Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 by Dr. Robert Smith and Bill Wilson, known as “Dr. Bob” and “Bill W.” within the group, as a mutual support system to aid them in ceasing their consumption of alcohol, to which both men were addicted. They were influenced by the Oxford Group, a Christian organization founded in 1921 that focused on surrendering one’s life to God’s plan. This message influenced AA’s core tenet of admitting “powerlessness over alcohol” and turning things over to a “higher power.”
Rowland Hazard had sought treatment for alcoholism from psychiatric pioneer Carl Jung in 1926, and Jung had suggested that Hazard seek a spiritual solution. That led him to the Oxford Group, which he would later introduce to a friend. That friend brought Bill Wilson to an Oxford Group meeting. Wilson was intoxicated at the meeting and was hospitalized soon after, but experienced a spiritual awakening while in the hospital. Following his release, he quit drinking and joined the Oxford Group to try to help other alcoholics. He met Smith in Akron, Ohio, in 1935. Smith quit drinking through Wilson’s method, and the two began working together.
By 1939, there were Alcoholics Anonymous groups in Akron, Cleveland, and New York. That year, they published Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism, known in AA as the “Big Book.” The blue-covered text introduced the Twelve Steps system, AA philosophy, and personal tales of recovery. As of 2020, AA estimated that it had more than 120,000 groups around the world with more than 2.1 million members.
AA has stressed that it is up to each individual to determine what “higher power” means to them, and despite its Christian origins, it does not require Christian faith or necessarily a belief in any particular god. But scholars and critics have asserted that the dynamics of AA can be similar to those of a sect, particularly in its spiritual focus, highly structured system of recovery, and its assertion that the Twelve Steps can work for anyone who follows them to the letter. The frequent emphasis on “working the program” with diligence can lead to the conclusion that relapse signifies insufficient effort.
Testimonials of AA members in meetings frequently link sobriety directly to surrendering to the higher power, and references to the “Big Book” sometimes assign it the status of de facto scripture. AA members tend to be dismissive and even hostile toward alternative recovery paths or the expression of any doubts about the efficacy of the program. The frequent repetition of AA slogans, principles, and shared language within the structured environment of meetings also has sectarian overtones to some critics.
AA also teaches that alcoholism is a lifelong condition regardless of how long one has been sober, and that ongoing attendance at AA meetings is essential to maintaining sobriety. This can contribute to the solidification of a self-identity primarily centered around the program and the label of addiction, and also lead members to build social and emotional support entirely among other members of AA. However, AA is voluntary and individuals can join, leave, or rejoin at any time. This aspect of voluntary participation stands in contrast to high-control groups.
Key Sources:
Alcoholics Anonymous. (2002). AA World Services.
Alexander, F; Rollins, M (1984). Alcoholics Anonymous: the unseen cult. California Sociologist.
Bufe, C. (1998). Alcoholics Anonymous: Cult Or Cure?
Intrepid Recovery Center. (2020, May 22). Why Do People Think AA is a Cult?
Kelly J.F. (2017, June). Is Alcoholics Anonymous religious, spiritual, neither? Findings from 25 years of mechanisms of behavior change research. Addiction.
Kurtz, E. (1991). Not God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous. Hazelden Publishing.
Vaillant, G. E. (2005). Alcoholics Anonymous: cult or cure? Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 