Vivian Marlowe
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the first twelve-step fellowship, was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, known to AA members as Bill W. and Dr. Bob, in Akron, Ohio. The twelve steps were originally based on the principles of a spiritual organization, the Oxford Group, and were first published in the 1939 book Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism. The twelve steps are a set of guiding principles designed to help addicts overcome alcoholism and related problems, grounded in the belief that alcoholism is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. The basic premise of the model is that people can help one another achieve and maintain abstinence from substances, but that healing cannot come about unless people with addictions surrender to a higher power.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of creation | 1935 |
| Founders | Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith (Dr. Bob) |
| Inspiration | The Oxford Group |
| Purpose | Help people recover from alcohol addiction and find lasting sobriety |
| Principles | 24 basic principles outlined in the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions book |
| Beliefs | Alcoholism is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit |
| Higher Power | God or a higher power of one's own understanding |
| Effectiveness | The relative success of the AA program is due to the connection between recovered and uncontrolled drinkers |
| Evolution | The 12 steps have evolved to meet changing demands of science and psychology |
| Anonymity | Members are only referred to by their first names to maintain anonymity |
| Meetings | Both in-person and virtual meetings are available |
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What You'll Learn
- The 12 steps were inspired by the Oxford Group
- The steps are grounded in the belief that alcoholism is a disease
- The steps were first published in the 1939 book Alcoholics Anonymous
- The steps have been adapted to address a wide range of addictions
- The 12 steps are a spiritual springboard for recovery from alcoholism
The 12 steps were inspired by the Oxford Group
The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous were inspired by the principles of the Oxford Group, a Christian organisation founded by American Lutheran minister Frank Buchman in 1921. The group, originally named First Century Christian Fellowship, believed that fear and selfishness were the root of all problems. They advocated surrendering to Jesus Christ and sharing with others how lives had been changed in the pursuit of four moral absolutes: honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love.
The Oxford Group's philosophy was focused on six principles of self-improvement: performing self-inventory, admitting wrongs, making amends, using prayer and meditation, and carrying the message to others. These principles were expanded and transformed into the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in 1935.
The Oxford Group's influence on AA can be seen in the 12 steps, which include admitting powerlessness over alcohol, believing in a Higher Power, and making amends for past wrongs. The 12 steps also emphasise the importance of sharing and carrying the message to other alcoholics, which was a key aspect of the Oxford Group's practices.
The Oxford Group attracted prominent members of society, including members of the British Parliament and European leaders. The group's influence on the lives of these individuals contributed to its growth into a well-known international network by the 1930s.
The 12 steps of AA, published in the book "Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism" in 1939, have since become the basis of many treatment programs for addiction worldwide.
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The steps are grounded in the belief that alcoholism is a disease
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the first twelve-step fellowship, was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, known to members as "Bill W." and "Dr. Bob", in Akron, Ohio. The twelve steps were first published in the 1939 book Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism, also known as the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. The book changed the conversation about alcoholism, presenting it as an illness, and popularised the twelve-step model of recovery.
The twelve steps are grounded in the belief that alcoholism is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. The steps revolve around a higher power, which can be a traditional Christian God, or something else, such as the universe, nature, fate, karma, or the recovery group itself. The idea is that healing cannot come about unless people with addictions surrender to this higher power. The twelve steps are a set of guiding principles designed to help addicts overcome alcoholism.
The twelve steps are widely known and established, and there is little to no cost to those in need. The steps are criticised, however, for not addressing the needs of those struggling with mental illness. When the twelve steps were originally created, science had yet to prove a genetic link to addiction. The steps have since evolved to meet the changing demands of science and psychology.
The twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous have also formed the guiding principles for recovery from other types of substance abuse, with the basic premise that people can help one another achieve and maintain abstinence from the substances to which they are addicted. The twelve steps have been adopted nearly word-for-word by Al-Anon/Alateen, a program for the families and friends affected by a loved one's drinking. Other organisations derived from AA's approach include Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Crystal Meth Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, and Sexaholics Anonymous.
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The steps were first published in the 1939 book Alcoholics Anonymous
The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous were first published in the 1939 book "Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism", also known as the "Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous". The book was written by Bill Wilson (known to AA members as "Bill W.") and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith ("Dr. Bob"), who founded AA in 1935 in Akron, Ohio.
The 12 steps are a set of guiding principles for treating alcoholism and other addictions. They are based on the belief that a power greater than oneself, often referred to as a Higher Power or God, can help restore sanity and give strength. The steps involve admitting powerlessness over one's addiction, examining past wrongs, making amends, and practicing spiritual principles in one's daily life.
