In the 1930s, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was founded by two men who could not cope with their own alcoholism through psychiatry or medicine. They found a number of specific principles helped people overcome their alcohol dependence. They formed AA to introduce people who were dependent on alcohol to these self-help principles. The AA concepts have been adapted to stimulant and other drug addictions (for example, Crystal Meth Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous [NA], and Cocaine Anonymous) and to compulsive behaviors such as gambling and overeating
People dependent on drugs or alcohol have found that others who also are dependent can provide enormous support and help to one another. For this reason, these groups are called fellowships, where participants show concern and support for one another through sharing and understanding.
If treatment in this program is going to work for you, it is essential to establish a network of support for your recovery. Attending treatment sessions without going to 12-Step meetings may produce a temporary effect. But without involvement in mutual-help programs, it is very unlikely that you will successfully recover. Clients in these programs should attend three 12-Step meetings per week during their treatment involvement. Many successfully abstinent people go to 90 meetings in 90 days. The more you participate in treatment and 12-Step meetings, the greater your chance for recovery
No. There are different types of meetings:
● Speaker meetings feature a person in recovery telling his or her story of drug and alcohol use and recovery.
● Topic meetings have a discussion on a specific topic such as fellowship, honesty, acceptance, or patience. Everyone is given a chance to talk, but no one is forced.
● Step/Tradition meetings are special meetings where the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions are discussed.
● Book study meetings focus on reading a chapter from the main text of the 12-Step group. (For AA, this is the Big Book; for NA, the Basic Text.) Book study meetings often focus on someone’s experience or a recovery-related topic.
● Depending on where you live, there may be language-specific meetings, gender-specific meetings, open meetings, meetings based on participants’ sexual orientation, and meetings for people who also have a mental disorder (“double trouble” Dual Recovery Anonymous meetings).
No. None of the 12-Step programs are religious, but spiritual growth is considered a part of recovery. Spiritual choices are very personal and individual. Each person decides for himself or herself what the term “higher power” means. Both nonreligious and religious people can find value and support in 12-Step programs.
You can call directory assistance or check the phonebook for Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, or Narcotics Anonymous. Listings for Crystal Meth Anonymous meetings can be found at https://crystalmeth.org. You can call the numbers available from the Web site and speak to someone who can tell you when and where meetings are scheduled. At meetings, directories are available that list meetings by city, street address, and meeting time and include information about the meeting (for example, speaker, step study, nonsmoking, men’s, or women’s). Another way to find a good meeting is to ask someone who goes to 12-Step meetings
The first few weeks and months of recovery are frustrating. Many things happen that are confusing and frightening. During this difficult period, there are many times when people in recovery need to talk about problems and fears. A sponsor helps guide a newcomer through this process.
● Sponsors help the newcomer by answering questions and explaining the 12-Step recovery process.
● Sponsors agree to be available to listen to their sponsors’ difficulties and frustrations and to share their insights and solutions.
● Sponsors provide guidance and help address problems their sponsorees are having. This advice comes from their personal experiences with long-term abstinence.
● Sponsors are people with whom addiction-related secrets and guilt feelings can be shared easily. They agree to keep these secrets confidential and to protect the newcomer’s anonymity.
● Sponsors warn their sponsorees when they get off the path of recovery. Sponsors often are the first people to know when their sponsorees experience a slip or relapse. So, sponsors often push their sponsorees to attend more meetings or get help for problems.
● Sponsors help their sponsorees work through the 12 Steps.
The process of choosing a sponsor is easy. The newcomer simply asks someone to be his or her sponsor. But you need to think carefully about whom you will ask to sponsor you. Most people select a sponsor who seems to be living a healthy and responsible life, the kind of life a person in recovery would want to lead.
Some general guidelines for selecting a sponsor include the following:
● A sponsor should have several years of abstinence from all mood-altering drugs.
● A sponsor should have a healthful lifestyle and not be struggling with major problems or addiction.
● A sponsor should be an active and regular participant in 12-Step meetings. Also, a sponsor should be someone who actively “works” the 12 Steps.
● A sponsor should be someone to whom you can relate. You may not always agree with your sponsor, but you need to be able to respect your sponsor.
● A sponsor should be someone you would not become romantically interested in.
There are alternatives to 12-Step groups, many of which are not based on the concept of a higher power. Although the philosophies of these groups differ, most offer a
mutual-help approach that focuses on personal responsibility, personal empowerment, and strength through an abstinent social network. Here are a few notable alternatives to 12-Step groups:
● Women for Sobriety (http://womenforsobriety.org) helps women overcome alcohol dependence through emotional and spiritual growth.
● Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons and Significant Others (JACS) (https://jewishboard.org/listing/jewish-alcoholics-chemically -dependent-persons-and-significant-others-jacs) helps people explore recovery in a nurturing Jewish environment.
● SMART Recovery (www.smartrecovery.org) is a cognitive–behavioral group approach that focuses on self-reliance, problemsolving, coping strategies, and a balanced lifestyle.
● Secular Organizations for Sobriety (www.sossobriety.org) maintains that sobriety is a separate issue from religion or spirituality and credits the individual for achieving and maintaining sobriety.
● Community-based spiritual fellowships, which take place in churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other spiritually focused settings, often help people clarify their values and change their lives.
● Have you ever been to a 12-Step meeting? If so, what was your experience?
● Have you attended any other types of recovery meetings (such as those listed above)?
● Do you plan to attend any 12-Step meetings? Where? When?
● How might you make use of 12-Step meetings to stop using?
● Are there alternatives to 12-Step meetings that you might consider attending?