New Yorker Article Traces History of and New Challenges Facing Alcoholics Anonymous

MEDIA April 1995

A recent New Yorker article chronicles the history of the Alcoholics Anonymous movement and the challenges that face the organization (Andrew Delbanco and Thomas Delbanco, "A.A. at the Crossroads," New Yorker, Mar. 20, 1995, p. 50ff).

The authors write that as A.A. approaches its 60th anniversary, veteran members worry that the organization has lost its original focus. They see the group's founding principles lost in an era that accepts and sometimes even applauds irresponsibility.

The article shows that because A.A. is loosely structured, some of the tenets the organization was based upon may be changing, and the challenge for members is to decide how A.A. can best serve alcoholics who want help.