Alcoholics Anonymous (known commonly as "A.A." or "AA") is a world-wide fellowship of alcoholics whose primary purpose is to stay sober and carry the message of recovery from alcoholism through the Twelve Steps. A.A. is the original twelve-step program and has been the source and model for all subsequent and separate ones, such as Gamblers Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Sexaholics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, and Al-Anon/Alateen. An earlier group for alcoholics, known as the Washingtonians, fell apart when it tried to br ...

Including:

• Alcoholics Anonymous - History and development
• Alcoholics Anonymous - How the A.A. program works
• Alcoholics Anonymous - Beliefs about alcoholism
• Alcoholics Anonymous - Structure
• Alcoholics Anonymous - A.A. religion and the law
• Alcoholics Anonymous - Discussion of the Merits of A.A.
• Alcoholics Anonymous - AA's Supporters
• Alcoholics Anonymous - AA's Critics
• Alcoholics Anonymous - Literature
• Alcoholics Anonymous - Dramatic Portrayals

Read more here: » Alcoholics Anonymous: Encyclopedia - Alcoholics Anonymous

See also:

Alcoholics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous - History and development, Alcoholics Anonymous - How the A.A. program works, Alcoholics Anonymous - Beliefs about alcoholism, Alcoholics Anonymous - Structure, Alcoholics Anonymous - A.A. religion and the law, Alcoholics Anonymous - Discussion of the Merits of A.A., Alcoholics Anonymous - AA's Supporters, Alcoholics Anonymous - AA's Critics, Alcoholics Anonymous - Literature, Alcoholics Anonymous - Dramatic Portrayals

Read more here: » Alcoholics Anonymous: Encyclopedia II - Alcoholics Anonymous - Beliefs about alcoholism

U.S. judges continue to offer defendants the choice of attending A.A., or going to prison. A federal appeals court ruled in 1999 that doing so compromises Americans' constitutional right not to have religion dictated to them by government - because A.A. suggests that a belief in a higher power (and making a decision to turn one's will and life over to the care of a God of one's understanding, per the third step) is necessary to achieve reco ...

See also:

Alcoholics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous - History and development, Alcoholics Anonymous - How the A.A. program works, Alcoholics Anonymous - Beliefs about alcoholism, Alcoholics Anonymous - Structure, Alcoholics Anonymous - A.A. religion and the law, Alcoholics Anonymous - Discussion of the Merits of A.A., Alcoholics Anonymous - AA's Supporters, Alcoholics Anonymous - AA's Critics, Alcoholics Anonymous - Literature, Alcoholics Anonymous - Dramatic Portrayals

Read more here: » Alcoholics Anonymous: Encyclopedia II - Alcoholics Anonymous - A.A. religion and the law

Though there is little doubt that A.A. is the number one treatment for alcoholism in the world today, it has its detractors. (Note: in this section, BB refers to The Big Book, aka Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, by the first 100 members of Alcoholics Anonymous, and 12x12 refers to Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, by William G. Wilson) Note: in 2001 the 4th edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, was released. The first 164 pages (including the doctors opinion), of the BB have been left intact and unchanged since th ...

See also:

Alcoholics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous - History and development, Alcoholics Anonymous - How the A.A. program works, Alcoholics Anonymous - Beliefs about alcoholism, Alcoholics Anonymous - Structure, Alcoholics Anonymous - A.A. religion and the law, Alcoholics Anonymous - Discussion of the Merits of A.A., Alcoholics Anonymous - AA's Supporters, Alcoholics Anonymous - AA's Critics, Alcoholics Anonymous - Literature, Alcoholics Anonymous - Dramatic Portrayals

Read more here: » Alcoholics Anonymous: Encyclopedia II - Alcoholics Anonymous - Discussion of the Merits of A.A.

William Griffith Wilson (commonly known as Bill Wilson or Bill W.), was a co-founder of the mutual-help group Alcoholics Anonymous. The other co-founder was Dr. Bob Smith. Bill's wife, Lois Wilson became the founder of Al-Anon, a group dedicated to helping the friends and relatives of alcoholics. Wilson was born on 26 November 1895 in East Dorset, Vermont to Gilman Barrows Wilson and Emily Griffith. After a troubled childhood, he became an alcoholic at age 22. In the 1920s he was one of the first stock analysts an ...

