To show other alcoholics and addicts precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous.
Articles on alcoholism, addiction, and the 12 step program of recovery
Back to Basics Recovery Model
The Back to Basics recovery model is described in detail in Back to Basics--The Alcoholics Anonymous Beginners' Meetings (using the Twelve Steps and the "Big Book"), How to Listen to God (using the Oxford Group Four Steps and the Oxford Group literature) and in a forthcoming book with a working title of Back to Basics for Christians (using the Oxford Group Four Steps and the New Testament). No matter which format or what literature is used, the results are the same: recovery from any and all addictions and afflictions by establishing and maintaining a two way communication with the "God who speaks." >> more
Twelfth-Step References, Techniques, Tips, & Sponsorship Tools in the Big Book
There are 124 references to working with others throughout the first 6 chapters of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Chapter 7, 'Working with Others is entirely devoted to the subject of working with other alcoholic addicts. Obviously the Big Book authors are trying to tell us something here -- work with another alcoholic addict is vital to our recovery! >> more
Big Book Highlights
Highlighting different types of passages in different colours is an effective Big Book sponsorship strategy. As the newcomer reads their Big Book, it is their job to pay close attention to every word and passage and determine for themselves if what they are reading should be highlighted in one of the 6 colors we use. >> moreHow we let the Therapeutic/Treatment Industry WATER-DOWN the 12 Step Recovery Program
Treatment for alcohol addiction in the 1940's consisted of a three to five day withdrawal process in a sanitarium, hospital or "jitter joint" where the patient was safely detoxed from the bodily effects of alcohol. The process of withdrawal management was conducted by health professionals and semi-professionals. Moreover, these facilities were receptive and worked with recovered members of Alcoholics Anonymous. >> more
The Early History of 'How It Works' by Wally P.
Get the newcomer to Step Twelve as quickly as possible, so he or she can experience the life-changing spiritual awakening that occurs as the direct result of taking the Steps. Assure the newcomer that our program of recovery will relieve his or her alcoholism/addiction. Show the newcomer that the process is simple, straightforward and that it really works. >> more
Take all 12 steps in just 4 hours -- Download this AA Big Book step guide and work book
Through our own experience of working with others, many hopeless, suffering addicts lack the necessary power to "keep coming back" to meetings and somehow get sober or clean. Many chronic relapsers do not have the luxury of working the steps slowly -- they NEED POWER NOW, they cannot wait months to a year to work the steps -- they're barely hanging on as it is and it's just a question of WHEN they are going to pick up again. Download this FREE 12 Step workbook that guides the newcomer through all 12 steps in approximately four hours!... >> more
That Ain't in the Big Book!
Since the suggestion made by "The Grapevine" in the late 60's that "Open Discussion" (OD) meetings might be a good idea, there has been a change in the message being presented in the rooms from a focus on the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous to "group therapy" where anyone and everyone is privileged to speak on whatever might be on their mind. The result of this has been a severe decline in the success rate of alcoholics finding lasting recovery.We hear a lot of stuff said in meetings that can't be reconciled with the program as described in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Here is a list of the opinions, perspectives, and slogans we often hear in rooms and what the 1st Edition of our original basic text has to say about it. >> more
Who are the Muckers in AA and CA?
The Muckers are a group of men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of addiction and alcoholism, using the 12 step program as outlined in the book "Alcoholics Anonymous". Central to the Muckers methodology is the action of a single recovered addict or alcoholic, guiding another addict or alcoholic through the Big Book. We have discovered through experience that this one-on-one approach, as described in Chapter 7 of the Big Book, is a powerful method of working the 12 step program of recovery. >> more
A.A. Pioneer, Clarence H. Snyder was the first to initiate 'Big Book' sponsorship
Shortly after the publication of the volume, Alcoholics Anonymous (1939), a.k.a "The Big Book", a third fellowship develops in Cleveland, Ohio (1940). This new fellowship is the first to use the Big Book as a part of their regular practice. A.A. pioneer, Clarence H. Snyder who was taken through the steps by Dr. Bob, modeled a style of one-on-one sponsorship in which a member of the fellowship experienced in the Twelve Step program would take a newcomer, under his wing, help him adjust to sobriety, and coach him through the Twelve Steps. The sponsor and newcomer would meet and work their way through the Big Book together, page by page. >> moreThe History of Alcoholics Anonymous Beginners Classes: A Speech by Wally P.
...(Beginners) classes were discontinued in the mid-1950s as the result of the publication of the book "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions" by Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing Inc. In the Miami area the "Twelve and Twelve" replaced both the "Big Book" and the "Little Red Book" and "Step Studies" replaced the "Beginners' Classes". In the process, the period for taking the Steps was expanded and modified from 4 weeks to somewhere in between 12 and 16 weeks. The Fourth Step inventory was modified and became a much more laborious and detailed procedure. What was originally conceived as a very simple program, which took a few hours to complete, evolved into a complicated and confusing undertaking requiring several months. >> more
Prayers from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
"I earnestly advise every alcoholic to read this book through, and though perhaps he came to scoff, he may remain to pray." William D. Silkworth, MD - Pg. xxx >> more
The Disease of Body and Mind
Medical Science has found that there is sound reasoning in the "Doctor's Opinion" (Alcoholics Anonymous pg xxv-xxxvii). They have been able to determine that the "physical powerlessness or allergy" is the result of a dysfunctional liver and pancreas. These vital organs do not produce the enzymes, in sufficient quantity or quality, that are necessary to complete the chemical decomposition of ethanol (ETOH) through the body of an alcoholic. >> more
Lack of power, that was our dilemma! If you are beyond human aid, beware these 'recovery logs' - they lack the necessary power to recover!
