Meetings What Is a 12-Step Program? 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 spe- cific 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 addictive behaviors such as gambling and overeating.
People dependent on drugs, alcohol or gambling 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.
Do I Need To Attend 12-Step Meetings? 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 self-help pro- grams, 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.
Are All Meetings the Same? No. There are different types of meetings:
Speaker meetings feature a person in recovery telling his or her story of drug,alcohol use or gambling 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. GA meeting are most often of this format.
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). GA meetings are generally closed meetings and in most areas there are fewer GA meetings and not as much variety.
Are the 12-Step Programs Religious? 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.
How Do I Find a Meeting? You can call directory assistance or check the phonebook for Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. Listings for Crystal Meth Anonymous meetings can be found at www.crystalmeth.org. GA meetings can be found at www.gamblersanonymous.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.
Sponsors
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.
What Do Sponsors Do? Sponsors help the newcomer by answering questions and explaining the 12-Step recovery process.
Sponsors agree to be available to listen to their sponsorees’ 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.
How Do I Pick a Sponsor? 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 and/or gambling.
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.
Alternatives to 12-Step Programs
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:
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