Many individuals are familiar with some 12-step programs, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. However, the 12 steps are utilized in many drug rehab programs and early self-help support through treatment. Individuals who participate in self-help groups develop a stronger sense of self and are better able to remain sober and have fewer “slips” than those who attend treatment alone.

To learn more about the power of the 12 steps used in drug rehab, speak with a medical professional at Atlanta Recovery Place today. Atlanta Recovery Center is a Georgia drug and alcohol rehab that can help you overcome addiction.

What is a 12-Step Program?

A 12-step program is a combination of a self-help and support group. Individuals in 12-step programs focus on their journey and progress through the 12 steps while offering different levels of support based on their own gains.

Individuals must concentrate on their personal growth and be supported by a peer mentor who has similarly gone through the recovery process and is working through their own 12 steps. They are able to help and support others by sharing their story and lending a listening ear during an anonymous group meeting. Over time, as individuals move through the 12 steps used in drug rehab, they can mentor others and provide more intensive and individualized support.

What Was the First 12-Step Program?

Alcoholics Anonymous, the first 12-step self-help program, has its roots all the way back to the years following the Great Depression. According to the AA’s Frequently Asked Questions, a businessman who had just moved to Ohio found that he was better able to stay sober when he was supporting those around him with their own addiction. After teaming up with a doctor, who he himself helped through recovery, they printed a book called Alcoholics Anonymous in 1939, and thus the movement was created.

Over the years, the 12-step program has been updated and amended to address the changing times, but ideally, they fall back on the principles of self-help and the support of others.

Are 12-Step Programs Helpful?

Many individuals struggle to see the immediate value in a 12-step program because they are not ready for the reflection that this type of program requires. However, 12-step programs can be helpful to those who are prepared for change, or they would not have been around for the last 80 years. 

12-step programs provide a safe and anonymous space for individuals to share their personal journeys, wins, and setbacks. Individuals can be mentored and mentor others, giving back to those in need, like time was given to them to support their progress.

Additionally, medical research has proven that individuals that attend self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous following rigorous inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment are more likely to remain sober and experience fewer lapses. 

How Are the 12 Steps Used in Drug Rehab?

In rehab, the 12 steps are used as a progression through acceptance, forgiveness, and giving back. 

The first steps in recovery focus on the idea of acceptance and admitting to themselves, those around them, and a higher power that their use is out of control. Through these steps, individuals must recount their errors and admit the wrongdoing.

The next stage in the 12 steps focuses on forgiveness. Individuals must learn to forgive themselves and request forgiveness from those they have wronged while knowing their actions may not be forgivable to the other person. 

And finally, individuals focus on giving back through the knowledge that they were once supported by individuals who went through the same process. Individuals who move to this last step in the addiction process must continuously take personal inventory of their actions and ask for forgiveness for their wrongdoings. 

Atlanta Recovery Place is a 12 Step Drug Rehab in Georgia.

At Atlanta Recovery Place, we believe in the power of traditional evidence-based 12-step drug programs. We encourage our clients to participate in 12-step programs while in treatment and following treatment through our comprehensive addiction treatment facility. 

We provide clients with various supportive and engaging treatments to encourage self-reflection and growth toward their sobriety goals. Through multiple treatment pathways, individuals can address addiction and mental health goals. Atlanta Recovery Place is a Georgia addiction recovery center. Learn more about our 12-step drug rehab program at Atlanta Recovery Place today.

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