AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) in Our World

AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) is an organization well known for its “Twelve Steps” and “Twelve Traditions.” Those who attend AA meetings learn the “Steps” through rote memorization as it is customary for someone in the group meeting to read the Steps aloud every meeting. Ideally these steps will be taught, supervised and practiced through the member’s relationship with a sponsor. Peer support is generally offered and available in the thematic group discussion that follows the presentation of a Step, reading from the “Big Book,” or a Daily Reflection. Seven of the twelve “Steps” (presented later in this document) make reference to “God” or a “Higher Power.” There are meetings that may be centered on Christian worship, Scripture, Spirituality, or other religious practices.

Twelve Step Programs
Originally proposed by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a method of recovery from alcoholism, the “Twelve Steps” were first published in the 1939 book written by Bill Wilson and Dr Bob Smith, titled “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism.” Other “Twelve-Step to Recovery” groups adopt and adapt the AA “Twelve Steps” as guiding principles. The Twelve Step Program contains a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion or other behavioral problems.

As summarized by the American Psychological Association, the process involves the following:

admitting that one cannot control one’s alcoholism, addiction or compulsion;

recognizing a higher power that can give strength;

examining past errors with the help of a sponsor (experienced member);

making amends for these errors;

learning to live a new life with a new code of behavior; and

helping others who suffer from the same alcoholism, addictions or compulsions.

VandenBos, Gary R. (2007). APA dictionary of psychology (1st ed.). American Psychological Association. Washington, D.C.
Twelve Step Rap
performed by SantaMonica Sam

 

Here are the original “Twelve Steps to Recovery” as published by AA (Alcoholics Anonymous):

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.