The 12 Steps are a set of principles that originally outlined a course of action for recovery from alcohol addiction, compulsion, and other behavioral issues. They were first implemented by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in 1938 by organization founder Bill W.

Since then, they have been adopted by various other 12-step programs. Although the 12 steps were created for alcohol addiction, they’re applicable for recovery from other drugs. Somewhat spiritual in nature, the steps emphasize:

It’s important to note that the 12 Steps aren’t meant to be a quick fix for addiction. They outline a lifelong journey of recovery. They require honesty, commitment, and a willingness to change while emphasizing personal responsibility and self-awareness for spiritual growth.

Although they emphasize spiritual growth, they aren’t affiliated with any specific religion and can be adapted to fit anyone’s beliefs. The “God” in the 12 Steps does not have to be a religious figure. It is acceptable to keep in mind a higher power, such as nature, or what happens when people gather together to help each other. The first three steps are sometimes considered the most important, but each of the steps is perceived as valuable in the overall journey.

The 12 Steps

The 12 steps are as follows:

• We admitted we were powerless over our addiction and that our lives had become unmanageable. This step involves recognizing the reality of your addiction and your inability to control it on your own.
• We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. This step encourages you to seek help from a higher power, which, depending on your beliefs, can be interpreted in many ways.
• We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. This step involves giving up control and trusting in a higher power to guide your recovery.
• We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. In step 4, you take an honest and complete look at your character, including your strengths and weaknesses.
• We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. This involves confessing your wrongdoings and accepting responsibility for your actions.
• We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. This means being willing to change and open to letting go of negative traits.
• We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. This step involves seeking help from a higher power to help you overcome your flaws.
• We made a list of all the people we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. In step 8, you identify those people who have been hurt by your actions and prepare to make amends.
• We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. In this step, you take action to make amends and repair relationships while also considering the well-being of everyone involved.
• We continued to take personal inventory and, when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. Step 10 involves maintaining self-awareness and taking responsibility for your actions on a continuing basis.
• We 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. This involves deepening your spiritual connection and seeking guidance from a higher power.
• 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. This step involves sharing your experience, strength, and hope with others and living a life guided by the principles of the 12 Steps.

Do the 12 Steps Guarantee Sobriety?

No, the 12 Steps do not “guarantee” sobriety. Since there isn’t any specific, single cause for addiction, there isn’t any single standard treatment. A variety of treatments are usually used, including:

• Medication management
• Counseling
• Individual therapy
• Support groups

Sobriety is a lifelong journey, and it will always be necessary to review the 12 Steps at any time. Some people like to complete the Steps within a given timeline and get them out of the way. But in reality, the Steps will be crucial to your life throughout your sobriety journey.

Twelve-step groups serve as a source of behavior change for many people as a supplement to formal treatment or as a form of continuing care and support after treatment. These groups are easy to find throughout the world and can be a valuable resource in substance abuse recovery.

Newcomers are not required to accept or follow the 12 Steps if they don’t feel willing or able to do so. They are asked to keep an open mind and attend meetings where recovering alcoholics talk about their personal experiences. They’re also encouraged to read the AA literature.

Do You Have to Follow the 12 Steps to Be Sober?

A person doesn’t have to follow the Steps to be sober. But it can be an important addition to the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD), also known as alcoholism. The 12 Steps can provide a gradual and structured process of recovery. It relates to changing behaviors, thoughts, and relationships related to addiction.

In 2020, an analysis by Keith Humphreys, PhD, at Stanford School of Medicine found that AA works because it is based on social communication and cooperation. This makes it ideal for treating other substance addictions. The Stanford study also noted that members provide emotional support along with practical tips on resisting drinking. Most of the studies that measured abstinence found that AA was 60% more effective than other interventions or none at all.

Some people never actually finish the Steps. It’s possible you may want to revisit a Step years after you thought you were through with it. They aren’t meant to be started and completed one by one until a person is “cured.” The Steps are meant to be a guide to a life in recovery, and it’s even expected that they’ll be a consistent part of life.

What Happens When You Finish the 12 Steps?

When a person “finishes” the 12 Steps, it is meant to be a milestone of a significant personal transformation. It is meant to symbolize that a person has acknowledged powerlessness over their addiction, taken responsibility, made amends, and experienced a spiritual awakening. This can lead to a renewed sense of purpose in life and a commitment to helping others in recovery by sharing their story and practicing the principles of the Steps in all aspects of life.

While working through the Steps, it’s important to realize that you never really finish. Even after completing the program, it’s expected that you will continue to repeat them when necessary, which helps you maintain the new skills you learned.

Main Points of Completing the 12 Steps

Completing the steps is not the end. It can mark the beginning of continued sobriety and active participation in recovery.

• Spiritual Growth: Sometimes this is described as a spiritual awakening. It describes finding a higher power or a sense of meaning that helps guide you.
• Responsibility: This is actively taking responsibility for actions by working through the steps and taking ownership of the harm caused by your addiction.
• Making Amends: This means you have identified the people you’ve hurt and made amends for them when possible. The goal is to repair damaged relationships.
• Serving Others: You are encouraged to share your experiences and carry the message of recovery to others to help them with their addiction struggles.
• Continuous Process: Recovery is considered an ongoing process. This idea requires a continued commitment to practicing the Steps in daily life and attending meetings.

Start Your Recovery at Principles Recovery

At Principles Recovery Center in South Florida, we help you break the grip of addiction. To begin, we can help you with a medical detox to rid your body of the substance you’ve been using, whether it’s alcohol or drugs. We can also help with relapse prevention, learning your triggers and how to handle them. Our therapists can help you learn about yourself and the nature of any underlying conditions that make you susceptible to substance use.

Our caring staff of professionals is ready to help you understand and overcome your addiction. Don’t wait. Contact us today.