Medically Reviewed by Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATS
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The 12 Steps and the 12 Traditions are the basis of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). AA is an international fellowship of men and women who want to stop drinking. It was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith. Today, there are more than 2 million AA members around the world.
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The 12 steps provide a framework for recovery. It gives people who want to live a sober life a path to follow. AA members believe that if they work the 12-step program, it will keep them on track and provide them with the structure needed to remain sober.
The 12 Steps are as follows:
The Twelve Steps are for the individual member, while the 12 Traditions are for the 12-step organization.
The Twelve Traditions provide practical and spiritual guidelines for governing the organization. The traditions are used by AA and ensure that the resource is free, available, and a haven for those who need it.
The 12 AA Traditions are as follows:
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The 12 Steps and 12 Traditions serve as a guide for recovering addicts. They're frameworks that help people find hope and strength during their recovery.
With the 12 Steps and Traditions, people acknowledge their problems, seek help, and practice healthier behaviors.
AA newcomers are suggested to attend 90 meetings in 90 days. They’ll have a sponsor who will help them and encourage them to attend these meetings. This timeline isn’t the same for everyone. Others will take longer to get sober.
Experts have varying opinions regarding whether the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions are effective. Some believe that the 12 Steps and 12 traditions are helpful, while others think they aren’t effective at all.
Remember that the effectiveness of the 12 Step Program lies in you. Your willingness to follow the program will determine your success. If you’re ready to change, there’s a higher chance you’ll succeed.
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Integrating the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions into your recovery offers a variety of benefits.
These include:
12-step meetings allow people to share their experiences and recovery journeys. Attendees learn about others’ experiences and use what they can from those stories.
It’s difficult for people who don't have alcohol use disorder (AUD) to understand the challenges it brings. AA brings people together who share the same struggles and understand how you feel.
People with AUD deal with judgment from friends, family, and society. AA offers a judgment-free environment where you can speak honestly about your feelings and experiences.
Recovery is difficult and requires a lot of support. For many alcoholics, this support is difficult to come by. AA offers access to guidance and support to those struggling with alcoholism when they need it most.
AA meetings are free to attend. Those who can't afford other recovery programs still have access to a sober and supportive environment.
Here are some key focuses of AA's principles:
Like the twelve steps, the 12 traditions of AA announce that God is the ultimate authority. The 12 traditions also state that the organization’s longstanding focus on anonymity has a spiritual purpose.
Like the 12 steps, the higher power (or God) mentioned in the 12 traditions is not of a specific religion or belief. It's simply a spiritual higher power.
The 12 traditions stress that every AA group must be responsible for its governance.
An AA group can consist of two or three alcoholics wanting to create one. Groups should coordinate for the organization's greater good, and its welfare should always be the primary consideration.
Likewise, AA must stay separate from any political or institutional connections. The 12 traditions also note that AA groups should never go into business. While they can work with hospitals, clinics, and other facilities, they should remain independent.
AA groups must also always be supported by voluntary contributions from members and never charge for their services.
This keeps the AA group free from outside influences and protects the anonymity of its members.
AA services are free to anyone who desires to stop drinking. It doesn't matter where they are on their recovery journey.
AA must remain focused on the single goal of helping alcoholics without judgment. Because of this, AA shouldn’t establish connections or partnerships with organizations or institutions that could impose rules about providing services.
Anonymity is essential to AA’s commitment to helping those struggling with an addiction. It protects the privacy of members and keeps the focus on the twelve steps and traditions.
AA members should never give opinions on social or political issues. However, they can do so outside the group in their personal lives.
As anonymity allows AA to put principles before personalities, it enables all members to remain humble and serve the organization. For almost a century, AA has grown from small groups of people helping others to a global organization.
AA can stay true to its original goal thanks to the principles of the twelve steps and twelve traditions.
AUD is a disease that affects millions of Americans every year. AA's 12 Step Program and 12 Traditions help individuals overcome AUD and live happy, healthy lives. They're a great source of support when dealing with this disease.
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