12 Step Programs for Alcoholism
The first 12 step programs ever created were designed to help alcoholics with their recovery. And although countless other 12 step organizations have sprung up to provide support for everyone from drug addicts to gambling addicts, the majority are still built to help those struggling with alcohol addiction.
12 step programs for alcoholism, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, focus on teaching the individual about the nature of addiction, and stress that they take life one day at a time, focusing only on those things over which they have control. These programs ask the individual to give themselves up to a higher power in order to maintain sanity and avoid temptation.
The History of 12 Step Programs for Alcoholism
In the 1930′s Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous, the first 12 step programs designed to grow and help people around the world. The pair began holding meetings in local churches, and traveled from town to town spreading the world about their methodology. Now, seven decades later, there are AA chapters in practically every country in the world.
Anonymity and 12 Step Programs
One of the hallmarks of Alcoholics Anonymous is the anonymity of its members. Individuals who take part in meetings only provide their first names and never share information about their fellow members with those not involved in the program. For this reason, there is no “hard data” about how many AA members exist worldwide, or any demographic information about them.
What are the 12 Steps for Alcoholism?
The foundation of Alcoholics Anonymous and related programs is the “twelve steps”. These steps are the same whether visiting a meeting in Ohio or Moscow and are comprised of the following:
- We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
- 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.
- 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.
Michael’s House is a residential drug and alcohol rehab facility located in Palm Springs California. The caring professionals at Michael’s House understand the special needs of the alcoholic, and work tirelessly to help all of their patients break the cycle of addiction and enjoy a clean and sober life. Contact Michael’s House today at 1-877-345-8494 for more information.
