Arielle Cruz
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been present in Spain since 1951, when the first group was established in Madrid. AA Spain offers a supportive network for individuals struggling with alcoholism, providing a platform for shared experiences, mutual aid, and personal accountability. Meetings are conducted in both Spanish and English, catering to locals, expatriates, and holidaymakers. AA Spain emphasizes complete abstinence and operates under the guidance of the 12-Step Program, a set of principles aiding recovery from alcoholism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of the first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Spain | 1955 |
| First Spanish city to have an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting | Madrid |
| Number of Areas in Spain as of 2000 | 23 |
| Number of Groups in Spain as of 2000 | 486 |
| Number of Members in Spain as of 2000 | 10,000 |
| Number of Members worldwide | Over 2 million |
| Languages in which meetings are conducted | Spanish and English |
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What You'll Learn
- The first Spanish Alcoholics Anonymous meeting took place in Madrid in 1955
- The Madrid group was formed by a doctor and Ray C., an A.A. member
- Groups then appeared in Málaga, Valladolid, Barcelona, and more
- In 1970, A.A. groups in Spain wanted a national organisational structure
- In 1980, the first A.A. General Service Conference took place in Spain
The first Spanish Alcoholics Anonymous meeting took place in Madrid in 1955
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been present in Spain since 1951, providing a supportive network for those struggling with alcoholism. The first Spanish Alcoholics Anonymous meeting took place in Madrid in 1955, marking the establishment of the very first AA group in the country.
This inaugural meeting came about through the efforts of a non-alcoholic doctor based in Madrid. He reached out to the Alcoholics Anonymous General Service Office in New York, expressing his interest in starting an AA group at the hospital Residencia Sanitaria de la Paz in Madrid. The New York office provided him with Spanish-language leaflets and connected him with Ray C., a US member of AA residing in the city.
With this support, Ray C. and another member founded the Grupo Madrid, consisting of just two members. By August, the group had expanded with two new members, and they began reaching out to doctors and priests to spread awareness. This marked the beginning of AA's presence in Spain, and over the following years, additional groups emerged in various cities across the country, including Málaga, Valladolid, Barcelona, Rentería, Las Palmas, and Tenerife.
In 1970, well-established AA groups throughout Spain recognized the need for a national organizational structure. Group representatives held meetings to discuss this, and by 1979, the Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized the Statutes of the "General Services of Alcoholics Anonymous in Spain." The first Conference of the General Service of AA in Spain was held in 1980 in Oviedo, with the theme "Serving United to Grow."
Today, AA meetings can be found throughout Spain, catering to both locals and expatriates in major cities and towns. These meetings offer a non-judgmental and confidential environment, providing a platform for shared experiences, mutual aid, and personal accountability. The 12-Step Program, emphasizing complete abstinence, guides these meetings, fostering communities of support and recovery for individuals grappling with alcoholism.
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The Madrid group was formed by a doctor and Ray C., an A.A. member
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was introduced to Spain in 1951, with the first group established in Madrid. The Madrid group was formed by a doctor and Ray C., an A.A. member.
In 1955, a non-alcoholic doctor from Madrid requested information on the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery programme from the General Service Office in New York. He was interested in starting a group in the hospital Residencia Sanitaria de la Paz in Madrid. The New York office sent him all the information they had in Spanish and put him in touch with Ray C., a US member of AA who lived in the city.
Ray C. was the first member of the Madrid group, and he soon met another member. The two of them then informed the New York office that they had opened the first Alcoholics Anonymous group in Spain, which they called Grupo Madrid. By August, they had two new members, and they began contacting doctors and priests to spread the word.
Since its beginnings in Madrid, AA has grown significantly in Spain. In the following years, groups appeared in Málaga, Valladolid, Barcelona, Rentería, Las Palmas, Tenerife, and other cities. In 1970, well-established groups across the country felt the need to connect and organise on a national level, so group representatives held several meetings.
As of 2000, there were 486 AA groups in Spain, with approximately 10,000 members. AA meetings in Spain are conducted in both Spanish and English, catering to locals, expatriates, and holidaymakers. They are open to anyone with a desire to overcome alcohol addiction, providing a platform for shared experiences, mutual aid, and personal accountability.
