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What is a 12
Step Recovery Program?
The 12 Steps
A Twelve-step program is a
set of guiding principles for recovery from addictive,
compulsive, or other behavioral problems, originally
developed by the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous
("A.A.") to guide recovery from alcoholism. The twelve
steps were first published in the text Alcoholics
Anonymous ("The Big Book"). This method has been adapted
as the foundation of other twelve-step programs such as
Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Marijuana
Anonymous, Crystal Meth Anonymous, Co-Dependents
Anonymous and Emotions Anonymous. Twelve-step
fellowships have no opinion as a group on issues other
than personal recovery. As summarized by the American
Psychological Association, working the Twelve Steps
involves the following.
- admitting that one
cannot control one's addiction or compulsion;
- recognizing a
spiritual higher power that can give strength;
- examining past
errors with the help of a sponsor (experienced
member);
- making amends for
these errors;
- learning to live a
new life with a new code of behavior;
- helping others that
suffer from the same addictions or compulsions.
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How
many people are addicted, or alcoholics?
Because of its legal
availability and worldwide social acceptance, alcohol is
an easy drug for users to abuse. Alcohol abuse, or
alcoholism, is one of the most common and most costly
drug addictions throughout the world. The majority of
those who consume alcohol do so at least once a week,
and, for most people, regular drinking on a social level
does not create a dependency on the substance. There
are, however, more than 17 million people (2004) in the
US alone who do develop an alcohol addiction.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health
(NSDUH) supported by the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration tracks
drug use those 12 years and older.
-
An estimated
19.5 million Americans aged 12 or older
were current users of an illicit drug in
2003. This estimate represents 8.2% of
the population.
-
Over
half(51%) of America’s teenagers have
tried an illicit drug by the time they
finish high school.
-
An estimated
71 million Americans reported being
current users of a tobacco product in
2003, a prevalence rate of 30% for the
population 12 years and older.
-
Marijuana is
the most widely used illicit substance
in this country. In 2003, 14.6 million
people were current users of marijuana.
-
For the
second year in a row inhalant use has
increased in 8th graders with 17.3%
reporting use at least once in their
lifetime. These drugs are particularly
dangerous because they can damage the
nervous system even after a single use,
and they can be fatal.
-
Prescription
Drug Abuse Alert: Vicodin is one of the
drugs most commonly abused by high
school seniors. Nearly one in ten 12th
graders reported non-medical use of
Vicodin in 2004; one in twenty 12th
graders reported non-medical use of
OxyContin.
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What our members have to say about......
What IS... A 12 Step Program?
dunthatbefore
says:
A program that will let a person learn a new way to live and cope
without something to change them.
Yes, I believe I am normal as I can be. I am not a bad person. I
did not understand that I was seeking gratification, help, coping
abilities from booze.
The end of it all... I was not able to decipher right from wrong in
a healthy way because I was consumed with my booze. It had kicked
my butt... physically and mentally.
So in the beginning .. it was to break the physical bonds on me.
Then a chance to learn to think without it... to make choices since
I no longer had to drink. I don't know about you , but I had to
drink... just to get through a day. Now I get through the day with
being a decent human being.
I have thrown "perfection" to the side. That is a killer in and of
itself. The only perfect thing I ever did was be a perfect booze
hound. I did that perfectly.
Taking the steps.. allowed me to be the true me.
Dun
SeattleJules says:
Countless programs have adopted the use
of A.A.'s 12 steps, a course of action which brings about a
spiritual awakening, also called a psychic change or personality
rearrangement. The main purpose of taking the steps is to establish
and enlarge our spiritual life. There are many side-effects of
"having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps,"
including no longer having to drink or use. Taking the steps allows
friends and family of addicts and alcoholics to enjoy some peace of
mind, whether the other person is recovering or active in their
addiction.
In addition to actually taking the
steps, 12-step programs offer fellowship. Like many of us, when I
got sober I dropped all my old using friends, and the bottle had
been my best friend. What would take their place? In 12-step
programs we find people who care, learn how to be a friend, family
member, employee, from the example and support of those around us.
That's my definition of a 12 step
program. Of course there is a lot more to it, but the two
parts--the recovery side, and the fellowship side, as well as the
unity (service) are the essence of what makes up a 12-step program,
I think.
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