From the books ... Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)
Click
to display the full page from the Big Book1.
... alcoholism.
12&12 p.23,
Step One
Alcoholics who still
had their health, their families, their jobs, and even two cars in the garage, began to recognize their
alcoholism.
2.
... alcoholism?"
12&12 p.23,
Step One
Why don't you try some more controlled drinking, bearing in mind meanwhile what we have
told you about alcoholism?"
3.
... alcoholism.
12&12 p.33,
Step Two
They are abetted in this blindness by a world which
does not understand the difference between sane drinking and alcoholism.
4.
... alcoholism.
12&12 p.63,
Step Six
Change of scene, the best efforts of family, friends, doctors, and clergymen got no place
with my alcoholism.
5.
... alcoholism.
12&12 p.117,
Step Twelve
To a surprising extent, A.A. has offset the damage to family life brought about by years of
alcoholism.
6.
... alcoholism.
12&12 p.117,
Step Twelve
Our main problem is not how
we are to stay married; it
is how to be more happily
married by eliminating the severe
emotional twists that
have so often stemmed from
alcoholism.
7.
... alcoholism.
12&12 p.15,
Foreword
Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship
of more than one hundred thousand(*) alcoholic men and women who are banded together to solve their common problems and to help fellow sufferers in recovery
from that age-old, baffling malady, alcoholism.
8.
... alcoholism.
12&12 p.155,
Tradition Six
The A.A. groups, many thought, could go into business, might finance any enterprise whatever in
the total field of alcoholism.
9.
... alcoholism.
12&12 p.158,
Tradition Six
Of course, there couldn't be the slightest objection if
such an association hired an A.A. member solely because of his public relations ability and his
knowledge of alcoholism.
10.
... alcoholism.
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
11.
... alcoholism.
12&12 p.178,
Tradition Ten
The Washingtonian Society, a movement among alcoholics which started in Baltimore a century ago, almost discovered the answer to alcoholism.
12.
... alcoholism.
12&12 p.189,
Tradition Three (Long)
13.
... alcoholism.
BB p.17,
There Is A Solution
14.
... alcoholism.
BB p.40,
More About Alcoholism
15.
... alcoholism.
BB p.44,
We Agnostics
16.
... alcoholism.
BB p.60,
How It Works
17.
... alcoholism.
BB p.85,
Into Action
We are not cured of alcoholism.
18.
... alcoholism.
BB p.92,
Working With Others
19.
... alcoholism.
BB p.94,
Working With Others
20.
... alcoholism.
BB p.107,
To Wives
21.
... alcoholism.
BB p.112,
To Wives
When a discussion does arise, you might suggest he
read this book or at least the chapter on alcoholism.
22.
... alcoholism.
BB p.112,
To Wives
23.
... alcoholism.
BB p.112,
To Wives
24.
... alcoholism.
BB p.113,
To Wives
25.
... alcoholism.
BB p.114,
To Wives
26.
... alcoholism.
BB p.118,
To Wives
Another feeling we are
very likely to entertain is one of resentment that love and loyalty could not cure our husbands of alcoholism.
27.
... alcoholism.
BB p.141,
To Employers
28.
... alcoholism.
BB p.144,
To Employers
29.
... alcoholism.
BB p.147,
To Employers
30.
... alcoholism.
BB p.155,
A Vision For You
31.
... alcoholism."
BB p.157,
A Vision For You
32.
... alcoholism.
BB p.563(565),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
33.
... alcoholism.
BB xxvi(xxiv),
The Doctor's Opinion
These facts appear to be of
extreme medical importance; because of
the extraordinary possibilities of rapid
growth inherent in this
group they may mark a new epoch in the annals of alcoholism.
34.
... alcoholism.
BB xxxi(xxix),
The Doctor's Opinion
35.
... alcoholism.
BB p.172,
Doctor Bob's Nightmare
Unfortunately for me I was the only child, which perhaps engendered the selfishness which played
such an important part in bringing on my alcoholism.
36.
... alcoholism.
BB p.180,
Doctor Bob's Nightmare
It must be remembered
that I had read a great deal and talked to everyone who knew, or thought they knew anything about the subject
of alcoholism.
