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Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who are committed to staying sober and helping others achieve sobriety as well. Alcoholics Anonymous or AA was founded in 1935 by two alcoholics who wanted to stop drinking and help others to do the same. Soon thereafter, local chapters of Alcoholics Anonymous were popping up all over the country and around the world. According to the Alcoholics Anonymous website at www.alcoholics-anonymous.org it is estimated that there are currently more than 100,000 groups with approximately 2,000,000 members worldwide. Groups are self funded by voluntary contributions, and do not require membership fees or dues to be paid at any time. The only requirement for participating in a meeting is the desire to overcome alcohol dependency and acquire sobriety.
Some people who are addicted to alcohol seek treatment on their own, with encouragement from their families, or because it is ordered by the courts or their employer. Many do so because they are at rock bottom, and alcohol has disrupted their lives and the lives of their families. In many inpatient treatment facilities, participation in Alcoholics Anonymous is mandatory whether the alcoholic wants to participate or not. Unfortunately, in many cases treatment will not work unless the addict is truly committed to making a change. Many alcoholics attempt to stop more than once, and many times on their own before they decide to seek help. Alcoholics Anonymous is open to anyone who wants to stop drinking and live a sober life. Recovery is based on a 12-step program that the alcoholic can work through in order to gain control over his or her addiction and confront the issues that have resulted due to the extreme use of alcohol.
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings held in most cities throughout the United States at locations where space is donated such as at churches or other public or private meeting facilities. Members are encouraged to be open and share experiences, but are not required to do so unless they feel comfortable. New members who are serious about quitting must seek out a sponsor who will help them through their recovery process by being available to them during a weak moment or if they just need words of encouragement. Alcoholics Anonymous is based on abstinence and members are taught that they can only take it one day at a time and one drink at a time. The motto "one drink is too many and a hundred aren't enough" rings true for every recovering alcoholic. This is what brings alcoholics together to work toward their common goal - sobriety. It doesn't matter who you are, what you do for a living, or where you live. This is the "anonymous" part of AA. What is said at meetings is kept between members and is not discussed outside of the group.
Recovery takes time and with the proper support and motivation, alcoholics can be successful and remain sober for the rest of their lives. They just need to learn to take one day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time, which is the best recipe for long-term success. Alcoholics Anonymous has helped many people around the world to get sober and win their battle against alcoholism. Visit www.alcoholics-anonymous.org or call the local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous for more information.
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