For our Friday good old days feature, we note that it has been 70 years since a New York stock broker kicked his habit, then helped his friend, a surgeon from Ohio to kick the bottle, and together they started Alcoholics Anonymous.
BBC coverage of the anniversary (no raising of glasses to this celebration).
Some interesting history on the earlier AA. Of course it has been a deeply spiritual organization from the beginning:
Usually there was hospitalization or at least medical help to save the newcomer’s life. Only the Bible was allowed in the room. Recovered drunks visited the patient and told their success stories. The newcomer had to identify, admit that he too was licked, and that he would do whatever it took. Dr. Bob visited daily. Then, he would explain the disease as they then understood it; and on the final day, asked two questions to which there was only one answer: (1) Do you believe in God? (2) Are you willing to get down on your knees and pray?