37.
... alcoholism.
BB xvi,
Foreword to Second Edition
38.
... alcoholism.
Grapevine,
Preamble
Alcoholics Anonymous is 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 alcoholism.
39.
... alcoholism agree
there is no such thing ...
BB p.31,
More About Alcoholism
Physicians who are familiar with alcoholism agree there is no such thing as making a normal drinker out of an alcoholic.
40.
... alcoholism and
by attendance at a few ...
12&12 p.39,
Step Three
More sobriety brought about by the admission of alcoholism and
by attendance at a few meetings is very good indeed, but it is bound to be a far cry from permanent sobriety and a contented, useful life.
41.
... Alcoholism" and
earlier "Alcoholism the Illness.")
BB p.570(572),
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A.
(This address is now available in pamphlet form at nominal cost through most A.A. groups or from Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163, under the title "Three Talks to Medical Societies by Bill W." -- formerly called "Bill on Alcoholism" and earlier "Alcoholism the Illness.")
42.
... alcoholism, and
I frankly did not believe ...
BB p.40,
More About Alcoholism
Let him tell you about it: "I
was much impressed with
what you fellows said about
alcoholism, and I frankly
did not believe it would be possible for me to drink again.
43.
... alcoholism and
its hopelessness, the physician began ...
BB xvi,
Foreword to Second Edition
But when the broker gave him
Dr. Silkworth's description of alcoholism
and its hopelessness,
the physician began to
pursue the spiritual remedy for his malady with a
willingness he had never before been able to muster.
44.
... alcoholism and
misery.
12&12 p.54,
Step Four
45.
... alcoholism and
the answer we had found.
BB p.35,
More About Alcoholism
46.
... alcoholism and
were destined to become co-founders ...
12&12 p.16,
Foreword
Both were severe cases of alcoholism and were destined to become co-founders of the A.A. Fellowship.
47.
... alcoholism as
an illness, a fatal malady.
BB p.92,
Working With Others
48.
... alcoholism as
an illness, the social stigma ...
BB p.571(573),
Appendix IV, The Lasker Award
"The American Public Health Association presents a Lasker Group Award for 1951 to Alcoholics Anonymous in recognition of its unique and highly successful approach to
that age-old public health and social problem, alcoholism ... In emphasizing
alcoholism as an illness,
the social stigma associated with this condition is being blotted out ... Historians may one day recognize Alcoholics Anonymous
to have been a great venture in social pioneering which forged a
new instrument for social action; a new therapy based on the kinship of common suffering; one having a vast potential for the myriad
other ills of mankind."
49.
... alcoholism as
I do now.
BB p.137,
To Employers
Here were three exceptional men lost to this world because I did not understand alcoholism as I
do now.
50.
... alcoholism as
we know it -- this utter ...
BB p.34,
More About Alcoholism
This is the baffling feature of alcoholism as we know it -- this utter inability to leave it alone, no matter how great the necessity or the wish.
51.
... alcoholism, as
we understand it, then a ...
BB p.28,
There Is A Solution
In the following chapter, there appears an
explanation of alcoholism, as we understand
it, then a chapter addressed to the agnostic.
52.
... alcoholism because
you offer a solution.
BB p.92,
Working With Others
53.
... alcoholism by
himself.
12&12 p.152,
Tradition Five
He interrupted to scoff at this and asserted
he'd fix his wife, his partner, and his alcoholism by
himself.
54.
... alcoholism could
be licked, so could any ...
12&12 p.156,
Tradition Six
55.
... alcoholism, defeated
drinkers will seize upon it, ...
BB p.153,
A Vision For You
Our hope is that when this chip of a book is launched on the world tide of alcoholism, defeated drinkers will seize upon it, to follow its suggestions.
56.
... alcoholism did
not occur to me at ...
BB p.42,
More About Alcoholism
Well, just that did happen and more, for what I had
learned of alcoholism did
not occur to me at all.
57.
... alcoholism for
jay-walking, the illustration would fit ...
BB p.38,
More About Alcoholism
We, who have been through the wringer, have to admit if we
substituted alcoholism
for jay-walking, the illustration would fit us
exactly.
58.
... alcoholism for
many years.