The original 12 steps were:
- We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
The 12 steps have been adapted and adopted by numerous other organizations to address a wide range of addictions and compulsive behaviours, including drug addiction, gambling, sex, and overeating. The steps have also been modified to be more inclusive of different beliefs and gender identities. For example, some groups may refer to "God" as a Higher Power or "HP", and the third step may be changed to avoid gender-specific pronouns.
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The steps have been adapted to address a wide range of addictions
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, is a 12-step fellowship for people struggling with alcohol abuse. The 12 steps of AA are a set of guiding principles designed to help addicts recover from alcoholism and its effects and guide them towards a more positive way of living.
The 12 steps are grounded in the belief that alcoholism is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit, and that connection with a Higher Power is a fundamental foundation for recovery. The word "God" was eventually replaced with "Higher Power" to be more inclusive of individuals from different faith traditions and beliefs. This Higher Power can be interpreted as nature, the universe, fate, karma, one's support system, the recovery group itself, or medical professionals, among other things.
The original 12 steps of AA have been adapted to address a wide range of addictions and compulsive behaviours beyond alcohol. Dozens of organisations have derived their approach from the AA model, addressing issues such as drug addiction, compulsive gambling, sex, and overeating. These organisations include Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Crystal Meth Anonymous, Marijuana Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Sexaholics Anonymous, and Debtors Anonymous.
The first step of the 12-step program is often updated in these organisations to reflect the focus of recovery. For example, in Overeaters Anonymous, the first step reads, "We admitted we were powerless over compulsive overeating—that our lives had become unmanageable." Similarly, references to "God" in the third step may be changed to "Higher Power" or "HP" to accommodate non-theistic beliefs.
The AA 12-step program has provided a framework for recovery from various addictions, offering hope and guidance to individuals seeking to overcome their compulsions and regain control of their lives.
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The 12 steps are a spiritual springboard for recovery from alcoholism
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the first twelve-step fellowship, was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, known to AA members as "Bill W." and "Dr. Bob", in Akron, Ohio. The Twelve Steps are widely known, established, and organized, and are one of the oldest programs around. The Twelve Steps are a spiritual springboard for recovery from alcoholism, providing a platform, both in-person and virtual, for people to come together to share experiences, recover from compulsive alcohol use, and live sober lives.
The Twelve Steps outline a clear path to progress by offering a complete shift in mental, emotional, and spiritual perception. At the end of the program, members should have recovered from compulsive alcohol use and restored some order to their lives. This program also provides a supportive social network and fosters bonding among members. The steps offer healing, forgiveness, and a new direction in life. AA members support other alcoholics by sharing their experiences, strength, and hope, which helps reduce the isolation, shame, and stigma associated with alcoholism. The shared approach helps with motivation and commitment, with regular attendance at meetings, often with the support of a sponsor. The 12 steps work because they encourage participants to be honest, humble, courageous, compassionate, self-forgiving, and disciplined as they embark on their personal and spiritual growth journey.
The 12 steps are as follows:
- Admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
The 12 steps were originally based on the principles of a spiritual organization, but the word "God" was eventually replaced with "Higher Power" to be more accessible to everyone, regardless of faith traditions or beliefs. A Higher Power doesn't have to be God; it could be nature, the universe, fate, karma, your support system, the recovery group itself, medical professionals, or whatever you feel is appropriate.
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Frequently asked questions
The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are a set of guiding principles designed to help addicts overcome alcoholism. The steps are grounded in the belief that alcoholism is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit, and that connection with a Higher Power is a fundamental foundation for recovery.
The key principles of the 12 steps include: admitting powerlessness over alcohol, believing in a Higher Power, surrendering to that Higher Power, and working to make amends for past wrongs. The steps also emphasise the importance of accepting addiction as a disease, enhancing individual maturity and spiritual growth, and minimising self-centredness.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, also known as "Bill W." and "Dr. Bob." The 12 steps were first published in the 1939 book "Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism," also known as the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. The steps were inspired by the Oxford Group and based on the belief that a higher power could help change behaviours rooted in fear and selfishness.
The 12 steps have evolved to meet changing demands in the science and psychology of addiction recovery. For example, the word ""God" has been replaced with "Higher Power" to be more inclusive of different faith traditions and beliefs. The 12 steps have also been adapted to address a wide range of addictions beyond alcoholism, including drug addiction, gambling, and sex addiction.
