Much of modern addiction treatment is built on the disease model of addiction, an ideal presented originally by the group Alcoholics Anonymous, which has been in operation since the 1930s.
Today, addiction professionals recognize the real worth of an ongoing participation in a 12 steps community group as an adjunct to professional addiction treatment. Because of this value, and because the 12 steps provide a good framework for recovery, the 12 steps are often introduced and studied in addiction treatment programs.
The Original 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. 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. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
These original 12 steps have been modified for use in countless self-help organizations, such as narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), and many others.
page last update Aug 05, 2010
