ADDICTION RECOVERY - 12 STEP PROGRAM
Most people have heard of the 12-Step program for dealing with addiction
recovery, but unless you have actually experienced it personally, or when
working with a friend or loved one who is in addiction recovery, you may
not know too much about what it is and how it works. The first 12-step
program was a group called Alcoholics Anonymous founded in 1935. Literally
millions of people have been helped through addiction recovery by
Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous and
Gamblers Anonymous, just to name a few of the similar programs which all
use the 12-steps concept.
Although many of the original graduates of the program used only the 12
steps in their fight to regain sobriety, today it is considered part of a
comprehensive multi-part approach that helps in all the aspects of
addiction recovery. It translates well into a residential drug and alcohol
treatment center as a part of the program, although many other facets are
included as well.
Since its founding in 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has given assistance
to innumerable people both men and women, to admit that they were
alcoholics and that they are not able to control the drinking. The
acknowledgment of powerlessness has expanded into the areas of drugs,
overeating and gambling particularly. Through the encouragement of
Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship, the individuals are privy to a healthy,
happy way of living that rules out drugs and drinking.
The basic part of the 12 Step program meetings consists of asking those
who have recovered from substance abuse to relate the tales about their
own over use of alcohol or drugs. They talk about the addiction recovery
which the 12 Step program has provided and then ask any newcomers to join
with them in the supportive fellowship of peers.
The heart of the program which is suggested for addiction recovery is to
make use of the 12 Steps concepts. These have been successfully used by
millions in the treatment program.
Step One
This is considered by outsiders as the most difficult step of all. The
individual must admit that there is an addiction, that they are not able
to control their use of the addictive substance or activity. They must
recognize that they are can no longer manage their own lives.
Step Two
The addict must believe that there is a power outside of themselves which
can and will restore the person's sanity as well as control over the power
of the addictive substance.
Step Three
The next step is to make a conscious choice to hand the life and will over
to the care and safekeeping of God however He is understood by the
individual.
Step Four
This is usually where the momentum begins to slow down and where a
conscious effort to continue the program must emerge. Step four is to
prepare an exhaustive moral review of one's character.
Step Five
The step which follows also stops many people on their way to addiction
recovery. Step five is to make admission not only to God, but to oneself
and to one other person the information prepared under step four.
Step Six
The next step consists of being prepared for God to remove all the
character defects previously named and confessed.
Step Seven
Next, the individual should plead with God to get rid of any character
defects that are standing in the way of recovery.
Step Eight
Step eight consists of preparing a list of all those who have been wronged
by our actions and be prepared to make restitution to them.
Step Nine
The next step is to use the list prepared in step eight and make
restitution to them if possible unless that action would further hard the
victim or others around them.
Step Ten
Taking personal inventory and making admission of errors committed
promptly is an ongoing process.
Step Eleven
The next to the last step urges individuals to continue to attempt
improvement of our relationship with God through meditation and prayer.
Requesting knowledge and understanding of God's plan for the life and the
strength to carry out that plan is key.
Step Twelve
Because the previous steps have helped the person receive an awakening in
the spiritual steps, the 12 steps should be shared with others. In
addition, the stated principles can be carried out throughout one's entire
range of business affairs.
Newcomers are always invited to join with the peer group in pursuing
addiction recover, but are never pressured to accept or live according to
the 12 steps is they are not yet ready to do so. They are urged to stay in
open regarding the information which they are hearing. They are provided
with literature prepared by Alcoholics Anonymous regarding the 12 steps of
the program and invited to continue to participate in meetings during
which they will hear recovered alcoholics relate their individual stories
in their effort to gain sobriety.
The 12 Step program doesn't believe that addiction recovery can be
accomplished by any ordinary means currently available to mankind. AA's
principles state that alcoholism can be halted through a program of total
abstinence from any form of alcohol.
.
Addiction recovery through the 12-step programs is targeted on the goal of
helping members find and implement complete abstinence and sobriety
throughout life.
Often residential treatment for addiction recovery is supplemented or
succeeded by use of the 12 step program on an outpatient basis.
There are of course similarities between 12 step programs and other
addiction recovery modalities, but they are actually relatively common.
The concept of seeking help from one's peers as well as help from a higher
Power can be helpful if the person's spiritual make up is such that they
can utilize the principles. Treatment centers which are affiliated with
religious organizations can use the 12 step program effectively in their
programs without limiting the other program components in any way. This
knowledge helps to provide continuity of treatment bridging the time
within the residential center and the stresses which are part of the
immediate return to society.
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