Including:

• Bill W. - Literature

Read more here: » Bill W.: Encyclopedia - Bill W.

Al-Anon Family Groups is a twelve-step program for relatives and friends of alcoholics. Members share their experience, strength, and hope, in order to solve their common problems. They believe that alcoholism is a family illness and that changed attitudes can aid recovery. Much like Adult Children of Alcoholics (which is a completely separate program that operates by its own guidelines, and is in no way affiliated with AA, Al-Anon or Alateen), Al-Anon is a support group for family members and friends of alcoholics, whether still drin ...

Including:

• Al-Anon/Alateen - External link

Read more here: » Al-Anon/Alateen: Encyclopedia - Al-Anon/Alateen

Faye Barker: Born in the Todmorden in 1987 Faye Barker is one of the most influential writers of the twenty first century , creating web based projects such as “The Doctor Bob Experiment.” And “No its you.” . Currently studying at the Manchester metropolitan university Barker is working on her first book due for publication this May. Faye Barker: One of the most influential writers of the 21st centaury. Bob Smith (Robert Holbrook Smith, b. 8 August 1879 d. 16 November 1950) was a medical doctor and surgeon ...

Including:

• Bob Smith doctor - Literature

Read more here: » Bob Smith doctor: Encyclopedia - Bob Smith doctor

Alcoholism is a dependency on alcoholic beverages characterized by craving (a strong need to drink), loss of control (being unable to stop drinking despite a desire to do so), physical dependence, tolerance (increasing difficulty in becoming drunk), and withdrawal symptoms. It can also be described as an addiction to alcoholic beverages that results in a consumption of alcohol in circumstances that damage one's ability to pursue one's other desires. Alcoholism - Biological mechanism. The consumption of alco ...

Including:

• Alcoholism - Biological mechanism
• Alcoholism - Alcoholism as a disease
• Alcoholism - Effects
• Alcoholism - Screening
• Alcoholism - Blood tests
• Alcoholism - Medical effects
• Alcoholism - Treatments
• Alcoholism - Social impact
• Alcoholism - Social versus physical dependence
• Alcoholism - Politics and public health
• Alcoholism - Alcohol withdrawal

Read more here: » Alcoholism: Encyclopedia - Alcoholism

Addiction is a compulsion to repeat a behavior regardless of its consequences. A person who is addicted is sometimes called an addict. Many drugs (sometimes called hard drugs) or behaviors are seen to precipitate an addiction, or a chronic pattern of behaviour, which includes a craving for more of the drug, or of the initial behavior, increased physiological tolerance to exposure, and withdrawal symptoms in the absence of the stimulus. Most drugs and behaviors that directly provide either pleasure or relief from p ...

Including:

• Addiction - Terminology and usage
• Addiction - Varied forms of addiction
• Addiction - Physical dependency
• Addiction - Psychological addiction
• Addiction - Addiction and drug control legislation
• Addiction - Methods of care
• Addiction - Diverse explanations
• Addiction - Physiological basis
• Addiction - Criticism
• Addiction - Casual addiction

Read more here: » Addiction: Encyclopedia - Addiction

The Serenity Prayer is a prayer written by Confessing Church figure and Union Theological Seminary professor Reinhold Niebuhr in 1926 or 1932, according to records from Alcoholics Anonymous as the ending to a longer prayer. It is used in Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other Twelve-step programs. The version used by Alcoholics Anonymous et al leaves out the overtly religious material and may be more acceptable to Freethinkers. The short versi ...

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The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous define the appropriate relationships between an AA group and its members, other groups, AA as a whole, and society at large. The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority--a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern. The only require ...

Including:

• Twelve traditions - External link

Read more here: » Twelve traditions: Encyclopedia - Twelve traditions

Women For Sobriety (WFS), Inc., is a non-profit support group for alcoholic women, founded in 1976. The mutual support groups of WFS work to increase the self-esteem of members. Women for Sobriety groups are non-religious and the meetings also differ from those of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in that they discourage the use of tobacco, caffeine and sugar. The group also offers mutual support online through chat rooms at MSN and AOL, and it offers lite ...

