Editing Alcoholics Anonymous (section)

==History==
{{Main| History of Alcoholics Anonymous}}

=== Hazard's search for treatment, spiritual conversion, & involvement with the Oxford Group ===
[[Rowland Hazard III|Rowland Hazard]]’s journey from [[Carl Jung]]’s psychiatric treatment to spiritual conversion through the Oxford Group played a pivotal role in shaping the foundations of Alcoholics Anonymous, influencing its principles of recovery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Carl Jung Inspired the Creation of Alcoholics Anonymous {{!}} Open Culture |url=https://www.openculture.com/2024/06/carl-jung-inspired-the-creation-of-alcoholics-anonymous.html |access-date=2024-09-21 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1926, Hazard went to [[Zurich]], [[Switzerland]], to seek treatment for alcoholism with psychiatrist [[Carl Jung]]. When Hazard ended treatment with Jung after about a year, and came back to the US, he soon resumed drinking, and returned to Jung in Zurich for further treatment. Jung told Hazard that his case was nearly hopeless (as with other alcoholics) and that his only hope might be a "spiritual conversion" with a "religious group".<ref>''Pass It On'', p. 114</ref><ref>[http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/recovery/images/jung-lettertobillw.jpg 1961 letter from Carl Jung to Bill Wilson concerning Rowland Hazard III] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120715083915/http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/recovery/images/jung-lettertobillw.jpg|date=15 July 2012}} – photographic image</ref><ref>Jung, C.G., [http://www.sober.org/CarlJung.html Retrospective 1961 letter from C.G. Jung to Bill Wilson about Rowland Hazard III] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001215115600/http://www.sober.org/CarlJung.html|date=15 December 2000}}  with commentary by ''the Big Book Bunch''.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Schaberg |first1=William H. |title=Writing The big book : the creation of A.A. |date=2019 |location=Las Vegas, NV |isbn=9781949481297}}</ref>

Back in America, Hazard went to the Oxford Group, whose teachings were eventually the source of such AA concepts as "meetings" and "sharing" (public confession), making "restitution", "rigorous honesty" and "surrendering one's will and life to God's care". He became converted to a lifetime of sobriety while on a train ride from New York to Detroit after reading ''For Sinners Only,'' by Oxford Group member AJ Russell.<ref>''Pass It On'', pp. 113–114</ref><ref name="FINLAY2000">{{Cite journal |last=Finlay |first=Steven W. |date=March 2000 |title=Influence of Carl Jung and William James on the Origin of Alcoholics Anonymous |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1037/1089-2680.4.1.3 |journal=Review of General Psychology |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=3–12 |doi=10.1037/1089-2680.4.1.3 |s2cid=197652178 |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref> Hazard underwent a spiritual conversion" with the help of the Group and began to experience the liberation from drink that he was seeking. Members of the group introduced Hazard to [[Ebby Thacher]], whom Hazard brought to the Calvary Rescue Mission, directed by Oxford Group leader [[Sam Shoemaker]].<ref>''Pass It On'', p. 127.</ref>

=== Bill Wilson & his spiritual awakening ===
In keeping with the Oxford Group teaching that a new convert must win other converts to preserve his own conversion experience, Thacher contacted his old friend [[Bill W.|Bill Wilson]], whom he knew had a drinking problem.<ref name="Pass It On, p 1172">''Pass It On'', p. 117.</ref><ref>Walter HA, ''Soul Surgery'' p. 44 Oxford: The Oxford Group</ref> Thacher approached Wilson, saying that he had "got religion", was sober, and that Wilson could do the same if he set aside objections and instead formed a personal idea of God, "another power" or "higher power".<ref name="Pass It On, p 117">''[[#pass-it-on|Pass It On]]'', 1984, p 117.</ref>{{sfn|Kurtz|1991|p=17}}[[File:AA - Medalj.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|right|[[Sobriety token]] or "chip", given for specified lengths of sobriety. On the back is the [[Serenity Prayer]]. Here green is for six months of sobriety; purple is for nine months.]]Feeling a "kinship of common suffering", Wilson attended his first group gathering, although he was drunk. Within days, Wilson admitted himself to the [[Charles B. Towns|Charles B. Towns Hospital]] after drinking four beers on the way—the last [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]] he ever drank. Under the care of [[William Duncan Silkworth|Dr. William Duncan Silkworth]], an early benefactor of AA, Wilson's detox included the [[deliriant]] [[Atropa belladonna|belladonna]].<ref>Pittman, Bill "AA the Way it Began"  1988, Glenn Abbey Books</ref> At the hospital, a despairing Wilson experienced a bright flash of light, which he felt to be God revealing himself.{{sfn|Kurtz|1991|p=19–20}}

