The AA 12 Steps

The AA 12 steps are a very popular program for alcoholics who want to stop drinking. If you have a drinking program, you should consider joining a 12 step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous. (There are 12 step groups for people with other addictions, such as Narcotics Anonymous, available as well).

The Steps

A 12 step program is based on 12 simple steps. The AA 12 steps are as follows:

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 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 others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

The steps require that you be accountable for your behavior while you were drinking and admit the harm you may have done to others and be willing to make amends. You must continue to accept responsibility for your behavior and to promptly admit it when you are wrong. By taking responsibility for your behavior, you can begin to gain control over your life again.

As you can see, AA has a strong spiritual component. It is a non-denominational program, however, and people of all faiths can attend. AA makes references to God but the individual may interpret that however they like (hence the term “God as we understood Him” used in the steps). If you do not consider yourself a religious person, you should not be put off by the spiritual component of AA. You can substitute “Higher Self” or “Higher Power” or whatever words you like in place of “God.”

By attending a 12 step program, you can greatly improve your chances of recovery. A 12 step program is not the only treatment program available, however, and may not be sufficient for you on its own.

Your Complete Recovery Program

The AA 12 steps do not limit you to those steps. You are free to seek other assistance as needed while following the steps.

The first thing you should do is be assessed by a professional to see what level of care you need. Depending on the severity of your drinking problem, you may require inpatient or intensive outpatient care. On the other hand, a self-help group like a 12 step program may be all you need. Find out from a professional.

Most treatment programs will include AA 12 steps programs as part of their complete program. You will be encouraged to continue attending AA after completing your other treatment program. 

How to Find AA 12 Steps Programs

To locate AA programs in your area, simply check out your local yellow pages. Look up “Alcoholics Anonymous.” 

More than the AA 12 steps on our main 12 step program of AA page

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