The word RECOVERED appears 20 times in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

The word "RECOVERED" appears 20 times in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Contrary to this a few members who believe more in hearsay rather than depend on the AA literature, propagate a myth that "an alcoholic never "RECOVERS" and that Alcoholics should always refer to themselves as "RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS", which in itself is a wrong statement.


While it is true that there is NO CURE for Alcoholism, But it is 'TREATABLE", In the chapter "How it Works" it is explained that "Rarely has a person failed, who has thoroughly followed our path.


The second page of the Big Book, Third Edition, soft cover (the page before the "Contents" page, reads specifically as "ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - The story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have RECOVERED from Alcoholism - Third Edition.


If you suffer from Alcoholism, You can Recover, there is a way. That way is the AA 12 step program, get a sponsor, work the 12 steps with the sponsor as suggested in the Big Book and not the 12 steps as interpreted by the personal opinions of others who are basically deviating from the Basic concepts as suggested in the Big Book (One cannot really blame these members, this is a global phenomenon and not restricted to any part of the world, these ill-informed members are merely acting on hearsay, myths and not on what the Big Book says, to such members I merely say, just look at the Big Book when in doubt, all the answers can be found there. Lets just follow what the Big book says, and we cant go wrong!, lets not depend on members personal or perceived opinions and trust more in the wisdom of the founding fathers Bill W and Dr. Bob as they put down specifically in the Big Big!}

Off course if you are an Alcoholic, then one can never ever drink alcohol again, Complete abstinence is required. "Recovered" does not mean that one has been "Cured" of Alcoholism. If we work the 12 steps with a sponsor and follow the AA program as suggested in the Big Book, it is considered as we being a "RECOVERED ALCOHOLIC", being sober one day at a time, staying away from alcohol and having faith in a Power greater than ourselves. Till we do not complete doing the 12 steps we are considered as "Recovering Alcoholics", once we do the 12 steps, we are considered as "Recovered Alcoholics", its that simple! this is also explained in the Back to basics video - Step 1, 2 and 3 in my blog post.


Below are the references to the word "Recovered" in the Alcoholics Anonymous - Big Book

from http://www.164andmore.com/words/recovered.htm

1.

   ... recovered.   BB The Doctor's Opinion, p.xxv  

This man and over one hundred others appear to have recovered.

2.

   ... recovered.   BB There Is A Solution, p.17  

Nearly all have recovered.

3.

   ... recovered.   BB There Is A Solution, p.29  

Further on, clear-cut directions are given showing how we recovered.

4.

   ... recovered.   BB Working With Others, p.90  

If he says yes, then his attention should be drawn to you as a person who has recovered.

5.

   ... recovered.   BB To Wives, p.113  

He knows that thousands of men, much like himself, have recovered.

6.

   ... recovered alcoholics.   BB Foreword to Second Edition, p.xv  

In that brief space, Alcoholics Anonymous has mushroomed into nearly 6,000 groups whose membership is far above 150,000 recovered alcoholics.

7.

   ... recovered alcoholics carried their message to still ...   12&12 Foreword, p.17  

With the publication of the book "Alcoholics Anonymous" in 1939, the pioneering period ended and a prodigious chain reaction set in as the recovered alcoholics carried their message to still others.

8.

   ... recovered, and have been given the power ...   BB The Family Afterward, p.132  

We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others.

9.

   ... recovered, but holds a relatively unimportant job, ...   BB To Employers, p.146  

An alcoholic who has recovered, but holds a relatively unimportant job, can talk to a man with a better position.

10.

   ... recovered from a gastric hemorrhage and seemed ...   BB The Doctor's Opinion, p.xxxi  

He had but partially recovered from a gastric hemorrhage and seemed to be a case of pathological mental deterioration.

11.

   ... recovered from a hopeless condition of mind ...   BB There Is A Solution, p.20  

Doubtless you are curious to discover how and why, in the face of expert opinion to the contrary, we have recovered from a hopeless condition of mind and body.

12.

   ... recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of ...   BB Foreword to First Edition, p.xiii  

We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.

13.

   ... recovered from serious drinking, are miracles of ...   BB The Family Afterward, p.133  

We, who have recovered from serious drinking, are miracles of mental health.

14.

   ... recovered immediately and became A.A. number three.   BB Foreword to Second Edition, p.xvii  

Their very first case, a desperate one, recovered immediately and became A.A. number three.

15.

   ... recovered in A.A., they can become the ...   12&12 Step Twelve, p.112  

And if these are facts of life for the many alcoholics who have recovered in A.A., they can become the facts of life for many more.

16.

   ... recovered is the main purpose of this ...   BB Foreword to First Edition, p.xiii  

To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book.

17.

   ... recovered long ago.   BB We Agnostics, p.45  

If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered long ago.

18.

   ... recovered, of their chance.   BB Working With Others, p.96  

He often says that if he had continued to work on them, he might have deprived many others, who have since recovered, of their chance.

19.

   ... recovered on their own resources.   12&12 Step One, p.22  

It was a statistical fact that alcoholics almost never recovered on their own resources.

20.

   ... recovered through A.A.   12&12 Foreword (Note), p.15  

(*) In 2014, it is estimated that over two million have recovered through A.A.


The word "RECOVERING" appears only twice in the Big Book.... 

Source: http://www.164andmore.com/words/recovering.htm

1.

   ... recovering.   BB The Family Afterward, p.122  

Our women folk have suggested certain attitudes a wife may take with the husband who is recovering.

2.

   ... recovering in A.A.   BB To Wives (Note), p.104  

But many of the suggestions given here may be adapted to help the person who lives with a woman alcoholic -- whether she is still drinking or is recovering in A.A.

So my friend please do not loose heart, You CAN "RECOVER" from Alcoholism.., provided you follow the AA program...as per the Big Book (Just go by the Literature and you will be fine!... there are many many AA members who go by the book and who will be glad and really grateful to guide you in your recovery process... Wish you all the best!.