Why 12 Steps?
The 12 Steps have been established as a guideline to the best way to overcome an addiction. The program was created by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. Due to the success of the program, over the years it has been adapted to meet the needs of all types of addictions and not just substance abuse.
The original conception of the 12 Steps is based on spiritual principles, however; people with no specific spiritual believes also find the program to the helpful in recovery. The program allows for individuals to find the best approach that works for their particular needs.
Steps 1, 2,& 3 are considered the foundation of the 12 Step program. Here are all the steps as they are defined by Alcoholics Anonymous:
- 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 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.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse. Remember, you don’t have to do it alone. We suggest you find a treatment center that is based on the 12 Steps that can help you beat your addiction.