12 Step Programs

12 Step Programs
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Table of Contents
Benefits of 12-Step Programs
How Popular are They
What are the Steps
What Programs are Available
What Meetings are Available
Treatment at Michael’s House

For decades, 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) have been providing support and education for individuals, not just in the United States but worldwide. In humble meeting rooms in recreation centers and churches around the globe, 12-step program meetings allow participants to find the strength they need to conquer addiction through belief in a higher power, the peer support of others, the mentor support of a sponsor, and the active search for peace that comes through working the 12 steps and maintaining an honest program

What Are the Benefits of 12-Step Programs?

Many participants in 12-step groups find that by jumping into the program, they replace their former obsession with drugs and alcohol. Those who have found success start just by showing up to meetings then increase their time commitment and involvement until they are fully immersed in the program.
Twelve-step programs can be intimidating at first, but people soon find them to be open, inviting places where the members genuinely care for one another. Listening to other people’s stories of fighting addiction and choosing a sponsor from among the other members of the group both work to form a fellowship of individuals who are there for support and staying the course to recovery.

How Popular Are 12-Step Programs?

One of the most prominent forms of aftercare, 12-step programs like AA and NA can be found virtually anywhere in the world. Statistics about attendance and participation are scarce due to the high-level of anonymity within the program, but here are some facts:

Statistics

  • There are many 12-step programs to meet the needs of addicts no matter what the addiction, including programs that target gambling, overeating, sex, codependency and more.
  • There are more than 50,000 12-step program groups in the US and more than 125,000 throughout the world.
  • AA is believed to have over two million members around the world.
  • In most major metropolitan areas, AA and NA meetings not only happen daily but multiple times a day at various locations and around the clock.

What Are the 12 Steps?

The 12 steps may vary in focus and subject depending upon the addiction addressed by the group, but at their core, they are the same across all programs. Here are the most famous steps in the world, The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous:

  1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
  2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
  3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
  4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
  5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
  6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
  7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
  8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
  9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
  10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
  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.
  12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

What 12-Step Programs Are Available?

Founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson, Alcoholics Anonymous would eventually give birth to a host of other, similarly structured programs designed to help those struggling with addiction. From sex addiction to gambling, these programs would open the successful formula established by AA to a wider group of people struggling with various addictions.

Find a 12 Step Program
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). AA is the most famous of the 12-step groups and attended by those who struggle with alcoholism as well as those who have problems with other drugs of addiction. There are usually a number of different types of meetings available, including women-only meetings, men-only meetings, meetings just for alcoholics, and meetings that are open to the public.
  • Narcotics Anonymous (NA). NA provides education and peer group support for those recovering from addictions to drugs such as heroin, cocaine, crystal meth, prescription medications and other substances. There are also off-shoot 12-step groups specific to certain narcotics like Heroin Anonymous (HA) and Cocaine Anonymous (CA). Nar-Anon is also available for friends and family members who need support as they stand by a loved one living with an addiction to narcotics.
  • Marijuana Anonymous (MA). Although there is considerable debate about the addictive nature of marijuana, there is no denying that many pot smokers are unable to stop abusing even when they recognize that they are experiencing negative consequences in their lives as a result. This group provides support for those engaged in trying to quit.
  • Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA). Crystal meth addiction is unique among illicit substances in that its users often have a more difficult time in recovery nine months to a year after they stop abusing the drug than they do initially. Ongoing support through a 12-step program is especially important for those in recovery from this drug.
  • Al-Anon. Al-Anon provides needed support for those who have a friend or loved one who is fighting an addiction. Families Anonymous (FA) is another 12-step group designed to help those who live with and love an addicted family member. Alateen is a 12-step group dedicated to teenagers living with an alcoholic family member and Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) provides similar support for those who grew up with an alcoholic parent or caregiver.
  • Codependents Anonymous (CoDa). CoDa is a group dedicated to helping participants to break free from dysfunctional relationships and learn how to have healthy relationships with children, family members and significant others. Co-Anon is a similar 12-step group that focuses on having functional relationships with drug addicts and alcoholics. Other codependent support groups focus on helping participants make healthy choices in relationships with those struggling with other addictions, like Codependents of Sex Addicts (COSA) and CoSex and Love Addicts Anonymous (COSLAA).
  • Gamblers Anonymous (GA). Problem gamblers and those with a gambling addiction find the support they need by following the 12 steps and having a sponsor that can help them avoid returning to online gambling, slot machines, card games, table games and more. Gam-Anon and Gam-A Teen provides support for friends and family members of problem gamblers.
  • Overeaters Anonymous (OA). Those who live with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, secretive eating, eating at inappropriate times and other food-related disorders and addictions gain support from attending 12-step meetings. Food Addicts Anonymous (FAA) and Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) are other 12-step groups that also provide support to those experiencing a maladaptive relationship with food.
  • Debtors Anonymous (DA). DA provides support for those who are unable to control their spending. This group caters to compulsive shoppers who have incurred large debts and put their family’s finances at risk. Shopaholics Anonymous (SA) and Clutterers Anonymous (CLA) address similar issues of over-buying and hoarding.
  • Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA). One of the more recent additions to the 12-step program canon, SLAA helps people who often engage in dangerous sexual behaviors cope with and find solutions to their problem. Similar 12-step groups that address the same and similar issues include Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA), Sexaholics Anonymous (SA), and Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA). S-Anon is a group similar to Al-Anon that provides support for friends and family struggling with a sex addiction or compulsion disorder.
  • Neurotics Anonymous (NAIL). NAIL focuses on providing ongoing support for those in recovery from psychological disorders and mental health issues of all kinds. Groups like Emotions Anonymous (EA) and Emotional Health Anonymous (EHA) provide similar support for those recovering from emotional issues.

