Twelve-step programs have been used to help millions of individuals overcome their struggles with substance misuse for nearly 90 years, ever since the establishment of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935.1 These programs comprise community-based groups that provide a safe, confidential space for those seeking recovery to receive support and encouragement from others who share similar experiences and goals. Although they are tailored to various substances and certain individuals, they share most of the same steps, traditions, and core principles in common.
At Guardian Recovery, we incorporate 12-Step programs into our treatment. The approach helps clients accept the reality that addiction has overpowered their will and prompts them to turn themselves over to the recovery process. This encourages them to take a more proactive part in their recovery through personal reflection and growth, as well as to focus on their emotional and spiritual needs. This integration allows our clients to use the time-tested and renowned 12-Step model as a roadmap toward a lasting, substance-free life while simultaneously participating in formal, evidence-based treatments.
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Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the oldest and most well-known 12-Step program. The model places an emphasis on surrendering to a higher power, personal responsibility, accountability, and making amends whenever possible. AA uses the “Big Book” as its primary text.
The 12 Steps include:
- Admit we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives have become unmanageable.
- Come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him.
- Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Become entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly ask Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Make a list of all persons we have harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all.
- Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continue to take personal inventory and when we are wrong promptly admit it.
- Seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand 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 try to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Through the use of the 12 Steps, attendance of regular meetings, sponsorship, and the support of other members in recovery, AA has helped millions of people globally overcome active alcohol misuse and reclaim their lives. Ultimately, the program’s success hinges on providing a supportive, stable community and practical tools for managing alcohol use disorders.
AA has also established “The Twelve Traditions,” which provide guidelines for relationships between the groups, members, the global fellowship, and society at large.
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Narcotics Anonymous
Established in 1953, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) was founded on the principles of AA, and it also provides a forum for those with substance use issues to seek support from others to help them achieve and maintain a path to recovery.2 While NA is tailored for those struggling with drug addiction, especially to heroin and opioids, those who’ve engaged in alcohol misuse and other substances are welcome. NA is also slightly different in that the fellowship encourages, but does not mandate, individuals to explore spiritually or their belief in a higher power if they so choose.
As such, the language in NA’s Step 3 is a bit different than for AA:
AA: Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to God as we understand Him.
NA: Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of a Power greater than ourselves.
Instead of the “Big Book”, NA uses a resource called the “Basic Text.” Other than these differences, NA follows a nearly identical 12-Step program as AA that promotes accountability, self-reflection, and personal growth. By attending NA meetings and connecting with others who’ve had similar experiences, members are provided with the encouragement and tools they need to help them stay committed to their recovery journey.
Cocaine Anonymous
Cocaine Anonymous (CA) was not established until 1982, making it young relative to the other two 12-Step programs.3 Although the nature and language of CA are specifically geared toward struggling with cocaine misuse, it is a peer support group that uses the same model and steps as AA, and it states that anyone with a drug or alcohol problem is welcome. Like the other two models, CA promotes abstinence and personal growth as vital components of recovery.
Al-Anon & Nar-Anon
Al-Anon, founded in 1951, is different from the previous three 12-Step programs in that it is designed for the loved ones of individuals struggling with alcohol use disorder.4 By attending these safe and confidential meetings, friends and family can share experiences with others in similar situations, cultivate hope and empathy, and learn effective strategies for coping with the challenges associated with being close to someone with addiction. Al-Anon encourages members to develop a deep understanding of the nature of addiction and learn healthy ways to support their loved one in whatever stage they are at in their journey.
Nar-Anon, which began in 1971, uses the same basic core principles of AA and NA and, like the latter, is more focused on topics related to drug misuse than alcoholism.5 Like Al-Anon, however, it is geared toward the friends and families of those struggling with addiction. Those participating in Al-Anon and Nar-Anon are required to practice the 12 Steps themselves, and they are adopted almost word for word from AA.
Other 12-Step Programs
There are several other 12-step programs similar to these that focus on various substances and affected individuals.
These include:
- Alateen (as part of Al-Anon Family Groups)
- Narateen (as part of Nar-Anon Family Groups)
- Heroin Anonymous
- Crystal Meth Anonymous
- Nicotine Anonymous
Other 12-Step programs include those related to behavioral addictions, such as food, sex, and gambling. You can visit 12 Step.org for a much more exhaustive list.
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Are You Looking For Help & Support For Your Addiction?
If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, 12-Step programs can offer excellent sources of support, guidance, and encouragement. However, they do not take the place of traditional therapy and other forms of evidence-based treatment. They should instead be used as part of a comprehensive approach.
At Guardian Recovery, we offer group support using the 12-Step model, which is carefully integrated into our multiple levels of care, which include detox, resident/inpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), traditional outpatient treatment, aftercare, and more.
Reach out to us today for a free, no-obligation health insurance benefits check and learn more about our streamlined admissions process and personalized treatment plans. We are here to help you or your loved one take the first step on your recovery journey.
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Disclaimer: Does not guarantee specific treatment outcomes, as individual results may vary. Our services are not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis; please consult a qualified healthcare provider for such matters.
- Alcoholics Anonymous. (2024). AA.org.
- Narcotics Anonymous. (2024). NA.org.
- Cocaine Anonymous. (2024). CA.org.
- Al-Anon. (n.d.). Al-Anon.org..
- Nar-Anon. (2021). Nar-Anon.org.
