An overview of the 12-Step format

The most commonly used and oldest form of substance addiction rehab is the 12-Step drug treatment. The onset of the 12-Step program occurred over 70 years ago in 1939 when the book “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism” was published and released by AA. Initially, it was a spiritually oriented set of principles that outline a plan for overcoming and recovering from behavioral issues such as addiction and compulsive behavior.

According to the APA (American Psychological Association), there are six guidelines or principles that the 12-Step program is based on including:

• the individual’s inability to control their addiction (in this case drugs) as well as their compulsive addictive behavior
• the individual can only gain strength from a “higher power”
• with the help of an experienced member, referred to as a sponsor (recovering alcoholic), the individual is able to examine those errors they have made in the past
• the individual makes their amends for these past errors
• the individual learns a new behavioral code in order to live a new life
• the individual is beckoned to help others suffering with the same addictive behavior and compulsions that they are

Most importantly, in order to understand if the 12-Step drug treatment is appropriate for you, it is necessary to understand the above and base your rehab and recovery on these spiritual guidelines.

The program today

The two most recognized support group for recovering alcoholics and AA while NA (Narcotics Anonymous) is the support groups for those recovering addicts who have undergone a 12-step drug treatment program. The philosophy of abstinence is the basis or the foundation of the 12-Steps and today this is incorporated into a number of different addiction rehab facilities regardless of what their treatment and recovery format entails. In other words, it can be used in both in-patient and out-patient rehab programs.

The benefits of the 12-Step format

One of the first benefits of the 12-Step drug treatment program is that most individuals who jump right into the program replace their compulsion and obsession with drugs (or alcohol if it is an AA group). They may start by attending meetings at first and over time increase their commitment to the program until they have become totally immersed in it. Granted, these programs can be somewhat intimidating at first, but the individual eventually realizes that these programs are run by people who truly care about them and their well-being.

The Delray Recovery Center is here to help you

Our addiction rehab center offers 12-Step drug treatment programs for those individuals who feel that this will address their unique, personal needs. Our caring specialists can show you how our 5-Phase Step Down Model and Strength to Change programs can incorporate the 12-Step modality into these formats to help you recover successfully. If you or a loved one would like more information on our facility and our programs, please call the Delray Recovery Center today.