What Types of 12-Step Meetings Are Available?

There are a number of different types of 12-step meetings to choose from no matter what type of program you participate in. There are meetings for different age groups, genders and sexual orientations. Here are some of the distinctions that you can find when searching out the best meetings for your needs and comfort level:

12 Step Program Formats
  • Open or closed meetings. Not all meetings are open to the public. Some meetings are just for those who identify as a recovering alcoholic or addict while others allow friends and family members to sit in.
  • Newcomer meetings. These meetings give those who are new to the 12 steps a chance to ask all their burning questions. Why do you need a sponsor? Why should you speak up and share at meetings? Do you have to work the 12 steps? What is the value of the 12 traditions? Can I drink if my drug of choice is heroin? Do I have to quit all drugs completely? What’s a home group? Why do they call it a “temporary” sponsor? All these questions and more are answered at newcomer meetings.
  • Big Book meetings. These meetings often begin by reading a selection from the Big Book for AA. Participants have the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences after the reading.
  • Tradition meetings. These meetings examine one of the 12 traditions that those who participate in AA and other 12-step programs are expected to honor.
  • Speaker meetings. A speaker is asked to share his or her drug history and story of recovery at a speaker meeting. When it’s over, depending upon the structure of the meeting, they may direct a study of one of the steps, share their experience with it or open the discussion to a topic of their choice.
  • Share meetings or discussion meetings. A chairperson is usually nominated to run these meetings for a period of a few months at a time. He or she will choose a different topic for discussion at the start of each gathering and then open up the discussion to comments by participants. No one is forced to speak, and usually there is no cross-talk (or commenting on other people’s shares).
  • Step meetings. These meetings explore a specific step. Some meetings consistently explore a specific step while others alternate their focus each week.
  • 45/60/90 meetings. Some meetings are only different depending upon their length. Most are about an hour long but there are often options for shorter and longer meetings so people can more easily fit them into their schedules.
  • Meal time meetings. Early morning breakfast meetings around 6 am or earlier and lunch hour meetings are not uncommon. Food is allowed and even encouraged at these meetings and at some meetings, participants trade off bringing food and drinks for everyone.
  • Gender-specific meetings. These meetings are designated as for men, for women, for transgendered, for female-to-male transgendered, and for male-to-female transgendered. There are even some designated for those who identify as third sex or asexual. Still others are just for those who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
  • Language-specific meetings. Depending upon the community, there are often 12-step meetings held in Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, German and other languages prominently spoken locally.
  • Non-religious or candlelight meetings. Some participants have a hard time with the concept of a higher power and opt instead to take part in meetings that are strictly atheist. In contrast, candlelight meetings are often available at night and are more spiritual in nature.
  • Smoking and non-smoking meetings. Almost all meetings allow smoking during breaks or before or after the meetings outside. There are a few that allow it in the meeting itself while others are only for those who can refrain from smoking.


Michael’s House Offers the Option of 12-Step Treatment

For those who choose drug and alcohol rehab programs at Michael’s House, 12-step programs are incorporated into treatment. Based upon a holistic, evidence-based treatment model, you can expect to experience a wide range of therapies and drug addiction treatment including 12-step meetings. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you or your loved one heal after drug and alcohol addiction.