Struggling alcoholics Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith met in Akron and forged a program of mutual support that would grow into Alcoholics Anonymous, formally tracing its founding to June 10, 1935 — the day Dr. Bob is said to have had his last drink. Their twelve-step approach, blending peer support with spiritual principles, became the model for addiction recovery programs worldwide, eventually reaching millions of members in over 180 countries.
Struggling alcoholics Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith met in Akron and forged a program of mutual support that would grow into Alcoholics Anonymous, formally tracing its founding to June 10, 1935 — the day Dr. Bob is said to have had his last drink. Their twelve-step approach, blending peer support with spiritual principles, became the model for addiction recovery programs worldwide, eventually reaching millions of members in over 180 countries.
Key people: Bill Wilson, Bob Smith