Do I Need 12-Step Program for Alcohol?

While watching movies or television, especially during the past decade, you’ve likely seen a 12-step program depicted onscreen. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) popularized this widespread support group for addiction, and it has seen massive success in helping people from all walks of life stay sober. However, there is a lot of confusion about the 12 steps and how they help with addiction. Learning more about 12-step programs for alcohol is a good idea, especially if you or someone you care about needs one.

If a loved one has been struggling with alcohol use, a 12-step treatment program could help them break free from the disease of addiction. At Fort Behavioral Health, our addiction specialists give clients the tools to stay sober even after treatment. We offer an on-site 12-step program so that our clients can receive the nonjudgmental support of their peers. Together with our counseling and therapy programs and effective detox and aftercare, 12-step treatment can be a significant part of a thorough recovery program. Contact us at 844.332.1807 if you need addiction treatment in Fort Worth.

What Is a 12-Step Program for Alcohol?

The 12-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction. The 12-step program began with Alcoholics Anonymous. It is adaptable, and recovery centers may use it differently, depending on the type of treatment.

What Are the 12 Steps?

The 12 steps are a series of guiding principles designed to help people in recovery overcome their addiction and address any underlying issues that may have contributed to it. The steps are a journey, and each step requires individuals to take specific actions to progress in their recovery. Here are the steps as defined by Alcoholics Anonymous:

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. We believed that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. We decided to turn our will and lives to God’s care as we understood Him.
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. We admitted to God, ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. We made a list of persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when doing so would injure them or others.
10. We continued to take personal inventory and, when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
11. 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.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening due to these steps, we carried this message to alcoholics.

While the language of the 12 steps is religious, many groups define the higher power or God as any concept that fits each individual’s ideas regarding spirituality. One does not need to subscribe to any particular religion to participate in a 12-step program.

How to Tell If You Need a 12-Step Program

When trying to determine whether or not you need to begin a 12-step program for alcohol, there are several questions you can ask yourself:

• Have you ever felt like you need to cut down on your drinking?
• Are you drinking more than usual?
• Has drinking caused negative consequences in relationships or other areas of life, such as work or school?
• Are there any health issues that have been caused by drinking?
• Have loved ones expressed concern for your well-being?
• Are you experiencing cravings for alcohol?
• Have you ever put yourself at risk while drinking, such as by driving while intoxicated?

Answering yes to more than one of these questions can indicate the need for support from a 12-step program.

Join a 12-Step Program in Texas at Fort Behavioral Health

If you have any questions about our 12-step program or any other treatment we offer, we encourage you to contact our admissions team. We believe that no one is beyond help, and every client who walks through our doors has a chance to break free from addiction. To start the journey towards recovery, call us at 844.332.1807 or fill out our online form.