WHAT IS 12-STEP RECOVERY?

The 12-step recovery is based on a 12-step program which was proposed by the group Alcoholic Anonymous (AA). The program was proposed as a method of addiction recovery from alcoholism with a significant measure of aftercare monitoring. In general, the program is considered as a set of (spiritual) guiding principles which outline and regulate the course of action (and measures) for addiction recovery from the earliest stage of addiction, compulsion (and impulsive indulgences) and any associated behavioral problems. The 12-step program is originally derived from the work, Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism which was published in 1939. It was the method described in this work that the group AA would adapt and modify; and eventually found the 12-step program.

APA (American Psychological Association) considers the 12-step recovery to involve the following. First of all, one has to admit that he or she cannot control his or her addictions and/or compulsions. Secondly, one has to recognize that there is a higher power which provides strength. Thirdly, one has to examine the past and present errors with the assistance of experienced members, and then make amends for the identified errors. Moreover, one has to learn to accept and strive to change his life by accepting another set of behavior. Lastly, one must help other people who are suffering from similar addictions and compulsions.

The 12 step program has also been used to adapt other 12 step methods which have been used to address substance abuse dependency. The 12 step recovery has been adopted and is currently being used by over 200 fellowships which have a collective membership of millions. An example where the 12-step recovery has been used to manage an alcohol-nonrelated substance abuse is Narcotics Anonymous which was created by addicts who were dependent on drugs other than alcohol. Other similar drug rehab fellowships include cocaine anonymous, marijuana anonymous, crystal meth anonymous and pills anonymous. All these fellowships are characterized by the unique principle of singleness of purpose.

Behavioral concerns such as addictions or compulsions for sex, debting, food, hoarding, work and crime are addressed in 12-step recovery fellowships such as overeaters anonymous, sexual compulsives anonymous, gamblers anonymous, sex and love addicts anonymous, clutterers anonymous, sexaholics anonymous, food addicts in recovery anonymous, workaholics anonymous and debtors anonymous. Auxiliary groups for family members and friends of people suffering from substance addiction include fellowships such as Nar-Anon and Al-Anon. These auxiliary groups also act as effective aftercare monitoring for the 12-step rehab that is enabled by working family systems. CoDependents Anonymous is a unique fellowship which deals with codependency and the related compulsions associated with relationships.

The original 12-steps that were published by AA are described hereafter. First, the addicts admit that they are powerless against alcohol addiction, and that this has made their lives unmanageable. Secondly, the addicts accept that there is a supreme power that can restore them to sanity (in this case, the supreme power is God). Thirdly, the addicts decide to turn their wills and lives over to God, and live according to the laws of God. Also, the addicts have to search for a fearless moral inventory. Additionally, the addicts also admit to God, themselves and other people the exact nature of their wrongs.

Other steps for the addicts include being ready to seek the assistance of God, and also allow God to remove all their character defects in their lives. The addicts should also ask God to remove all their other shortcomings. The addicts are also required to make a list of the names of all the people they have harmed, and also vow that they are willing to make the necessary and appropriate amends to them. As such, the addicts are required to make direct and necessary amends to those people they have harmed whenever possible, with the exception being that such a person would harm or injure the addict.

The other three steps involve continued taking of personal inventory, and subsequent evaluation of such inventory by the addict, and when he or she is on the wrong, he or she should promptly admit it. The addicts should also seek conscious contact with the Supreme Being through meditation and prayer as per His laws, with the focus being praying for knowledge and understanding of His Will for their lives, and also power to carry them through the drug rehab or addiction recovery. At the end of all the aforementioned steps, the addict would have had a profound spiritual awakening, and this point, the former addict is required to preach this message to other addicts, and more importantly, practice the principles learned in their lives.

Fellowships that have adopted the 12-step program as their guiding principles have altered them, for instance, to remove gender-biased language. Conventionally, the 12-step program is accompanied by 12-traditions which provide guidelines for group governance during the 12-step rehab, 12-step treatment and the 12-step recovery. The traditions were developed by AA in order to avert or resolve conflicts in areas of finance, publicity and religion. Most 12-step fellowships for addiction recovery have adopted and also adapted the principles of the 12-traditions in their structural governance framework for their addiction treatment or addiction rehab center. The original 12-traditions that were developed by AA are described below.

First of all, the common welfare of the addicts is given supreme priority since personal recovery depends on the unity of the fellowship. For the sake of group cohesion, there is one ultimate authority, God, who can express Himself in the group conscience, and as such the leaders are but only God’s trusted servants. Thirdly, the sole requirement for membership into AA is the desire to quit drinking alcohol. Additionally, each group is autonomous except in issues that affect the whole AA fraternity. The group should also be totally neutral to outside issues. Also, the public relations policy should be based on attraction and not promotions in order to assure personal anonymity is maintained.

The purpose of a group fellowship is to convey its message to the suffering addict. Also, the group should never finance, endorse or lend their name or the fellowship’s name or facility to unrelated outside parties as this is bound to create conflicts or divert their attention. Each group must be self-sufficient, and it should also decline outside contributions. Also, AA is and should be a non-professional body though it is allowed to employ special workers in its facilities. A should also never be organized though service committees and boards can be created as appropriate. Finally, the spiritual foundation of anonymity is there to remind the addicts of their principles, and the non-importance of personalities.