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Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, peer-led mutual aid fellowship dedicated to abstinence-based recovery from alcoholism through its spiritually inclined Twelve Steps. AA's Twelve Traditions, besides emphasizing anonymity and recovery from alcoholism as its only purpose, aim to keep AA free to all, with no governing hierarchy while avoiding public controversy. In 2021 AA estimated it was active in 180 countries with nearly two million members, 73% located in the United States and Canada.

AA dates its origin to a 1935 Ohio meeting between Bill Wilson (Bill W) and Bob Smith (Dr. Bob). (Members often go by first name and last name initial to stay anonymous.) Having met through the Christian revivalist Oxford Group, they continued under its aegis to fellowship with other alcoholics until forming what became AA. In 1939 the fellowship introduced its Twelve Steps with the publication of ''Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism''''.'' Informally called "the Big Book", later editions amended the subtitle with "''Thousands of Men and Women''".

The Twelve Steps are a suggested, ongoing self-improvement program to abstain from alcohol with the aid of a personally defined higher power. After admitting to no control of drinking, chaotic lives, and the need for assistance, transgressions and personal failings of morals and character are listed and addressed through better actions and atonement. Maintaining these gains is then done through continued appeal to a “God as we understood Him” and carrying the message of AA to other alcoholics, typically done through meetings and sponsorship of other alcoholics.

AA meeting formats vary with some being studies of AA literature and others have speakers and attendees sharing what AA calls their “experience, strength and hope” from speakers and/or from attendees. Open meetings restrict no one, while others are for distinct demographics such as LGBTQIA+, and men or women only meetings are common. Agnostic and atheist meetings are also not uncommon.

In regards to AA’s effectiveness, a 2020 Cochrane review found that AA involvement via Twelve-Step Facilitation (TSF) therapy demonstrated higher rates of continuous abstinence, and compared to other treatments, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, AA attendance over time resulted in better healthcare cost savings. Provided by Wikipedia