The 12-Step Recovery Program and Why It Works

A 12-step program is commonly used in recovery programs for drugs, alcohol, or other types of addiction. This is such a commonly used program that many people who are not addicts and who have not experienced a recovery program personally (or through friends or family) still know about some of the principles.

Because a 12-step program refers to the presence of a higher power, many people reject it or even criticize it for being steeped in religion. However, the 12-step program is not a religious program, and those in recovery can identify their own higher power however they like. There are many benefits to the program, no matter what kind of addiction treatment you are seeking.

The 12 Steps

To start, let’s take a look at the 12 steps. You may see the words “addiction” exchanged for words like “alcohol” or “drugs” or another specific addiction, but the steps remain the same. They are:

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. We continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, we promptly admitted it.
11. We 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.

While there are a lot of references to God in those steps, it is important to remember that you can define God however you like. Some prefer to focus on the higher order of the universe instead of an actual deity.

The Benefits of the Program

Whether you believe in an actual God or not, there are a lot of benefits to a 12-step program for addiction treatment.

The first thing it does is offer you a place of encouragement and support. In the program, you are surrounded by others who are struggling with your same addiction, who have suffered in ways that you have, who have made many of the same mistakes that you have, and who can understand what you’re experiencing. You can get encouragement from people who have been where you are, and support when you are struggling. You can also feel encouraged by seeing what is possible through recovery.

A 12-step program also encourages honesty and growth in your recovery process. You are not just learning how to live without your addiction; you are also learning how to heal yourself and lead a healthier lifestyle. You are learning how to recognize and correct past mistakes and faults, and you are learning how to be a better person and to have better relationships with those around you.

Finally, the 12-step program is highly beneficial in that it is highly accessible. You may go through an in-patient program at an addiction clinic in Arizona, but you can continue to attend meetings at multiple locations. Numerous meetings are often held in each city. If you can’t find one in your city, you’ll certainly be able to find one within driving distance. Any time you are struggling or need support, you can attend a meeting for free.

The 12-step program is a tried-and-true method for helping addicts through recovery. It has been shown to work, and it has many benefits for those in recovery. You can begin the program in an addiction therapy center, and you can continue it during recovery. Even years into your recovery, you can still fall back on the steps to keep you focused, such as remembering that you need to be guided by a higher power.

At Corebella Health and Wellness Center in Arizona, you can start your road to recovery with a 12-step program, counseling, and other therapies. We are an addiction clinic and wellness clinic offering all types of services to those looking to lead a sober and healthy life. We serve those in Glendale and Tempe. Call us today to learn more about our services or to enroll.

Corebella Health & Wellness

2600 E Southern Ave
Suite E-1 Tempe, Arizona 85282
Office: (480) 409-0322

5700 W Olive Ave,
Suite 107 Glendale, AZ 85302
Office: (602) 492-9595

6565 E Greenway Parkway
Suite 102, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Office: (602) 649-0677

Email: [email protected]
FAX: 877-559-2816