What to Know About the 12 Steps

In recent years, there has been some controversy surrounding the effectiveness of 12-Step programs and their ability to help people who are struggling with addiction.

There are those who say that the 12-Step model doesn’t really work and that people should rely on other types of treatment. However, other studies demonstrate various ways in which 12-Step programs help people recover from addiction and provide continuity during aftercare and once a person has returned to daily life after treatment.

The 12-Step model has a number of benefits that are not to be dismissed lightly. Overall, research continues to demonstrate that these programs are helpful as part of a more comprehensive, well-rounded treatment program consisting of detox, various therapy types, and aftercare, and comprising a range of therapies and treatments that are customized to a person’s specific needs.

What Is the 12-Step Program?

The basic idea of the 12-Step program is to give people struggling with addiction a process through which to understand and manage their substance use disorders, as well as to find social support for recovery through others who are dealing with the same struggles.

Through group meetings with others who are in the program, a person who joins a 12-Step group is guided through the 12 Steps that were originally developed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), or similar steps.

What Are The 12 Steps?

The 12 steps, as described by the website 12step.org, include:

1. Admit powerlessness over addiction.
2. Find hope through a higher power or higher goal.
3. Turn the power to manage life over to the higher power.
4. Analyze the self and behaviors objectively, described as taking a moral inventory.
5. Share the results of the analysis with another person or the higher power.
6. Prepare to allow the higher power to remove the negative aspects discovered in the analysis.
7. Ask the higher power for these negative aspects to be removed.
8. Make a list of wrongs done to others.
9. Make amends for those wrongs, as long as it is not harmful to the recipient to do so.
10. Make self-analysis, removal of faults, and amends regular practices.
11. Meditate or pray for the continued ability to recover.
12. Help others in need to go through the same process.

Learn more about each of the steps with our detailed 12-step program overview.

Different Types of 12-Step Programs

There are a number of different types of 12-Step programs based on the type of substance abuse being treated, specific belief systems, and other factors. In fact, there are groups specific to a number of the most common substances of abuse. Some of these major programs include:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
• Cocaine Anonymous (CA).
• Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA).
• Marijuana Anonymous (MA).

Along with these major, well-known groups, there are other organizations that have adopted the 12-Step methodology. Some groups that are based on different spiritual or religious beliefs have built their own programs based around the 12 Steps or variations on them in a way that incorporates those belief systems. In fact, some programs have built models around nonspiritual versions of the program. Many treatment centers incorporate these programs as part of their comprehensive drug or alcohol rehab services.

What’s the Purpose of the 12 Steps to Recovery?

According to a study from the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, cognitive restructuring – or the ability to change thought patterns in ways that also change behavior – is an important element of substance abuse treatment. The study shows that 12-Step programs can enable cognitive restructuring around substance abuse and similar behaviors. This type of work makes it possible for people to change their behavioral patterns concerning their substance abuse.

Another purpose of 12-Step groups is to help the families and loved ones of people who are struggling with substance abuse. These include groups like Al-Anon for families and friends of people who abuse alcohol, Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA), and Nar-Anon for families and friends of people who abuse narcotics.

What Happens in a 12-Step Meeting?

From movies and television, people have preconceptions about what happens at a 12-Step meeting. The often-echoed refrain of, “Hello, I’m Bob and I’m an alcoholic,” is what arises in the minds of many when the idea of the 12 Steps is called to mind. However, the reality is somewhat different from this image.

The book Integrating the 12 Steps into Addiction Therapy demonstrates a basic outline of the meeting structure:

• A member of the group, who is either selected beforehand or who volunteers before the meeting, leads the meeting.
• The meeting opens with a prayer or meditation, and with people introducing themselves and acknowledging their substance abuse problems, if desired.
• Members may present or be asked to present readings from the group’s specific literature, the 12 Steps, or other elements of the program.
• A specific substance abuse topic around the group’s interest may be introduced, or there may be a speaker or book presented, to provide education and/or generate discussion by the group.
• Members are encouraged to speak up if they have something to share with the group about their experiences or challenges.
• Another meditation or prayer is shared before the meeting closes.

This general meeting structure can vary somewhat, or even widely, depending on the group. Because each group is self-sustaining, sessions may be altered to meet the needs of the specific group members. This variation may contribute to some inconsistency in the content; however, the guidelines and group literature support this.

How Effective Are 12-Step Programs?

According to some sources, a key concept in the 12-Step model is: “It works if you work it.” This is shown by research, including a study in the journal Substance Use and Misuse, to be a factor in whether or not the program can provide positive outcomes. According to this study, people who are motivated to recover and maintain sobriety are more likely to benefit from the model than those who are not motivated. On the other hand, some research has shown that people who are mandated to join 12-Step groups, such as those who are required by the justice system to attend, are more likely to have positive results than those who are not mandated to attend.

The latter observation above was a conclusion drawn from a review of a large number of articles researching 12-Step treatment outcomes. The study, published in the American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Substance Abuse Treatment, also states that:

• Less religious individuals seem to benefit as much as more religious individuals.
• Women and older adults are more likely to be engaged and benefit from these groups.
• People who maintain regular attendance are more likely to achieve long-term recovery.
• Participation in these groups can educate people on the benefits of a full treatment program.

In other words, those who benefit from 12-Step programs are those who are committed to making the program work, who engage in other treatments as well as being engaged in the 12-Step program, and those who stay involved with the 12-Step group on a long-term basis. In particular, incorporating a 12-Step program as part of the individual’s aftercare program can help reinforce the lessons learned in rehab long after formal treatment is over.

Beyond 12 Steps: Non-Religious Alternatives

Even with the benefits of 12-Step programs, there are some people who may not be interested in the 12-Step model or who may not be ideal for 12-Step recovery. These individuals could still benefit from some type of peer-based treatment.

As mentioned above, there are also self-help or peer support programs that don’t follow the 12-Step model. These include programs based on non-religious ideas and programs that are modeled on religious, spiritual, or cultural practices that are different from the spiritual basis used by AA. These are typified by secular groups based on scientific understandings of mental health disorders as well as organizations established by cultural groups to connect participants to their cultures of origin.

Because these models all have more positive outcomes when performed in concert with traditional addiction treatment, a preliminary step to obtaining the benefits of 12-Step participation is to contact a reputable, research-based treatment facility and get a personal treatment plan prepared.

The 12 Steps at Desert Hope

At Desert Hope, we understand the value of incorporating the 12 Steps into our patients’ recovery. Therefore, we include the 12 Steps in both our inpatient and outpatient programs, as well as offer it for those who participate in our sober living program, Resolutions. With the support fostered in our 12-Step meetings, our patients can continue to grow in their recovery.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction and are ready to take the first steps toward recovery, call us today at . Desert Hope, American Addiction Centers’ substance abuse treatment facility, is ready to help you get the treatment you need today.