Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is considered to be the greatest, most successful social movement of the 20th century. Formed in Akron Ohio in 1935 by Bill Wilson (Bill W) and Dr. Robert Smith (Dr. Bob), AA was the last block on the house for so many who could not stop drinking by any measures. Both Bill W and Dr. Bob were low bottom alcoholics in their own rights. Neither was able to stop drinking despite devastating consequences, numerous hospitalizations and significant wreckage.
It was largely believed at that time, that alcoholism was a sin, a lack of willpower and the sign of a weak mind. During his hospitalizations, Bill W was treated by a gifted physician called Dr. William Silkworth. Dr. Silkworth, contrary to popular belief, understood alcoholism to be an illness rather than a mental defect. Dr. Silkworth conceptualized that alcoholism was an allergy to alcohol, making compulsive drinking inevitable, combined with an obsession of the mind. His belief was the only by breaking the cycle and becoming completely abstinent could the alcoholic recover.
At that time there was a religious based group known as the Oxford Group that was having some success in helping alcoholics to achieve abstinence. Bill W was introduced to this program by an old drinking acquaintance of his named Ebby Thacher but he wasn’t able to adopt it and continued drinking. Bill W admitted himself back into Towns Hospital where he allowed himself to be subjected to numerous treatments in his attempt to achieve sobriety. While lying in bed depressed and despairing, Wilson cried out: “I’ll do anything! Anything at all! If there be a God, let Him show Himself” He then had the sensation of a bright light, a feeling of ecstasy, and a new serenity. Bill W never drank again.
Roughly a year later, after many failed attempts to help other alcoholics, Bill W was on a business trip to Akron Ohio and had the temptation to drink. At that moment he realized that if he didn’t talk to another alcoholic he ran a serious risk of drinking again. He reached out to local ministers asking if any of them could connect him to a struggling alcoholic. One of them had been trying to help Dr. Bob for some time and put the two men in touch. Shortly thereafter Bill moved in with Dr. Bob and his wife and the two pioneers began their divine journey.
Today, Alcoholics Anonymous has a presence in over 170 countries around the world. It is estimated that there are nearly 115,000 AA groups around the world and over 2,000,000 members. Bill W and Dr. Bob’s legacy lives on and continues to grow and help people recover from alcoholism and rebuild their lives. This year marks the 80th anniversary of Alcoholics Anonymous’ incredible contribution to the world and its’ inhabitants.