As addicts we are like drowning men and women. If we don't find some way of keeping our heads above water, we are going to drown and die. So we look for some kind of power to keep us afloat. We notice some logs floating on the surface. These logs look like they're capable of keeping our heads above water, but when we reach for one of these logs we find that they are wet and slippery and we can only hold on for maybe a day, a week, a month, a year, 5 years, 10 years, but at some point we slip and start drowning again. >> more
Working with other addicts
Dr. Bob took the matter of working with others alchoholics (addicts) very seriously. A.A. History shows that Dr. Bob helped approximately 5,000 alcoholics experience the Promises of the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous--averaging more than one new alcoholic every day over a 10 year period up until his death in 1950! >> more
The Price of Just Don't Drink and Go To Meetings ! or Why Meeting Makers Don't Make It!
When Bill W. prepared the Forward to the Second Edition, he shared with us the success that he and the other recovered alcoholics had witnessed as the result of having the book "Alcoholics Anonymous" as the only guide for recovery within the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. What he wrote was, "Of alcoholics who came to AA and really tried, 50% got sober at once and remained that way; 25% sobered up after some relapses, and among the remainder, those who stayed on with AA showed improvement." (AA, pg. xx.) On the average, 75% got sober and stayed sober and Dr Bob, Clarence S.and some of the others were realizing 90%+! >> more
The Missing Piece: The Spiritual Malady
From "The Doctor's Opinion" to the end of "More About Alcoholism" the Big Book discusses the first part of Step 1, which states, "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol". We've discussed, studied, and internalized material from the "Doctor's Opinion" to page 23 to see how we're powerless over alcohol bodily. We've used pages 23 - 43 to help us experience how we've been powerless mentally. Now I'd like to talk about a part of our "disease" which is seldom discussed in meetings nowadays: the "spiritual malady." >> moreBeware: Hard Drinkers & Fakers Inside!
We in AA have signs posted everywhere, each with slogans, such as: "Think" (as if my thinking didn't get me here and still can't kill me, even to this day); or "One Day At A Time" (like I can make it without total commitment allowing for some future "reservation"); and "Easy Does It," (which is advice offered in the Book to wife/husband whose spouse is beginning recovery, not to the alcoholic). None of those pieces of advice are in the original program of recovery. Yet we do not post the signs we should, such as ("The eye of the adulterer...disguises his face"); or (Beware: Hard Drinkers Inside"). Indeed, if you are a real alcoholic, the hard drinker may be a greater danger to you than alcohol itself. >> moreMinneapolis alcoholic recovery rates from the 1943 - 1945 indicates that 75% of its members are successful at staying sober!
The Minneapolis Group, in March, 1943, inaugurated a system for keeping a record of the recovery of members from three months on up. As a result, the following exact percentages have been arrived at: >> more
How to find God's plan for your life...the art of two-way prayer
Step 11. 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.
These are a few simple suggestions for people who are willing to make an experiment. You can discover for yourself the most important and practical thing any human being can ever learn--how to be in touch with God. By Chaplain John E. Batterson
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Gresham's Law and Alcoholics Anonymous by Tom P., Jr.
Editor's Note: Gresham's law is commonly stated as: "Bad money drives good money out of circulation". A more correct rendering of Gresham's Law is that "Bad money drives out good if they exchange for the same price." In the context of this article, Weak A.A. drives out Strong A.A. when they are exchanged as the same thing. This article originally appeared in the July, 1976 issue of "24 Magazine," by Tom P. Jr. who worked at the Grapevine during the 1960's. (Tom P. Jr. is the son of Tom P. who worked at GSO in the 50's). >> more
What happend? Meetings have gone from "rarely have we seen a person fail" to "seldom do we see a person recover!"
07/22/2004 - by Cliff B. Dallas, TX - What happened? That question is being asked by a lot of alcoholics lately. What happened to our high success rate? Thirty and forty years ago, we were keeping 75% or more of the alcoholics who came to us for help. Today, we aren't keeping even 5%. What happened? What happened to that wonderful A.A. Group that was around for 20, 30 or 40 years? There used to be 50, 75, 100 or more at every meeting. It is now a matter of history, gone! >> more
Understanding the difference between the REAL alcoholic or addict and the Hard drinker or user
The fact is that most alcoholics or addicts...have lost the power of choice in using. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink..drug, or other such compulsive behaviours such as gambling, sex, eating, etc.) >> more
The story of a chronic relapsing alcoholic addict who fell into a hole and how he found his way out of a seemingly hopeless situation
The story of a suffering alcoholic addict who had fallen into a hole that he couldn't get out of and the people who tried to help... >> moreDisclaimer: The content on this site, posted Big Book meetings, upcoming events, links and resources are for information purposes only.
Remember, we recover by the steps we take NOT the meetings we make!
Download this FREE 12 Step workbook that guides the newcomer through all 12 steps in 4 hours!
Want the original 12 step format that produced a 50% to 75% recovery rate from alcoholism/addiction during the 1940's? Listen to Joe and Charlie talk about the original 12 Step Solution:
This same solution can work for any and all addictions and obsessive compulsive behaviours.
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