=== Founding of AA ===

==== Wilson's early efforts and influence of the Oxford Group ====
Following his hospital discharge, Wilson joined the Oxford Group and tried to recruit other alcoholics to the group.  These early efforts to help others kept him sober, but were ineffective in getting anyone else to join the group. Dr. Silkworth suggested that Wilson place less stress on religion (as required by The Oxford Group) and more on the science of treating alcoholism. Bill W. would later write: "The early AA got its ideas of self-examination, acknowledgment of character defects, restitution for harm done, and working with others straight from the Oxford Group and directly from [[Sam Shoemaker]], their former leader in America, and from nowhere else".<ref name="pittman">Pittman, Bill ''AA the Way it Began'' Glen Abbey Books, 1988</ref> According to Mercadante, however, the AA concept of ''powerlessness over alcohol'' departs significantly from Oxford Group belief. According to AA, alcoholism cannot be cured, whereas the Oxford Group stressed the possibility of complete victory over sin.<ref name="Mercadante">Mercadante, Linda A, ''Victims and Sinners'': p. 55. Westminster John Knox Press: 1996 {{ISBN|978-0664255084}}</ref>

==== Beginnings of AA ====
[[File:Dr._Bob's_House.jpg|right|thumb|250x250px|Robert Smith's House in Akron]]
In 1935, AA began in Akron, Ohio, as the outcome of a meeting between Wilson—who became known as "Bill W." in AA circles—and [[Bob Smith (doctor)|Dr. Robert Smith]], an Akron surgeon, who would become Wilson's first recruitment success. On a business trip by Bill W. to Akron, he was introduced to the surgeon, who despite connections with the Oxford Group, was unable to stay sober.<ref name=":1" />  Bill W. explained that alcoholism affects the mind, emotions, and body, a concept he had learned from Dr. Silkworth at Towns Hospital in New York, where he had been a patient multiple times. Convinced by these insights, Dr. Bob took his last alcoholic drink on 10 June 1935 and never drank again, soon achieving sobriety. This date is regarded by AA as its inception.{{sfn|Kurtz|1991|p=33}}

Bill W. and Dr. Bob started working with alcoholics at [[Akron City Hospital|Akron's City Hospital]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The Start and Growth of A.A. {{!}} Alcoholics Anonymous |url=https://www.aa.org/the-start-and-growth-of-aa |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=www.aa.org}}</ref> One patient, who soon achieved sobriety, joined them and together, the three men formed the foundation of what would later become known as Alcoholics Anonymous.<ref name=":1" />

In late 1935, a new group of alcoholics began forming in New York, followed by another in Cleveland in 1939. Over the course of four years, these three initial groups helped around 100 people achieve sobriety.<ref name=":1" /> In early 1939, the fellowship published its foundational text, ''Alcoholics Anonymous'', which outlined AA's philosophy; introduced the Twelve Steps; and included the case histories of 30 individuals who had achieved recovery. The Twelve Steps were influenced by the Oxford Group's six steps and various readings, including [[William James]]'s ''[[The Varieties of Religious Experience]]''.<ref>{{cite book |author=Cheever, Susan |url=https://archive.org/details/mynameisbill00susa |title=My name is Bill: Bill Wilson: his life and the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7432-0154-4 |location=New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/mynameisbill00susa/page/127 127-136] |url-access=limited}}</ref> This publication marked a significant milestone in AA's development.<ref name=":1" />

The first meeting outside the Oxford Group was held at Dr. Bob's house with 80 members in attendance. Dr. Bob began the meeting in his dining room by identifying himself as an alcoholic, and placing his foot on the dining room table, read the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew.<ref>Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers A Biography, with Recollections of Early A.A. in the Midwest pg. 218</ref>

