Roughly 89 years ago, two people got together to help each other recover from the disease of addiction. After some trial and error, they eventually determined that there were two key factors that they would have to adhere to if they were going to truly achieve a healthy long-term recovery. One was to work with other people in recovery and two was to adopt a Higher Power greater than themselves. These two men were Bill Wilson and Robert Holbrook Smith, the cofounders of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), and their 12-Step program has gone on to help millions of people and their families recover. Their work has also spawned many other types of 12-Step programs.
The Prevalence of Addiction in the U.S.
Addiction remains a serious and significant problem in the U.S. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “In 2022, 48.7 million people aged 12 or older (or 17.3%) had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 29.5 million who had an alcohol use disorder (AUD), 27.2 million who had a drug use disorder (DUD), and 8.0 million people who had both an AUD and a DUD.”
The good news is that there are many options for recovery for these individuals. Perhaps the most well-known is 12-Step recovery.
Better Understanding 12-Step Recovery
12-Step recovery is a design for living that utilizes twelve specific steps that help an individual maintain long-term sobriety. These steps begin by helping an individual admit that they are powerless over their addiction, then showing them how they can take action to eventually live a life that is free from intoxicating substances.
A big part of 12-Step recovery also has to do with building and maintaining a spiritual life. This often causes many people to balk because they have some sour associations with religion in their past. However, it is important to remember that spirituality and religion can be two separate things. Also, many people get sober using the Twelve Steps without taking on a spiritual life. The key is to use the parts of 12-Step recovery that work best for the individual.
Utilizing the Twelve Steps
It is also important to remember that the Twelve Steps are steps of action. This means that for them to work, one must practice them on a daily basis. Now, this can sound intimidating, but the Steps are actually quite simple and become like second nature if they are truly adopted into a sober way of living.
The Buddha famously said, “There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.” Ultimately, the Twelve Steps are tools that can help an individual who is struggling with addiction tackle both.
What Other Types of 12-Step Programs Are There?
Many people are under the misconception that 12-Step recovery is only for those struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD). This is simply not the case. Yes, A.A. remains the most prominent of the types of 12-Step programs, but it is far from the only one.
There are now many 12-Step programs that focus on all sorts of addictions. For example, when it comes to substance use disorder (SUD) there are programs for opioid use disorder (Narcotics Anonymous) and cocaine addiction (Cocaine Anonymous). There are also programs for behavioral addictions like gambling addiction (Gamblers Anonymous) and overeating (Overeaters Anonymous).
It should also be noted that there are great 12-Step programs for people affected by their loved one’s addictions. These are programs like Al-Anon and Alateen. These types of 12-Step programs can truly help to expand on the reality that addiction is a “family disease.”
Utilizing Other Types of 12-Step Programs With Evidence-Based Modalities
One of the best parts of 12-Step recovery is how versatile it is. The Twelve Steps can be used with virtually any other type of treatment modality, and not only will they not interfere but they can help bolster the efficacy of the treatment.
This includes means, methods, and modalities like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy, nature immersion therapy, art therapy, mindfulness meditation, and yoga therapy. Various types of 12-Step programs also help to reduce the chances of relapse because they keep people connected to others in recovery.
Many people don’t realize just how prevalent relapse is in the U.S. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Current Psychiatry Reports, “Recent estimates from clinical treatment studies suggest that more than two-thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment. For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment.”
Our Primary Purpose at Lantana Recovery
Like 12-Step recovery, our primary purpose at Lantana Recovery is to help those struggling with addiction get their lives back and then some. We do this by offering effective individualized and comprehensive recovery plans that focus on the present moment as well as the long term.
Recovery is all about taking the right steps on the journey of life. But, it is important to remember that the most important step in that journey is the first one. It’s time to take that step. Yes, it’s time to live again.
There are many 12-Step programs beyond Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) for individuals who need help with addiction and other co-occurring disorders. This includes Cocaine Anonymous (C.A.), Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.), Gamblers Anonymous (G.A.), and Al-Anon (just to name a few). The key is to find what works best on an individual basis and stick to it. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the positive path toward recovery. You don’t have to do this alone. For more information about all types of 12-Step recovery programs, please reach out to Lantana Recovery at (866) 997-2870.
