Twelve-step program

As a recovering addict, you know how difficult it is to get clean and sober. Whether you struggled with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, going through the detox process and rehab is emotionally and physically draining. Because of this, once you are sober, you must find tools to help you stay clean and sober. One of the most effective tools you can choose is participation in a support group. Finding a group that you feel comfortable with can be the difference between staying on the wagon or falling off.

Your support group doesn’t have to be associated with a 12-step program. Instead, it simply needs to be a group of people who had the similar struggles to yours. Your rehab facility may be able to help you find a group that will work well for you.

You may want to consider finding a group that offers support for your family members as well. A great example is Ala-Non and Ala-Teen – support groups for spouses and children. Your family members will benefit from a greater understanding of how addiction and recovery works.

Whatever you choose, remember how important support can be. Within your support group, you will find people who you can call in times of crisis. They can help you deal with the stresses of recovery. Think of your support group as your life line network. It is only by developing a solid network of support that you will have the help you need to stay clean and sober.

Addiction–An Equal Opportunity Abuser

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Addiction is completely democratic. It does not discriminate by age group, sexual identity, race, creed, culture or economic status. An addict can be the teenager doing bongs in the backyard, the wino sleeping under the railroad tracks, or the nice little old lady scamming doctors for pills. It can be a lawyer, a mom or a professional athlete. Addiction effects every area of our society.

The good news is, recovery is also democratic. It is available for the teenager, the wino, the little old lady and the rest. Today there are highly successful Twelve Step recovery programs for alcoholics, drug addicts, and all sorts of other addictions–sex, gambling, shopping, you name it.

The first of these programs was Alcoholics Anonymous, and it was founded in 1935 by two drunks–a doctor and a businessman– who discovered that they could stay sober if they shared honestly about their problems, called on a Power greater than themselves to help them, and reached out to other suffering alcoholics.

Through trial and error, they set down guidelines for recovery which seemed to work for everyone who sincerely applied them. These became the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, and versions of the same are used in many Anonymous programs. The steps involve much more than abstinence from drinking. They are a method of character development which involves making peace with one’s past, and living for a cause greater than yourself, one day at a time.

After decades of failure by science and medicine to find a cure for alcoholism, it turned out that one drunk talking to another drunk was ultimately the most effective key to changing problem behavior. From these humble beginnings, there are now millions of members of Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in over 60 countries worldwide. The sister programs, Narcotics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, etc., are also growing rapidly and bringing hope to people everywhere, because they no longer have to face their problems alone.

Why Support Is A Part of Recovery

Addiction–An Equal Opportunity Abuser

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