Wouldn't
too rapid growth be bad, both for the new alcoholics
and for Alcoholics Anonymous itself?
Answer
Some
of us used to think so, but several experiences of quick
expansion have largely dissipated that fear. We had
a striking example at Cleveland, Ohio. In the fall of
1939 Cleveland had, perhaps, 30 members. Most of them
had become Alcoholics Anonymous by traveling to the
nearby city of Akron where our first group had taken
root in the summer of 1935. At this juncture the Cleveland
Plain Dealer published a striking and forceful series
of articles about us. Placed on the editorial page,
these pieces told the people of Cleveland that Alcoholics
Anonymous worked; that it cost nothing; that it stood
ready to help any alcoholic in town who really wanted
to get well. Cleveland quickly became Alcoholics Anonymous
conscious. Hundreds of inquiries by phone and mail descended
upon the Plain Dealer and the expectant but nervous
members of Alcoholics Anonymous. The rush was so great
that new members sober themselves but a week or two,
had to be used to instruct the still newer arrivals.
Several private hospitals threw open their doors to
cope with the emergency and were so pleased with the
result that they have cooperated with us ever since.
To the great surprise of everyone, this rapid growth,
hectic though it was, did prove very successful. Within
90 days the original group of 30 had expanded to 300;
in six months we had about 500; and within two years
we had mushroomed to 1200 members distributed among
a score of groups in the Cleveland area. Although we
have no precise figures, it is probably fair to say
that 3 out of 4 who came during that period, and who
have since remained with the groups, have recovered
from their alcoholism. (Quart. 3. Stud. Alc., Vol.6(2),
September 1945)
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