Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
Medically Reviewed by Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATS
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“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.”
Step 12 is the last step of the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program. It requires you to have a spiritual awakening as a result of completing the previous 11 steps.
In the final step, you will carry on the organization's message to help others recover from alcohol addiction. Many people find the 12th step to be one of the most challenging. This is because it forces them to publicly acknowledge their struggles with alcohol.
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There are three general purposes of step 12:
In step 12, many people feel they've had a spiritual awakening. They'll acknowledge a power greater than themselves, make amends, and learn their role in managing their addiction. You should be proud of your accomplishments on step 12, but it's important to remember that recovery is a lifelong process.
By the twelfth step, you understand that additional treatment might be necessary for you to retain sobriety. You may also need continued support from AA members and loved ones. Many use the 12 steps for the rest of their life.
Every day, you’ll conduct a personal inventory and put into practice what you’ve learned in the previous steps. You’re open to the need for ongoing treatment, and you accept that the work of the 12 steps doesn’t end. The goal is to practice the 12 principles daily and develop a long-term commitment to staying sober.
The 12th step is about carrying the message of recovery to other people with alcoholism. You’ll share what the steps in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Al-Anon offer to those struggling with addiction.
In addition to helping others, you build your self-esteem and positively contribute to the recovery community. This is a great opportunity to meet new people and enjoy fulfilling experiences with others.
Carrying the message of AA to others helps you:
Spiritual awakening is an important part of the 12 steps. You know you’ve had a spiritual awakening when:
You've learned how to help yourself throughout your journey and recovery process; now it's time to start helping others. You'll know you've had a spiritual awakening when you're comfortable enough to reach out to others and provide support.
Whether it’s a loving God, higher power, or something else, you’ve accepted a higher power in your life and understand its role. In a spiritual awakening, you recognize and accept a greater power, better understand yourself, and are truly humble and self-aware.
Self-introspection is an important part of mental health and recovery. To live a sober life, you must recognize and know how to cope with your triggers. Together with your higher power, you move toward sobriety and serenity.
Spiritual awakening brings a sense of peace and well-being. You'll begin to appreciate how far you’ve come and what you’ve achieved by putting spiritual principles into action.
You are ready to accept the good things in your life now that you're free from cravings. However, you still recognize there is work to do.
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There are varying opinions regarding the effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12-step model.
According to an analysis from the Stanford School of Medicine researchers, support groups such as AA are almost always more effective than psychotherapy alone for achieving sobriety. AA also led to a reduction in healthcare costs.
This analysis included the evaluation of 35 existing studies that involved more than 10,000 participants. The majority of the studies showed AA produced a significantly better outcome for people with AUD. In one case, the effective rate was 60 percent.
The researchers believe AA is effective because it has a foundation for social interaction. Members provide emotional support to one another on a peer-to-peer level.
Despite the results of this analysis, many believe that 12-step programs are not as effective as they might seem. They think getting a true success rate is impossible because many people who relapse do not report their experience. These people believe the 12-step success rate is probably closer to 5 to 10 percent.
However, both AA proponents and detractors agree that the success people experience is due to the camaraderie of the group. Detractors understand that for some people, 12-step programs are enough to change, perhaps even permanently. This is because AA provides:
Chances are, most people familiar with recovery and sober living will agree that 12-step programs aren’t harmful. They don’t work for everyone, but the twelve steps and twelve traditions provide many with spiritual growth and peace of mind.
Other benefits of the 12-step program include:
When deciding if AA or another 12-step program is right for you, knowing that every group has a different dynamic is important. Not all groups are a good fit for everyone.
If you’ve tried attending a 12-step meeting and it didn’t feel right, try a different meeting. It's also important to remember that everyone responds to treatment differently.
Not everyone is ready for treatment. And even if they are ready to live a sober life, AA might not be the right path for them. Despite its detractors, for many, AA and other 12-step programs work.
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Working the 12 steps does not eliminate all risks of relapse. Many people have worked their way through the steps multiple times and still need treatment.
Treatment options include:
There's nothing wrong with feeling lost and confused, even after working through the 12 steps. If you feel that something is derailing you from sobriety, it’s time to seek treatment.
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