What we now know as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) — one of the very first resources recommended to anyone battling addiction — counts millions of members in its ranks today. It's a community built around one central mission: helping people hold on to their sobriety. Yet the origins of this massive organization couldn't have been more modest. It all traces back to a single conversation between two men, both alcoholics, each desperate for relief from the grip of their addictions. That conversation took place on June 10, 1935, and from it grew one of the most widely recognized support systems for alcoholics and their families.
Here's how it happened. Bill Wilson, a stockbroker wrestling with alcoholism and fighting to stay sober, traveled to Akron, Ohio for a business meeting. While there, his craving for alcohol grew to a nearly unbearable intensity. Through a friend connected to The Oxford Group — a non-denominational Christian organization — Wilson was put in touch with Dr. Robert Smith, a fellow alcoholic grappling with the same struggles. The two men sat down for what was supposed to be a quick chat. Instead, they talked for more than five hours. The depth of their conversation stunned them both; the mutual support they offered each other proved remarkably powerful. Together, they resisted their cravings that day, and out of that extraordinary exchange, a vision took shape — Alcoholics Anonymous, a free support group dedicated to people fighting alcoholism.
Fast forward to the present, and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) reaches millions of members spread across more than 180 countries. Its famous "12 Steps" program has been translated into over 100 languages and is freely available to anyone who asks. Meetings take place on a regular basis, and the atmosphere is entirely pressure-free — there's no cost to participate, and nobody is required to show up. People come back again and again for one simple reason: they're convinced that the support of fellow members is among the most powerful tools they have in staying sober.