is free and open to all.
While AA does not require complete abstinence from alcohol, it does encourage it. The 12 steps of AA are spiritual in nature and discourage the use of alcohol in any amount. The first step is to admit powerlessness over alcohol, and that life has become unmanageable. The remaining 11 steps are focused on spiritual principles designed to help members live better lives and reach their full potential. AA understands that individuals may not be fully sober when they join and may experience relapses, and there are no absolute rules. However, the belief within the AA community is that those with alcohol use disorder will never be able to control their drinking, and that complete abstinence is the only safe approach.
The effectiveness of AA in achieving abstinence has been the subject of much research. A comprehensive analysis of 35 studies by a Stanford School of Medicine researcher and his collaborators found that AA was nearly always more effective than psychotherapy in achieving abstinence. The studies used various methods to measure AA's effectiveness, including the length of time participants abstained from alcohol, the amount they reduced their drinking, the consequences of their drinking, and healthcare costs. Most of the studies that measured abstinence found AA to be significantly better than other interventions or no intervention. In one study, it was found to be 60% more effective. None of the studies found AA to be less effective. The analysis also found significant savings associated with AA participation, with one study showing that AA and 12-step facilitation counselling reduced mental health costs by $10,000 per person.
However, it is important to note that non-abstinent recovery approaches are common, and that abstinence is not a requirement for achieving recovery from a substance use problem. A study from the Recovery Research Institute found that in 2016, 54% of adults in recovery in the US reported continuous or current abstinence, while 46% reported current use of a substance. The study also suggested that tailoring recovery goals to be personalized and achievable may be more beneficial than promoting a particular goal, such as abstinence. Additionally, while AA is widely used, some mental health professionals are skeptical of its effectiveness, believing that cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational enhancement therapy provided by psychologists and psychiatrists may be more effective.
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AA's 12-step program
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, peer-led mutual-aid fellowship with a spiritually inclined 12-step program focused on an abstinence-based recovery model from alcoholism. AA's program extends beyond abstaining from alcohol. Its goal is to effect enough change in the alcoholic's thinking "to bring about recovery from alcoholism" through "an entire psychic change", or spiritual awakening.
The 12 steps of AA discourage the use of alcohol in any amount. The first step mentions alcohol, stating, "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable." The remaining 11 steps are focused on spiritual principles designed to help members live better lives and reach their full potential. While AA does not require complete alcohol abstinence, it does encourage it.
The 12 steps of AA are spiritual in nature, but AA is not affiliated with any one sect, denomination, or organization. The only requirement to attend AA meetings is "a desire to stop drinking." AA understands that individuals may not be fully sober when they join or may experience relapses. There are no absolute rules in AA, and no one will check on you to make sure you aren’t drinking.
The steps after the first step emphasize rigorous honesty, including the completion of a "searching and fearless moral inventory", acknowledgment of "character defects", sharing the inventory with a trusted person, making amends to individuals harmed, and engaging in regular prayer or meditation to seek "conscious contact with God" and guidance in following divine will. The final step, the 12th, focuses on maintaining the principles of recovery, sharing the message with other alcoholics, and participating in "12th Step work," such as peer sponsorship, organizing meetings, and outreach to institutions like hospitals and prisons.
AA meetings differ in format, with variations including personal storytelling, readings from the Big Book, and open discussions. AA is free to attend and is supported by member donations and literature sales. AA has been found to be an effective path to alcohol abstinence, with studies showing that it helps more people achieve sobriety than therapy does.
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AA's history and origins
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, peer-led mutual-aid fellowship that focuses on an abstinence-based recovery model from alcoholism. Its roots can be traced back to 1935, when Bill Wilson (Bill W.), a New York stockbroker, and Dr. Bob Smith (Dr. Bob), an Akron surgeon, met and shared their struggles with alcoholism. Both had previously been in contact with the Oxford Group, a mostly non-alcoholic fellowship that emphasised universal spiritual values in daily living.
Under the spiritual influence of the Oxford Group, and with the help of a friend, Ebby T., Bill W. got sober and maintained his recovery by working with other alcoholics. When Dr. Bob and Bill W. finally met, the effect on Dr. Bob was immediate. He found himself face-to-face with a fellow sufferer who was succeeding in his recovery. Bill emphasised that alcoholism was a disease of the mind, emotions, and body, and this convinced Dr. Bob to get sober, and he never drank again. This sparked the founding of AA, and both men immediately began working with alcoholics at Akron's City Hospital. One patient quickly achieved complete sobriety.
In 1938, Dr. Bob and Bill created The Alcoholic Foundation in New York, bringing in friends of John D. Rockefeller Jr. as board members. Rockefeller advised against large contributions, and the foundation was primarily funded by AA members. The foundation opened a small office in New York to handle inquiries and distribute the Alcoholics Anonymous book. The office was a success, and by the end of 1940, membership had grown to 2,000. In 1939, media coverage generated a surge of interest and requests for help.
