Whether you know someone who has gone through it or seen it in a movie, you likely have heard of the 12-step program. It’s a widely recognized set of principles aimed at helping individuals overcome addiction or compulsive behaviors. Initially developed by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in the 1930s, the 12 steps have been adapted into programs for a range of addictions, including drug abuse, gambling, and overeating, among others.
The 12-step program is one of the most popular and practical approaches to addiction recovery in the U.S. While the 12 steps help people overcome addiction, they also set the foundation for a better, fuller, and more vibrant life. You can find 12-step recovery programs at various substance abuse facilities in Utah. While the core steps are the same, the focus can differ from facility to facility.
Our LDS drug treatment centers use the 12-step program with a deep focus on Christian-based principles, incorporating God into every step. Here are the 12 steps to recovery.
- Admit you are powerless over alcohol and/or drugs, that your life has become unmanageable.
- Come to believe that a power greater than yourself could restore you to sanity.
- Surrender yourself to God.
- Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself.
- Admit to God, yourself, and another human being the exact nature of your wrongdoing.
- Be entirely ready to have God remove all your character weaknesses.
- Ask God to remove your shortcomings.
- Write down a list of all the people you have harmed and be willing to make restitution to them.
- Make direct restitution to as many people you have harmed as possible.
- Continuously take personal inventory, and when you are wrong, promptly admit it.
- Seek the Lord’s will through prayer and meditation, and have the power to carry it out.
- After having a spiritual awakening through the Atonement of Jesus Christ as a result of taking these steps, share this message with others and practice these principles in all you do.
Even though our Christian-based rehabilitation centers focus on the 12 steps around God, you do not have to be a particular religion or even religious to follow the 12 steps and have a successful recovery. The 12 steps can be tailored more toward spirituality in general or even toward a general higher power as something beyond yourself.
The 12-step program works for people of all walks of life and beliefs. It can greatly benefit anyone with a desire to recover and change.
What to Expect From a 12-Step Program
Attending several weekly meetings is helpful in the early stages of recovery. As your recovery progresses, the frequency of your attendance may naturally adjust. At a rehabilitation center, your meetings and group therapy will likely be mandatory.
While each group and center may have its unique structure, most meetings generally follow a format led by a member, which typically includes:
- Opening prayer to center the group
- Introductions, where members acknowledge their struggles with addiction
- Readings from the group’s literature, scriptures, the 12 steps, or other program materials
- Discussion of a specific topic, speaker, or reading
- Sharing personal stories, experiences, or challenges
- Closing meditation or prayer to end on a reflective note
Sharing during meetings is entirely voluntary, and participants must listen with respect and confidentiality. Members are not supposed to offer advice or discuss anything shared outside the meeting.
The Magic of the 12-Step Program
The 12-step program is a gradual process to sobriety that takes an individual on an enlightening journey of self-discovery, growth, peer support, encouragement, accountability, self-worth, faith, and spirituality. The peer-based structure helps attendees feel they are not alone and are among others who know what they are going through. This helps create accountability, friendship, and support. Each step builds a foundation for the next and carries you through your recovery journey at an optimal pace for long-term sobriety.
The road to recovery takes work, but is well worth it. James 5:15-16 in the Bible says, “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him…Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.” We believe that to our core, and we know the same is true about recovery. You won’t just be enduring; you will be changing, growing, and learning to enjoy life to its fullest. You are not meant to endure it alone, and the 12-step program lays the foundation for a supportive and uplifting environment to propel you along your recovery with impact.