The 12 Steps Program was created by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to establish guidelines for the best way to overcome an addiction to alcohol and other substances and addictions.

Although the 12 Steps program is based on spiritual principles, many non-religious people have found the program immensely helpful. It emphasizes the presence of God (A Higher Power) as each participant understands him, allowing for different interpretations and religious beliefs.

The 12-step program is a support group for people battling a variety of unhealthy and destructive behaviors, including substance use disorders. It consists of men and women who share experiences, strength and hope with one another. At Netwealth Medical Services: Centre for Addiction Management and Psychological Medicine, we also adapt the steps as one of our core programs while in treatment.

The 12-step program encourage members to adopt a set of guiding principles called the 12 Steps. Following the steps in order has helped people achieve and maintain abstinence from behavioral problems such as substance use disorders, gambling addiction, etc. The bonds formed and lessons learned during these meetings can last a lifetime.

The 12 Steps

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand God.
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 God 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 God, praying only for the knowledge of God’s 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 other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Through the 12 Steps, our patients learn how to cope with addiction, avoid triggers and live sober lives. Support group members admit their powerlessness over addiction, examine past mistakes and make amends with those they have wronged. In each meeting, they share support and learn ways to apply the 12-step principles to their daily lives.

The goal is to help members experience a spiritual awakening, a phrase used by Alcoholics Anonymous to describe the personality change required to overcome addiction.

To find out more about our outpatient drug rehabilitation and psychological intervention program and how it can benefit you or a loved one please contact us today by clicking the button below.