How A 12 Step Program Helps Recovery

The theory behind 12-step recovery programs is simple. It is a process that you use to recover from alcohol, drugs or behavior addiction. The 12-steps came out of Alcohols Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous started in 1935 by Bill W (Wilson) and Dr. Bob Smith. It is worthwhile to learn how a 12 step program helps recovery.

Since it’s inception, 12-step programs have been used all around the world to help millions of people. Alcoholics Anonymous was the first 12-step program with Narcotics Anonymous, and Gambler’s Anonymous to follow. There are 12-step programs for several other addictions, as well.

How 12 Step Programs Work

How a 12 step program helps recovery is through peer dialogue. Meetings consist of discussions and testimonies of people who are recovering from an addiction. There is a leader of the group, who has a good amount of sober time. New members are sponsored by older members who have been sober for some time. These sponsors help the new members maintain their sobriety. The only requirement of membership is a desire to maintain sobriety. According to Alcohol.org, the 12-steps of the program include:

An admission that you are powerless over alcohol (or other substance) and that life has become unmanageable
You have come to believe that a Power greater than yourself can restore you to sanity
You’ve made a decision to turn your life over to the care of God, as you understand Him
You’ve made a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself
An admission to God, yourself, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs.
You are entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
You’ve humbly asked God to remove your shortcomings
You’ve made a list of all the people you have harmed and become willing to make amends to them all
Have made direct amends to each of these people wherever possible, except when to do so will injure them or others
You’ve continues to take personal inventory and when you are wrong, promptly admit it
Through prayer, and meditation you strive to improve your conscious contact with God, as you understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for you, and the power to carry it out
As a result of the completion of the steps, you’ve had a spiritual awakening. You try to carry this message to everyone suffering from addiction and to practice these principles in all of your affairs

How A 12 Step Program Helps Recovery

Following the steps that are outlined in a 12-step program is essentially how a 12 step program helps recovery. The process and the humbleness are key in your recovery. The 12-steps recovery model also has the 12 traditions. These traditions are meant to keep the 12-step process separate from politics, and outside influences.

The Success Of 12-Step Programs

There is much debate about whether 12-step programs work. There is not a lot of concrete research of the success rate of 12-step programming. Alcoholics Anonymous conducted a survey of 6,000 of its members in 2014. Alcohol.org outlines the findings of that survey as follows. Alcoholics Anonymous reported that 27% of those surveyed were sober for less than a year. 24% have maintained their sobriety for up to five years, and 13% maintain their sobriety for a ten-year period. 14% of the survey participants reported being sober between 10 and 20 years. Lastly, 22% reported maintaining their sobriety for more than 20 years.

Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston

Detox is the initial stage of rehabilitation treatment. Your body has become acutely accustomed to the chemicals you abuse. Once you stop ingesting them, your body is in shock. In detox, you suffer both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms as a result of stopping the alcohol or drug. We are well-equipped to ease you through this process. If necessary, you will receive medication to lessen your withdrawal symptoms.

Our programs include:

If you are wondering how a 12 step program helps recovery, call us at 866.516.8356 for more answers. With a concentration on detox, Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston can focus on this critical part of your recovery process.