In 1939, the fellowship published "Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism", colloquially known as the "Big Book". This book introduced the twelve-step program and provided the basis for the organisation's name. The twelve steps outline a suggested program of ongoing drug rehabilitation and self-improvement, with a key component being the seeking of alignment with a personally defined concept of a "higher power".
Since its beginnings, AA has grown into a global movement, with an estimated presence in 180 countries and nearly two million members. AA's model, which is open to all and free, has been found to be highly effective in helping individuals achieve sobriety and abstinence.
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AA's membership and meetings
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, peer-led mutual-aid fellowship focused on an abstinence-based recovery model from alcoholism through its spiritually inclined 12-step program. AA's Twelve Traditions, besides emphasizing anonymity, stress a lack of hierarchy, staying non-promotional, non-professional, unaffiliated, non-denominational, apolitical, and free to all. AA has no absolute rules and does not keep membership files or attendance records. Members can retain as much anonymity as they wish. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, and there are no fees or dues. AA groups usually have a collection during meetings to cover expenses, and members are free to contribute as much or as little as they wish.
AA meetings differ in format, with variations including personal storytelling, readings from the Big Book, and open discussions. At any meeting, you will find alcoholics talking about what drinking did to their lives and personalities, what actions they took to help themselves, and how they are living their lives today. AA members work together to help the alcoholic who still suffers. Helping each other is a key to staying sober. AA meetings are free and open to anyone with a desire to stop drinking alcohol.
The 12 steps of AA discourage the use of alcohol in any amount. The first step is to admit powerlessness over alcohol and the unmanageability of life due to alcoholism. Subsequent steps emphasize rigorous honesty, including the completion of a "searching and fearless moral inventory", acknowledging "character defects", sharing the inventory with a trusted person, making amends to individuals harmed, and engaging in regular prayer or meditation to seek "conscious contact with God" and guidance in following divine will. The final step, the 12th, focuses on maintaining the principles of recovery, sharing the message with other alcoholics, and participating in "12th Step work," such as peer sponsorship, organizing meetings, and outreach to institutions like hospitals and prisons.
While AA does not require complete alcohol abstinence, it does encourage it. AA understands that individuals may not be fully sober when they join or may experience relapses. However, the belief within the AA community is that drinking and AA don't mix, as those who suffer from alcohol use disorder will never be able to control their drinking for any length of time. According to AA, no true alcoholic ever regains control of their drinking, and any return to drinking will result in a downward spiral.
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AA's approach to recovery
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, peer-led mutual-aid fellowship with a spiritually inclined twelve-step program. AA's program extends beyond abstaining from alcohol, with the goal of bringing about recovery from alcoholism through an entire psychic change or spiritual awakening. AA is not affiliated with any one sect, denomination, or organization, and is free to all. The only requirement to attend AA meetings is a desire to stop drinking. AA does not keep membership files or attendance records, and members can retain as much anonymity as they wish.
The twelve steps of AA are spiritual in nature and are a group of principles that, if practiced as a way of life, can expel the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to become happily and usefully whole. The steps begin with an acknowledgment of powerlessness over alcohol and the unmanageability of life due to alcoholism. Subsequent steps emphasize rigorous honesty, including the completion of a "searching and fearless moral inventory", the acknowledgment of "character defects", sharing the inventory with a trusted person, making amends to individuals harmed, and engaging in regular prayer or meditation to seek "conscious contact with God" and guidance in following divine will. The final step, the twelfth, focuses on maintaining the principles of recovery, sharing the message with other alcoholics, and participating in "12th Step work," such as peer sponsorship, organizing meetings, and outreach to institutions.
AA meetings differ in format, with variations including personal storytelling, readings from the Big Book, and open discussions. AA understands that individuals may not be fully sober when they join or may experience relapses, and while it does encourage complete alcohol abstinence, it is not a requirement to attend meetings. AA believes that those who suffer from alcohol use disorder will never be able to control their drinking for any length of time, and that the only safe approach is complete abstinence.
The AA program of recovery is built on the simple foundation of one alcoholic sharing their experience with another. AA members work together to help the alcoholic who still suffers, and helping each other is a key to staying sober. AA has helped more than two million alcoholics stop drinking, and studies have found that it is significantly more effective than other interventions or no intervention in achieving abstinence.
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Frequently asked questions
AA, or Alcoholics Anonymous, is a global, peer-led mutual-aid fellowship focused on an abstinence-based recovery model from alcoholism. However, AA does not require complete abstinence from alcohol. The only requirement to attend AA meetings is a desire to stop drinking.
The goal of AA is to effect enough change in the alcoholic's thinking "to bring about recovery from alcoholism" through "an entire psychic change" or spiritual awakening.
At an AA meeting, alcoholics talk about what drinking did to their lives and personalities, what actions they took to help themselves, and how they are living their lives today. The meetings differ in format, with variations including personal storytelling, readings from the Big Book, and open discussions.
Yes, AA is free and open to anyone with a desire to stop drinking alcohol. The organization is self-supporting through member donations and literature sales.
AA has been found to be the most effective path to alcohol abstinence. A Stanford School of Medicine researcher and his collaborators determined that AA was nearly always found to be more effective than psychotherapy in achieving abstinence.
