The 12 Steps Programme

The 12 Steps Programme harnesses a set of principles and actions that can guide a person towards recovery from addiction. While originally designed with a religious framework, the steps can be adapted to be non-religious as well.

Here is an overview of the 12 steps, without religious language:

Step 1 - Admitting Powerlessness over Addiction

The first step requires total honesty. It means admitting that you have lost control over your addiction. This means accepting that the addiction has become unmanageable and is negatively impacting your life. It requires acknowledging that willpower alone cannot overcome the addiction.

Step 2 - Coming to Believe Recovery is Possible

The second step involves believing that recovery from addiction is possible for you. This means having hope and optimism that you can reclaim your life and discover a new way of living without relying on addictive behaviours. Even if you have failed before, you need to open your mind to the possibility that recovery can happen.

Step 3 - Making a Decision to Recover

The third step consists of making a firm decision and commitment to recover from your addiction. This means fully choosing recovery as your goal and dedicating yourself to ‘doing whatever it takes’ to achieve freedom from addictive behaviours. It involves taking responsibility for your recovery.

Step 4 - Taking a Personal Inventory

The fourth step requires taking a fearless moral self-assessment. You need to reflect honestly on your behaviours and relationships to identify patterns, understand the impact your addiction has had, and uncover triggers or dysfunctional ways of thinking. This personal inventory builds self-awareness to support your recovery. Some 12 steps practitioners encourage you to write down elements of your life story.

Step 5 - Sharing Your Inner Struggles

The fifth step involves admitting your wrongs and inner struggles to another trustworthy person. By acknowledging your behaviours, errors, and defects openly, you unburden yourself of shame or guilt to someone who can offer objective feedback and support. Honesty and vulnerability become sources of healing.

Step 6 - Becoming Ready for Change

The sixth step consists of achieving willingness and readiness to have your character defects removed. It means recognizing unhelpful behaviours, traits, or thought patterns that contribute to your addiction and becoming motivated to let them go. Change becomes possible.

Step 7 - Seeking Help with Change

The seventh step involves asking for help and support from your higher inner self, from those you trust, and from the community to make the needed changes. By being humble enough to open yourself to guidance, you create space for breakthroughs.

Step 8 - Creating a List of People Harmed 

The eighth step requires making a list of all persons you have harmed due to your addiction and becoming willing to make amends to them. This supports you in taking responsibility for the pain you have caused others.

Step 9 - Making Direct Amends

The ninth step involves making direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when doing so would injure them or others. It requires taking actions to repair harm, to apologise, or to correct wrongs - without expectations.

Step 10 - Continuing Personal Inventory

The tenth step consists of continuing to take personal inventory and immediately admitting when you are wrong. By consistently monitoring your behaviours, feelings, and motives, you sustain awareness and accountability.

Step 11 - Developing Conscious Contact

The eleventh step involves seeking to enhance your consciousness of your inner self, the world around you, and living purposefully. Meditation, mindfulness, or contemplation can cultivate peace of mind and inner wisdom.

Step 12 - Practicing These Principles

The twelfth step entails practicing the principles learned in all your affairs and carrying this message to others still suffering from addiction. Applying what you have learned results in ongoing growth. Helping others perpetuates the cycle of healing.

In summary, the 12 steps journey guides a person from admitting powerlessness over addiction into taking responsibility for recovery. With commitment, humility, and perseverance, sustained freedom from addiction becomes possible. The process fosters self-awareness, community support, and a new way of living.

Research and evidence

Research on the efficacy of the 12-step programme has been mixed. Some studies have found that 12-step programmes are effective in helping people achieve and maintain abstinence from alcohol and drugs. Other studies have found that 12-step programmes are no more effective than other types of addiction treatment.

There are multiple studies on the subject, but this evidence-based one from February 2021 is among the easiest to read. Link here  

It is important to note that the 12-step programme is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some people find the 12-step programme to be very helpful, while others do not. There are many other types of addiction treatment available, and it is important to find a treatment program that is right for you.