A twelve step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action to aid in the recovery from addiction. While twelve step programs have been adapted for use with a variety of compulsion and behavioral problems, this article will outline its use for Alcoholics Anonymous.
The first twelve step program was devised by Alcoholics Anonymous AA as a recovery tool from alcoholism. The first publication of the Twelve Steps was in 1939 in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous: the Story of How More than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism. The original Twelve Steps published by AA are:
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. 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.
12. 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.” http://www.aa.org/en_pdfs/smf-121_en.pdf
We all, at one time or another, seen AA meetings enacted on television. This method of staying dry has worked for countless individuals. Don’t be too quick to discount its power. If you, or someone you love, have a problem with alcohol dependence, contact A Better Tomorrow, today. Give them a call and let them help you to the road of recovery. You can do it!
If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
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I am an alcoholic and it's been 6 years, 6 months, and 10 days since my last drink. AA has worked for me and a couple of my closest friends. Actually, we met at an AA meeting. You don't know if it will work for you unless you try it. For total acceptance and understanding, find a meeting near you.
ReplyDeleteAA saved my family by helping my Mom to stay sober. She goes to her meetings faithfully and has been sober for close to 5 years.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you first hand that AA works. I've been a member for 7 years. I've seen some come and some go but most stay. It's a wonderful program.
ReplyDeleteAA is a Godsend for it's members and their families. I know many people who have benefited from the program. Their success rate is phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteI met my husband at an AA meeting. Everyone we both knew told us it was a bad idea. That was 42 years ago. We've both been clean the entire time and raised 4 kids to boot. We still go to meetings and probably always will. It's just a part of our lives.
ReplyDeleteAA is a big part of my life. I'm an alcoholic working one day at a time to stay dry. So far it's been 7 months. I never thought I'd make it this far, but with their help I have.
ReplyDeleteI married a guy who has 2 brothers who are alcoholics. They are committed to attending AA meetings and both of them have been doing a wonderful job. They are both really great guys and I'm glad that they are able to keep the disease under control.
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