The first female member, Florence Rankin, joined AA in March 1937,<ref>{{cite book |author=Anonymous |title=Alcoholics Anonymous |year=1939 |publisher=Works Publishing Company |location=New York |page=Original Manuscript p. 217}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Bamuhigire|first=Oscar Bamwebaze|title=Healing power of self love: enhance your chances of recovery from addiction through the..|year=2009|publisher=Iuniverse Inc|location=[S.l.]|isbn=978-1-44010-137-3|page=x|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F1oJ4v82nx8C&q=A+Feminine+Victory+florence+rankin&pg=PR10}}</ref> and the first non-Protestant member, a [[Roman Catholic]], joined in 1939.{{sfn|Kurtz|1991|p=47}} The first Black AA group commenced in 1945 in Washington, D.C., founded by Jim S., an African-American physician from Virginia.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Alcoholics Anonymous|publisher=AA World Services|year=1976|edition=3rd |location=New York|pages=483}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1233131|title=First black AA group to celebrate 70th anniversary today in Washington DC|last=Mustikhan|first=Ahmar|date=13 April 2015|publisher=CNN|access-date=28 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030954/http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1233131|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== The Alcoholic Foundation ===
[[File:Alcoholics Anonymous material The Wilson House 378 Village Street downtown East Dorset VT August 2023.jpg|thumb|250x250px|Alcoholics Anonymous material on walls at The Wilson House, 378 Village Street in downtown East Dorset, Vermont.]]
In 1938, Dr. Bob and Bill created The Alcoholic Foundation in New York, bringing in friends of [[John D. Rockefeller Jr.|John D. Rockefeller Jr.]] as board members. Although they sought to raise significant funds, Rockefeller advised that large contributions might jeopardize the Fellowship. The foundation opened a small office in New York, funded primarily by AA members, to handle inquiries and distribute the Alcoholics Anonymous book. The next year, Rockefeller organized a dinner to promote AA, which further increased the number of inquiries.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Steinmetz |first=Katy |date=2010-07-02 |title=Top 10 Things You Didn't Know About Alcoholics Anonymous - TIME |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2001284_2001057_2001047,00.html |access-date=2024-09-20 |magazine=Time |language=en-US |issn=0040-781X}}</ref> The office became effective. Each request received a personal reply and a pamphlet, enhancing interest in the book. Consequently, many new AA groups were established, and by the end of 1940, membership had grown to 2,000.<ref name=":1" />

=== Media coverage leads to expansion ===
In 1939, media coverage, particularly from ''[[The Cleveland Plain Dealer]]'', generated a surge of interest and requests for help.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-09-14 |title=Alcoholics Anonymous: Series of 1939 Plain Dealer articles - AA History |url=https://www.aacle.org/alcoholics-anonymous-series-1939-plain-dealer-articles/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Alcoholics Anonymous Cleveland |language=en-US}}</ref> The Cleveland group, although small, successfully assisted many alcoholics, quickly growing from 20 to around 500 members.<ref name=":1" /> A subsequent article in ''Liberty'' magazine resulted in a flood of requests for assistance, further expanding AA's reach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mackie |first=Ed |title=The Impact on Early A.A. of the 1939 Liberty Magazine Article |url=https://silkworth.net/alcoholics-anonymous/the-impact-on-early-a-a-of-the-1939-liberty-magazine-article/}}</ref>  In 1941, ''[[The Saturday Evening Post]]'' published an article about AA, sparking a surge in inquires, and AA membership tripled over the next year.<ref name="SEP">Jack Alexander (1 March 1941). "[https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2015/12/aa/ Alcoholics Anonymous]." ''Saturday Evening Post'', 22 December 2015, Post Perspective.  Retrieved 10 December 2022</ref> AA-related interviews on American radio and favorable articles in US magazines led to increased book sales and membership.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Jack Alexander |date=1 March 1941 |title=Alcoholics Anonymous |url=http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/p-12_theJackAlexArticle1.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Saturday Evening Post |edition=Reprinted in booklet form |publisher=Alcoholics Anonymous World Services |isbn=978-0-89638-199-5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202003927/http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/p-12_theJackAlexArticle1.pdf |archive-date=2 December 2008 |access-date=12 December 2009}}</ref>

