12-Step Programs for Addiction Recovery
The 12-step programs have become one of the oldest methods for healing from drug and alcohol addiction. Over the years, the 12-step programs have been formatted to support individuals that are experiencing substance abuse concerns along with behavioral addictions including eating disorders, shopping addictions, gambling addictions, and other addictive behaviors. Individuals that are engaging in the 12-step programs will attend meetings with peers who are striving for addiction recovery. Patients can choose from 12-step groups of alcoholics anonymous, narcotics anonymous, and other specified addictive behaviors that have 12-step recovery meetings established.
When you attend a 12-step meeting, you will be surrounded by individuals that share the same history of substance abuse and addictive behaviors. As a collective group, you will have the opportunity to discuss your history with addiction through a shared group process that is facilitated by another person living in addiction recovery. Individuals will read the 12-step principles and 12-step traditions at the beginning of each meeting before the sharing portion of the meeting begins. Once the sharing portion has started, there are often topics of discussion or twelve-step literature to read first before discussing what you have read. The purpose of the group is to share your stories of drug or alcohol addiction and your experiences will provide strength, courage, and hope to others. Participants often find a strong sense of connection with one another which helps to develop a strong sense of community and support with others in early addiction recovery.
Along with attending twelve-step program meetings, individuals are encouraged to find a sponsor that will support them in going through the program of recovery by moving through the 12 steps together. A sponsor is someone that has been in recovery for a while and is familiar with the process of addiction recovery. They are someone you can call on when you are feeling triggered or are at risk of relapse that will help you to stay on the road to recovery.
What Are The 12 Steps?
The 12 steps as per the big book of alcoholics anonymous are:
Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Step 5: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Step 6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Step 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Step 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Step 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and practice these principles in all our affairs.
If you attend a meeting of narcotics anonymous or other addictive behaviors 12-step programs, the 12 steps, and 12 traditions will change slightly to match the substance abuse or addictive behavior that you are seeking support for. However, the essence and guidelines of the 12 steps remain the same.
Are 12-Step Programs Effective?
The 12-step programs have been proven to be an effective form of addiction treatment as the step guide allows individuals to do the necessary work of gaining an understanding of the core reasons for their addiction which often derive from feelings of shame, guilt, and resentment. Through the 12step interventions, individuals are able to address and release those feelings within the mutual support groups and with their sponsor.
12-step programs are often incorporated within addiction treatment centers for inpatient rehab and outpatient rehab programs. When paired with other evidence-based therapy methods of behavioral therapy, dual diagnosis treatment, and medication-assisted treatment, patients are able to heal from their past emotions and traumas to be able to start anew in life clean and sober of drugs and alcohol with other addictive behaviors.
12-Step Programs at The Detox Center of LA
Choosing to heal from your substance abuse within The Detox Center of LA as your treatment provider will give patients the support of a continuum of care for addiction services that will meet their required needs wherever you are in your addiction recovery journey. We support patients in addressing their alcohol or drug abuse and mental health with the support of our comprehensive addiction treatment programs offered within our recovery center. At The Detox Center, we believe that our high success rates for patients stem from the individualized care that is placed upon each patient that enters our recovery center. You no longer have to feel alone in your battle with drug or alcohol addiction as our team and the recovery community of the 12-step programs will be with you every step of the way as you forge a new path towards a life of sober living.
