ABSTRACT
The 12-step fellowships originated in May 1935 when Bill Wilson and Dr Robert Smith, both chronic alcoholics, met in Akron, Ohio, and founded Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The first 100 members collectively wrote the ‘Big Book’, the 12 steps and the traditions of AA. AA has always insisted that it exists to provide a recovery programme for those suffering from the illness of ‘alcoholism’. Those suffering from other disorders have been encouraged to go elsewhere, leading to a plethora of self-help organisations based upon the 12 steps, including Gamblers Anonymous, Emotions Anonymous, Over-eaters Anonymous, and Paranoids Anonymous (the latter being somewhat difficult to find!).
