Editing Twelve-step program (section)

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

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the first twelve-step fellowship, was founded in 1935 by [[William Griffith Wilson|Bill Wilson]] and [[Bob Smith (doctor)|Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith]], known to AA members as "Bill W." and "Dr. Bob", in [[Akron, Ohio]]. In 1946 they formally established the twelve traditions to help deal with the issues of how various groups could relate and function as membership grew.<ref name="HARTIGAN2001">{{cite book|title=Bill W.: A Biography of Alcoholics Anonymous Cofounder Bill Wilson|last=Hartigan|first=Francis|year=2001|isbn=0-312-28391-1|pages=161–162|publisher=Macmillan |oclc=42772358}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barefootsworld.net/aatraditions-gv1946.html|title=Barefoot's World|website=barefootsworld.net|access-date=24 March 2018}}</ref> The practice of remaining anonymous (using only one's first names) when interacting with the general public was published in the first edition of the AA Big Book.<ref name="TRADITIONS1949"/>

As AA chapters were increasing in number during the 1930s and 1940s, the guiding principles were gradually defined as the Twelve Traditions. A singleness of purpose emerged as Tradition Five: "Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers".<ref name="12AND12">{{cite book |title=Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions |publisher=Hazelden |date=February 2002 |isbn=978-0-916856-01-4 |oclc=13572433|page=150}}</ref> Consequently, [[drug addicts]] who do not suffer from the specifics of alcoholism involved in AA hoping for recovery technically are not welcome in "closed" meetings unless they have a desire to stop drinking [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]].<ref name="AANEWREFERRING">{{cite web |title=For Anyone New Coming to A.A.; For Anyone Referring People to A.A. |url=http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_information_aa.cfm?PageID=11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117042442/http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_information_aa.cfm?PageID=11 |archive-date=2008-01-17 |publisher=Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. |access-date=June 15, 2006}}</ref>

The principles of AA have been used to form numerous other fellowships specifically designed for those recovering from various [[pathologies]]; each emphasizes recovery from the specific malady which brought the sufferer into the fellowship.<ref name="VAILLANT2002">{{cite journal |title=Singleness of Purpose |first=George E. |last=Vaillant |author-link=George Eman Vaillant |journal=About AA: A Newsletter for Professionals |year=2002 |issue=Fall/Winter |url=http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/f-13_fall-winter02.pdf }}</ref>