As the growing fellowship faced disputes over structure, purpose, authority, and publicity, Bill W. began promoting the Twelve Traditions.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=The Beginnings of The Twelve Traditions {{!}} Alcoholics Anonymous |url=https://www.aa.org/the-beginnings-of-the-twelve-traditions |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=www.aa.org}}</ref> He first introduced his ideas on these in an April 1946 article for ''The Grapevine'', titled "Twelve Suggested Points for AA Tradition",<ref name=":3" /> aiming to preserve the organization's unity and purpose as AA expanded. He described the input he received as a "welter of exciting and fearsome experience" which greatly influenced the development of the Traditions.<ref name=":3" /> From December 1947 to November 1948, ''The Grapevine'' published the Traditions individually, and in 1950, the First International Convention in Cleveland officially adopted them.<ref name=":3" />

=== Creation of the General Service Conference (GSC) ===
In 1951, AA's headquarters in New York expanded its activities, including public relations, support for new groups, services to hospitals and prisons, and cooperation with agencies in the field of alcoholism. It also published standard AA literature and oversaw translations, while the ''AA Grapevine'' gained substantial circulation. Despite these essential services, they were managed by a disconnected board of trustees, primarily linked to Bill and Dr. Bob.<ref name=":1" />

Recognizing the need for accountability, delegates from across the US and Canada were convened, leading to the first meeting of the AA General Service Conference in 1951.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Rocky Road to the First General Service Conference of A.A. |url=https://www.aa.org/sites/default/files/newsletters/f-151_markings_fall06.pdf}}</ref> This successful gathering established direct oversight of AA's trusteeship by the fellowship itself, ensuring the organization's future governance. At the 1955 conference in St. Louis, Missouri, Bill W. relinquished stewardship of AA to the General Service Conference,<ref>''[[#pass-it-on|Pass It On]]'', 1984, p. 359</ref> as AA had grown to millions of members internationally.<ref name="AAFACTFILE" />

=== International expansion ===
[[File:AA awareness.jpg|thumb|250x250px|An AA meeting]]
The World Service Meeting (WSM), established in 1969, is a biennial international forum at which AA delegates from around the world exchange ideas and experiences about carrying the message of recovery. Held in various cities around the world, the WSM focuses on sharing strategies to help alcoholics in different countries and languages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A.A. Around the World {{!}} Alcoholics Anonymous |url=https://www.aa.org/aa-around-the-world |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=www.aa.org}}</ref>

Today, AA is present in approximately 180 nations worldwide. By 2018, AA had 2,087,840 members and 120,300 AA groups worldwide.<ref name="AAFACTFILE" /> There are AA meetings in [[Beijing]], China.<ref>{{Cite web |last=vincithevin |date=2024-09-07 |title=A Solution to Addiction in Beijing: Alcoholics Anonymous |url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2024/09/06/solution-drinking-beijing-alcoholics-anonymous |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=www.thebeijinger.com |language=EN}}</ref>

In July 2024, AA launched its first UK-wide advertising campaign with a unique approach—no logos, phone numbers, or links—focusing on subtle messaging like "You Are Not Alone" and "Alcohol Isn't the Answer". The campaign, created by [https://www.theraisedeyebrowsociety.com The Raised Eyebrow Society], aims to attract people struggling with alcohol without violating AA's principles of anonymity and non-promotion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inside the unusual brief for Alcoholics Anonymous' first nation-wide campaign |url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2024/07/01/inside-the-unusual-brief-alcoholics-anonymous-first-nation-wide-campaign |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=The Drum}}</ref>

AA will celebrate its 100th anniversary meeting in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]], in 2035. The international convention is anticipated to attract tens of thousands of attendees to the [[Indiana Convention Center]] and [[Lucas Oil Stadium]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Huang |first=Binghui |title=Alcoholics Anonymous to meet for its 100th year anniversary in Indianapolis in 2035 |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2023/12/20/aa-to-meet-for-its-100th-year-anniversary-in-indianapolis-in-2035/71985524007/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}}</ref>