BB xxv(xxiii),
The Doctor's Opinion
59.
... alcoholism from
actual experience.
BB p.180,
Doctor Bob's Nightmare
Of far more importance was the fact
that he was the first living human with whom I had
ever talked, who knew what he was talking about
in regard to alcoholism from
actual experience.
60.
... alcoholism had
been a lonely business, even ...
12&12 p.116,
Step Twelve
For alcoholism had been a lonely business, even though we had been surrounded by people who
loved us.
61.
... alcoholism has
ever been brought about by ...
12&12 p.166,
Tradition Eight
Almost no recovery from alcoholism has
ever been brought about by
the world's best professionals, whether medical or religious.
62.
... alcoholism has
manifested itself among us in ...
BB p.567(569),
Appendix II, Spiritual Experience
The terms "spiritual experience" and "spiritual awakening"
are used many times in this book which, upon careful reading, shows that the personality change sufficient to bring about
recovery from alcoholism
has manifested itself
among us in many different forms.
63.
... alcoholism, He
can solve your problems too.
BB p.116,
To Wives
64.
... alcoholism, I
could not stay sober; unless ...
BB p.417(449),
Acceptance
Until I could accept my
alcoholism, I could not stay
sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy.
65.
... alcoholism, impending
mental and physical collapse, brought ...
BB p.56,
We Agnostics
Post-war disillusionment, ever
more serious alcoholism, impending mental and physical collapse, brought him to
the point of self-destruction.
66.
... alcoholism ...
In emphasizing alcoholism as an illness, ...
BB p.571(573),
Appendix IV, The Lasker Award
"The American Public Health Association presents a Lasker Group Award for 1951 to Alcoholics Anonymous in recognition of its unique and highly successful approach to
that age-old public health and social problem, alcoholism ... In emphasizing
alcoholism as an illness,
the social stigma associated with this condition is being blotted out ... Historians may one day recognize Alcoholics Anonymous
to have been a great venture in social pioneering which forged a
new instrument for social action; a new therapy based on the kinship of common suffering; one having a vast potential for the myriad
other ills of mankind."
67.
... alcoholism in
their own firms.
12&12 p.180,
Tradition Eleven
Employers learn that great corporations have
set their approval upon us, and wish to discover what can be done
about alcoholism in their own
firms.
68.
... alcoholism is
an illness over which we ...
BB p.118,
To Wives
At such moments we forget that alcoholism is an illness over which we could
not possibly have had any
power.
69.
... alcoholism is
complicated by other disorders.
BB p.114,
To Wives
70.
... alcoholism is
costing his organization a year.
BB p.149,
To Employers
71.
... alcoholism is
entirely a problem of mental ...
BB xxix(xxvii),
The Doctor's Opinion
72.
... alcoholism is
life itself to us, it ...
12&12 p.177,
Tradition Ten
Since recovery from alcoholism is life itself to us, it is imperative that we preserve in full strength our means of survival.
73.
... alcoholism, it
was reasonable (or so it ...
12&12 p.155,
Tradition Six
The moment we saw that we had
an answer for alcoholism, it
was reasonable (or so it seemed at the time) for us to
feel that we might have the answer to a lot of other things.
74.
... alcoholism, many
of us would have recovered ...
BB p.44,
We Agnostics
If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome
alcoholism, many of us would
have recovered long ago.
75.
Alcoholism may
be causing your organization considerable ...
BB p.148,
To Employers
Alcoholism may be causing
your organization considerable damage in
its waste of time, men and reputation.
76.
... alcoholism might
be made and thoughtful considerations ...
BB p.131,
The Family Afterward
New acquaintances who
know nothing of alcoholism might be made and thoughtful considerations given
their needs.
77.
... alcoholism must
remember he did much to ...
BB p.127,
The Family Afterward
We know there are difficult wives and families, but the man who is
getting over alcoholism must remember he did much to make them so.
78.
... alcoholism, no
field of investigation could yield ...
12&12 p.80,
Step Eight
Since defective relations with other human beings have nearly always been the immediate cause of our woes, including our alcoholism, no field of investigation
could yield more satisfying and valuable
rewards than this one.
79.
