“Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.”
A 12-step program offers addicts the opportunity to use a proven system of recovery and sobriety maintenance. The value of these programs can’t be overstated which is why so many addicts recur to them as a key pillar of their treatment.
But how does a 12-step program work? Let’s have a look.
How does a 12 Step Program for Addiction work?
In 12-step programs like AA, non-professional peers who have experienced addiction participate.
As a group, they support each other by following a program of 12 steps and 12 traditions. In contrast to group therapy, group consciousness leads the group, not a professional.
It is free to attend this non-professional program, although a small donation is usually requested if the addict can afford it. Donations are usually used to pay rent and support the facilities.
There is usually literature available such as the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous or the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions book which shares stories about those who have recovered and also offers guidance on how to best make use of the program.
How Many Steps in AA Program
The key to every 12-step program can be found in working the steps laid out by the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
AA requires dedication, honesty, and willingness to change for the 12 Steps to succeed. An important part of the recovery process is having a sponsor, who has already taken the steps and can provide guidance and support.
But how many steps are in the AA program? These are the 12 Steps of AA that every recovering alcoholic needs to work on:
- Admit powerlessness over alcohol and that your life has become unmanageable.
- Believe in a power greater than yourself that can restore you to sanity.
- Make a decision to turn your will and your life over to the care of God as you understand Him.
- Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself.
- Admit to God, to yourself, and to another human being the exact nature of your wrongs.
- Be entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly ask Him to remove your shortcomings.
- Make a list of all persons you have harmed and become willing to make amends to them all.
- Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continue to take personal inventory and promptly admit when you are wrong.
- Seek through prayer and meditation to improve your conscious contact with God as you understand Him.
- Having had a spiritual awakening, carry this message to other alcoholics and practice these principles in all your affairs
One of the most important steps of the program is the first. It is important for addicts to accept addiction as a real condition and be honest with themselves about it.
The remaining steps involve transformational actions. The final three steps (10,11,12) are maintenance steps. Addicts may be able to find daily solace by following these steps and principles.
There is a lot of time, effort, and reflection involved in every step. Before moving on to the next step, each step should be taken seriously and thoroughly worked through.
AA meetings are another important part of working the 12 Steps. Meetings of AA provide a supportive environment where people can share their experiences and receive assistance and encouragement from other people facing similar challenges.
Why Choose AA
One of the main benefits of AA is that addicts are able to gain a roadmap for their sobriety. The program provides recovering addicts with a set of tools and guidelines to help them achieve and maintain sobriety.
They also offer a constant reminder that helps individuals remember why they decided to seek recovery and how far they have come in their journey.
Addicts can also benefit from having a sponsor in the program that can guide them through their recovery and someone they can lean on when times get hard.
Twelve-Step Rehabs
Now that you know how many steps are in AA programs, you might want to join a recovery center that offers 12-step recovery services.
At Veritas Detox we offer AA meetings as part of our rehab services.
Contact us today to join one of our in-house meetings.
