The most important component of success in a 12-step program is ongoing support. Once a person leaves treatment or no longer attends meetings, it can be very difficult to maintain long-term health and sobriety. A customized treatment plan tends to be the best first step after detox occurs. This section begins with the counterargument to the last section on spirituality. Likely the most frequently cited criticism to 12-step programs is its religious undertone. As noted in the history section of the chapter, AA and the 12-steps were birthed from a non-denominational Christian organization, the Oxford Group.
At the very least, you can try to attend a free 12-step meeting on your own to see if it could be the right fit. Make sure not to make your decision off of one meeting, however, because every meeting is a bit different and some might fit your personality and goals better than others. Some men and women who enter into AA are only getting a component of the treatment they need, and that could be a problem.
The 12 Steps of Addiction Recovery
Your facility’s therapist will discuss the program with you in-depth before you begin. Whether religious or not, the 12-step model has a strong goal of focus on the person and their needs, although there are numerous variations. The Big Book was later published, explaining how the program works and providing a wide range of ideas on why it works. The original model had a strong spiritual and Christian inspiration, and many programs still employ that model. Because the only requirement for membership in AA is a desire to stop drinking, and drug addicts were often shunned by AA, Narcotics Anonymous was formed.
Substance use disorder mutual aid recovery has an intricate and complex history. Many mark the year 1935 as the birth of the mutual aid recovery movement as that is the year Alcoholics Anonymous was formed. According to White [4], the mutual aid recovery movement began centuries before in the late 1700s with Native American Recovery Circles.
THE 12 STEPS IN A GENERIC FORM
It was one of the first facilities to provide therapeutic and human treatment for alcoholics and addicts [25]. Borrowing principles from Wilmar State Hospital and Alcoholics Anonymous, How To Cure Boredom: 7 Ways To Stop Being Bored the model was replicated across the globe. So popular was the 12-step movement that by 1989, an estimated 90% of treatment facilities followed the Minnesota Model [26].
- Another well-known 12 step program is Codependents Anonymous program.
- Conversely, closed AA meetings are reserved just for people with alcohol problems.
- After one semester of college, he went to rehab in West Palm Beach, Florida.
- The bonding among group members is another factor that underlies the program’s effectiveness.
- The mean number of years clean is 8.32 years, with a range between less than 1 year (8%) and over 20 years (25%).
Outcomes gleaned from these publications suggests substantial benefit to members of AA and NA both as an adjunct to professional treatment and as a stand-alone intervention for substance use disorder (SUD). Although valid criticisms exist regarding 12-step approaches, for those whom 12-step approaches work, they appear to work quite well. While alternatives to 12-step approaches are increasing, scientific information https://trading-market.org/uk-construction-dives-amid-housebuilding-slump-and/ is limited. Twelve-step programs provide a safe, secure and supportive environment where people can talk about their substance use problems with people in similar situations. During these meetings, knowledge is imparted, friendships are forged and sobriety can be preserved. This approach has also been formalized into a relatively brief intervention that could be implemented in a number of settings.
Step Programs
Those looking for a recovery support group after they’ve already sought out addiction treatment may benefit greatly from a 12-step approach. However, people should research their options and determine if a spiritual approach to recovery is ideal for their needs. An effective addiction aftercare program fits a person’s specific needs, and in some cases, a more secular approach to recovery may be preferable. This includes individual and group therapy sessions, one-on-one support programs with local areas and even brain training.