Millions of alcoholics around the world have recovered from the disease of alcoholism through the Twelve Steps programme of Alcoholics Anonymous.

From December 1934, when Bill W. got sober, to December 1938, when the Twelve Steps were outlined, there were many changes to the content of the information given to those seeking sobriety. The teachings of the so-called ‘Oxford Groups’, the thoughts of William James and the contributions of Dr Silkworth, as well as the experience gained through practice, were at the origin of the six Steps that, at the end of 1938, were passed on to those seeking sobriety.
These were:

1- We admitted that we were defeated, that we were powerless over alcohol. 

2- We made a moral inventory of our faults or sins. 

3- We confessed or shared our imperfections with another person, in confidence. 

4- We made amends to all those we had harmed because of our alcoholism. 

5- We tried to help other alcoholics, without thinking of monetary reward or prestige. 

6- We prayed to whatever God we thought existed for the strength to practise these precepts. 

The opportunity to systematise the A.A. recovery programme arose when Bill W.was writing the basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous. After writing the first four chapters, it was necessary to talk about the backbone of the A.A. programme. So, based on what experience had shown to work, Bill W. developed these six Steps with a view to making them more accessible, clear and understandable. This work resulted in the Twelve Steps, which made the recovery programme more accessible and with a broader and deeper spiritual aspect.