... alcoholism on
the theory it may cause ...
BB p.78,
Into Action
80.
... alcoholism once
again.
12&12 p.73,
Step Seven
Still goaded by sheer necessity, we reluctantly come to grips with those serious character flaws that made problem drinkers of us in
the first place, flaws which must be dealt with to prevent a retreat into alcoholism once again.
81.
... alcoholism strikes,
very unnatural situations may develop ...
12&12 p.117,
Step Twelve
When alcoholism strikes, very unnatural situations may develop
which work against marriage partnership
and compatible union.
82.
... alcoholism, the
illness.
BB p.142,
To Employers
83.
... "Alcoholism the
Illness.")
BB p.570(572),
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A.
(This address is now available in pamphlet form at nominal cost through most A.A. groups or from Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163, under the title "Three Talks to Medical Societies by Bill W." -- formerly called "Bill on Alcoholism" and earlier "Alcoholism the Illness.")
84.
... alcoholism, the
malady, and described the symptoms ...
BB p.138,
To Employers
This seemed to me like an opportunity to be helpful, so I spent two hours talking about alcoholism, the
malady, and described
the symptoms and results as well as I could.
85.
... alcoholism was
described from the alcoholic's point ...
12&12 p.17,
Foreword
In it alcoholism was described from the alcoholic's point of view, the spiritual ideas of the Society were codified for the first time in the Twelve Steps, and the application of these Steps to the alcoholic's dilemma was made clear.
86.
... alcoholism was,
so we'd educate the public, ...
12&12 p.155,
Tradition Six
People needed to be told what alcoholism was, so we'd
educate the public, even rewrite school and medical textbooks.
87.
... alcoholism, we
are driven to A.A., and ...
12&12 p.24,
Step One
Under the lash of alcoholism, we are driven to A.A., and there we discover the
fatal nature of our situation.
88.
... alcoholism, we
give him first aid and ...
BB p.132,
The Family Afterward
When we see a man sinking into the mire that is
alcoholism, we give him first aid and place what we have at his disposal.
89.
... alcoholism, we
urge each of our Fellowship ...
BB xiii,
Foreword to First Edition
When writing or speaking publicly about
alcoholism, we urge each of our Fellowship to
omit his personal name, designating himself instead as "a member of Alcoholics Anonymous."
90.
... alcoholism --
well, they just don't believe they ...
BB p.149,
To Employers
91.
... alcoholism, were
able to stop for a ...
BB p.32,
More About Alcoholism
We have heard of a few instances where people,
who showed definite signs of alcoholism, were able to stop for a long period because of an overpowering desire to
do so.
92.
... alcoholism where
everything is distorted and exaggerated.
BB p.108,
To Wives
Perhaps your husband has
been living in that strange world of alcoholism where everything is
distorted and exaggerated.
93.
... alcoholism which
proposes to shield the sick ...
BB p.101,
Working With Others
In our belief any scheme of combating alcoholism which proposes to shield the sick man from temptation is doomed to failure.
94.
... alcoholism which
was undoubtedly helpful.
BB p.180,
Doctor Bob's Nightmare
95.
... alcoholism who
is now accounted no less ...
BB xvi,
Foreword to Second Edition
He had also been greatly helped by the late Dr. William D. Silkworth, a New York specialist in alcoholism who is now accounted no less than a medical saint by A.A. members, and whose story of the early days of our Society appears in the next pages.
96.
... alcoholism, why
then shouldn't we be able ...
12&12 p.64,
Step Six
Having been granted a perfect release from alcoholism, why then shouldn't we be
able to achieve by the same means a perfect release from every other difficulty or defect?
97.
... alcoholism, you
may not want me among ...
12&12 p.142,
Tradition Three
Since I am the victim of another addiction even worse stigmatized than alcoholism, you may not want me among you.
Passages from the Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous
and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
are reprinted with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
The A.A. Preamble, copyright ©
The A.A. Grapevine, Inc., is reprinted with permission.
Permission to reprint does not in any way imply affiliation with or
endorsement by either Alcoholics Anonymous or The A.A. Grapevine, Inc.
Copyright © 2005-2012, Recovery Press LLC; All Rights Reserved.