People are encouraged to take an honest look at themselves, then deconstruct their egos and rebuild, little by little. The Steps encourage the practice of honesty, humility, acceptance, courage, compassion, forgiveness and self-discipline—pathways to positive behavioral change, emotional well-being and spiritual growth. The seven to nine steps are about seeking to amend the damage done.
While 12-step recovery programs can be helpful, they are not always the best choice for everyone. They are an affordable, available, and convenient resource while people are recovering from substance use, but their emphasis on admitting powerlessness and leaning on a higher power can be a problem for some individuals. Continuing with the vital process, the tenth step involves ongoing personal inventory and admission of wrongs promptly, which is key to maintaining the personal growth achieved in earlier steps. Staying vigilant in these practices is essential, solidifying the new patterns of behavior and thought established through the twelve-step program.
Pros and Cons of 12-Step Recovery Programs
The journey into sobrietyIn 12-step programs, an individual is sober when they are no longer partaking in the behavior or substance to which they are addicted and living a better life following the program. Is one that requires commitment, support, and a structured pathway to recoveryThe process by which addicts attempt to break the hold a certain substance or behavior has on their lives. This can refer to participation in a wide variety of methods.
Finally, the twelfth step centers on the principle of giving back and conveying the message to other alcoholics. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. The twelfth step underscores the importance of communal support and service to others. Completion of the 12 how many steps are in aa steps in AA doesn’t imply an end but rather the beginning of a lifelong practice and commitment to personal development, service, and sobriety.
What is the Twelve-step Program?
Sometimes people need a break between Steps, sometimes people need to spend longer on one Step than another, some people never stop working the 12 Steps because they become part of life. Admitting powerlessness is not the same as admitting weakness. It means asking for help, leaning on others and relying on your support system. It means admitting—and accepting—that you're living with a disease that alters your brain. It might seem backward, but when you admit that you don't have power, you finally access the power you need.
- It could be a social support system, God, a spiritual belief, or anything that can provide an anchor against the stormy seas ahead.
- It remains the largest 12-step organization and has contributed to the sobriety of millions worldwide.
- First, they will pass around a collection basket where people may donate money to help pay for the rent, group materials, fees, and miscellaneous items like coffee or breakfast.
- While participating in the 12 steps of recovery can be beneficial for many people, consider the advantages and disadvantages of these programs before you decide if this approach is right for you.
- They also address questions related to financing the group and managing public relations.
Behavioral Addictions
A 2020 review found that Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step facilitation treatments produced benefits that were similar to other treatments. The research also found that these 12-step approaches were superior to other methods for maintaining continuous abstinence and reducing remission rates. Such programs are also a cost-effective way to deliver treatment. While the 12 steps in use today are based on the same ideas written by the founders of AA in the 1930s, the understanding of the term “God” has since broadened to refer to any “higher power” that a person believes in.
John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In calling the helpline you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
By 1950, the organization could boast of having helped 500,000 people overcome their dependence on alcohol. The organization lists several online and in-person meetings available in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. It also has a Facebook group and the related group Women for Sobriety, which is based on the S.O.S. principles. While participating in the 12 steps of recovery can be beneficial for many people, consider the advantages and disadvantages of these programs before you decide if this approach is right for you. For many people, these groups may serve as their primary resource for changing their behavior, but they also often augment formal treatment.