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Groups then appeared in Málaga, Valladolid, Barcelona, and more
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was introduced to Spain in 1951, with the first group established in Madrid. Since then, AA has expanded significantly, and groups can now be found in all major cities and towns across the country, as well as in treatment centres and correctional institutions.
Groups then appeared in Málaga, Valladolid, Barcelona, Rentería, Las Palmas, Tenerife, and many other locations. The exact dates of these groups' formations are not publicly available, but it is known that AA came into being in the strict sense in Spain in 1970. This was when well-established groups across Spain felt the need to connect and form a national organisational structure. Group representatives held several meetings for this purpose.
By 1979, the movement had grown to include 114 groups and approximately 2,500 members across 12 Areas in Spain. The Ministry of Internal Affairs legalised the Statutes of the “General Services of Alcoholics Anonymous in Spain” that year, and in 1980, the first Conference of the General Service of AA in Spain took place in Oviedo.
Today, AA meetings in Spain are conducted in both Spanish and English, catering to locals, expatriates, and holidaymakers. They emphasise complete abstinence and operate under the guidance of the 12 Steps program, a set of principles that aid in recovery from alcoholism. AA Spain currently consists of 23 Areas with a total of 486 Groups and approximately 10,000 members, as of 2000.
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In 1970, A.A. groups in Spain wanted a national organisational structure
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a worldwide community that offers a program of alcoholism recovery known as the "12-Step Program". It has over two million active members.
The first mention of AA in Spain was in 1955 when a non-alcoholic doctor from Madrid requested information on the AA recovery program from the General Service Office in New York. The New York office sent him all the information they had in Spanish and put him in touch with Ray C., a US member of AA living in Madrid. That same year, Ray C. met another member, and the first AA group in Spain, Grupo Madrid, was formed. In the following years, groups appeared in Málaga, Valladolid, Barcelona, Rentería, Las Palmas, Tenerife, and other places.
In 1970, the well-established AA groups in Spain felt the need to be connected and have a national organisational structure. Group representatives held several meetings to achieve this.
In 1979, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, by means of the Service of Associations, legalised the Statutes of the “General Services of Alcoholics Anonymous in Spain”. In 1980, the first Conference of the General Service of AA in Spain took place in Oviedo with the theme “SERVING UNITED TO GROW”. At this time, the Fellowship in Spain consisted of 12 Areas with 114 groups and approximately 2,500 members. The General Service Conference continues to be held yearly.
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In 1980, the first A.A. General Service Conference took place in Spain
Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) has a long history in Spain, with the first mentions of the group appearing in 1955. In that year, a non-alcoholic doctor from Madrid requested information on the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery programme from the General Service Office in New York. The New York office sent the doctor all the information they had in Spanish and put him in touch with Ray C., a US member of Alcoholics Anonymous living in Madrid. Ray C. then met another member, and together, they formed the first Alcoholics Anonymous group in Spain, called Grupo Madrid.
Over the following years, more groups appeared in cities across Spain, including Málaga, Valladolid, Barcelona, Rentería, Las Palmas, and Tenerife. In 1970, these groups came together on a national level, and representatives held several meetings. By 1979, Alcoholics Anonymous in Spain consisted of 12 Areas with 114 groups and approximately 2,500 members.
In 1980, the first A.A. General Service Conference took place in Oviedo, Spain, from April 3-5. The theme of the conference was "Serving United to Grow". The conference marked an important step in the development of Alcoholics Anonymous in Spain, providing a platform for members to connect, share experiences, and further establish the organization in the country.
Since the first conference in 1980, the General Service Conference has continued to be held yearly. The conferences provide an opportunity for members to come together, reflect on the past year, and plan for the future. They also help to strengthen the sense of community and mutual support that is at the core of the Alcoholics Anonymous program. Today, Alcoholics Anonymous has a strong presence in Spain, with groups all over the country, as well as in treatment centres and correctional institutions. The organization has helped countless individuals on their journey to recovery from alcoholism.
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Frequently asked questions
Madrid.
Alcoholics Anonymous was introduced to Spain in 1951.
Mutual support.
