Most people are familiar with Alcoholics Anonymous and its infamous 12-step program, even if they have never participated in it before. If they don’t have some firsthand experience with it, they probably know someone who has used it. That is how popular this treatment program has become in the years since it was first introduced.
Alcohol treatment in Orange County, CA, is available if you live there and need help. You might get involved with AA, or perhaps a different treatment option is more to your liking.
Let’s take a few moments to talk about Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an example of an idea catching on that has helped millions of individuals worldwide.
The Seed of an Idea
Bill Wilson is the man who is usually thought of as the father of AA. Those within the community usually refer to him simply as Bill W. He was an alcoholic, and he was the one who first had the idea that would eventually grow into AA.
Bill was born in East Dorset, Vermont, in 1895. He was a lonely child. The impact of his childhood is what led him to eventually become dependent on and addicted to alcohol.
By the 1930s, his drinking was all-consuming. It was in 1934, when he was hospitalized for his constant drinking, that he had the original idea for the AA program. His friend Ebby Thatcher, who had gone through a drying-out program, is said to have contributed to the structure of what would eventually become AA.
The Idea Takes Hold
In 1935, Bill W. founded AA, along with assistance from Dr. Bob Smith. Smith was a surgeon from Akron, Ohio, who had likewise struggled with alcohol for many years. The two started hosting meetings of like-minded individuals.
The idea was to give people who were struggling with alcoholism a place where they could unburden themselves. In the past, problem drinkers were often met with abusive treatment. In AA, they could talk about what was troubling them and driving them to drink in a nonjudgmental environment. This was a balm for them, and sometimes, it was what they needed to take the first crucial steps away from their alcoholism.
AA in Modern Times
Since then, AA has only grown. It was Bill Wilson who came up with the idea for the 12-step program, and it has proven wildly popular. The steps seem to make sense to many addicts, though some don’t care for the program because of the spiritual element involved. Many still choose to take part in it, though, ignoring the part about the higher power if they are atheists or agnostics.
You can find AA meetings in nearly any town or city, both in the US and abroad. Someone who is sober but who is feeling tempted to drink can find a local meeting and get vital support. They will find solace with those who understand them. Any time they relapse, they can get back into the program, which will welcome them with open arms.
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