Including:

• Women For Sobriety - Source

Read more here: » Women For Sobriety: Encyclopedia - Women For Sobriety

Alcoholics Anonymous uses the term Higher Power so that those that do not believe in God can get the most out of the 12 steps and to get past their hesitation and feelings of having God shoved down their throats. A Higher Power is just that. Anything or anyone that is stronger then you. If a person finds strength in their chair, their cat, their sponsor or God, so be it. It is simply something other then themselves they chose to believe in and rely on to get them through. Though many, even if hesitant at ...

Including:

• Higher Power - Excerpts from the Big Book

Read more here: » Higher Power: Encyclopedia - Higher Power

Abstinence is a voluntary forbearance from indulging an appetite or craving. Most frequently, the term refers to abstention from sexual intercourse, alcohol, or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions or practical considerations. It may arise from an ascetical element present in most religions, or from a subjective need for spiritual discipline. It is meant to elevate the believer beyond the normal life of desire, to a chosen ideal, by following a path of renunciation. Because the regimen is a conscious act, fr ...

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Cocaine Anonymous, or CA, is a twelve-step program to help people suffering from an addiction to cocaine. As of 1996, its membership is estimated at 30,000. CA describes itself as "a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from their addiction." The word "anonymous" in the name signifies that members are not required to give any information about themselves or sign on officially, but are only required to ...

Read more here: » Cocaine Anonymous: Encyclopedia - Cocaine Anonymous

A twelve-step program (or programme) is a fellowship which aims at the recovery of its members from the consequences of an addiction, a compulsion, or another harmful influence on their lives, with the help of the faith-based Twelve Steps. Also the specific program of recovery that is applied within such a fellowship, is called a twelve-step program. The fellowship, a bond of loosely organized, autonomous groups, functions on the basis of principles, formulated in the Twelve Traditions. Synonyms are anonymous p ...

Including:

• Twelve-step program - Characteristics
• Twelve-step program - The Twelve Steps
• Twelve-step program - History
• Twelve-step program - Relation to religion
• Twelve-step program - Twelve-Step-Groups
• Twelve-step program - Literature

Read more here: » Twelve-step program: Encyclopedia - Twelve-step program

Carl Jung once treated an American patient suffering from chronic alcoholism. After working with the patient for some time, and achieving no significant progress, Jung told the man that his alcoholic condition was near to hopeless, save only the possibility of a spiritual experience. Jung noted that occasionally such experiences had been known to reform alcoholics where all else had failed. Here's what he said: Exceptions to cases such as yours have been occurring since early times. Here and there, once in a while, alcoholics h ...

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Codependence (or codependency) is a psychological condition in which someone exhibits too much, and often inappropriate, caring for other people's struggles. Codependents may try to change, or feel shame about their most private thoughts and feelings if they conflict with this person's struggle. A classic example would be a wife making excuses for a husband's excessive drinking and perhaps running interference for him by doing things such as calling in sick for him when he is hung over. Such behaviors, which may well les ...

Including:

• Codependence - Literature

Read more here: » Codependence: Encyclopedia - Codependence

A bill can be one of: Banknote, ie. paper currency, in US usage Bill (proposed law), proposed laws put before a legislature Beak, of a bird Bill (weapon), similar to a halberd Bill (payment), document requesting payment for goods and services rendered Peninsula of land jutting out into the sea, such as Portland Bill Bill of lading, issued by a carrier receiving goods for transport Waybill, describing a shipment Billboard (advertising) Billhook, a long-handled saw with a curved blade Pokèmoncard which enables the pl ...

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Central Committee most commonly refers to the central executive unit of a communist party, whether ruling or non-ruling. In a communist party, the Central Committee is made up of delegates elected at a Party Congress. In ruling communist parties, the Central Committee makes decisions for the party between congresses, and usually is responsible for electing the Politburo. In non-ruling communist parties, the Central Committee is usually understood by the party membership to be the ultimate authority in decision-making once the process of ...

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