FOREWORD TO THIRD EDITION B - Alcoholics …

1 FOREWORD TO THIRD EDITIONByMarch 1976, when this EDITION went to theprinter, the total worldwide membership ofAlcoholics anonymous was conservatively estimated atmore than 1,000,000, with almost 28,000groups meeting in over of groups in the United States and Canadaindicate that is reaching out, not only to moreand more people, but to a wider and wider now make up more than one-fourth of themembership; among newer members, the proportionis nearly one- THIRD . Seven percent of the s surveyed are less than 30years of age among them,many in their basic principles of the program, it appears,hold good for individuals with many dif -ferent lifestyles, just as the program has brought recovery to those of many different nationalities.

2 TheTwelve Steps that summarize the program may becalled los Doce Pasosin one country, les Douze Etapesin another, but they trace exactly the same path to recovery that was blazed by the earliest members ofAlcoholics spite of the great increase in the size and thespan of this Fellowship, at its core it remains simpleand personal. Each day, somewhere in the world, re-covery begins when one alcoholic talks with another alcoholic, sharing experience, strength, and 11/20/13 3:43 PM Page xxii