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Across the United Kingdom, drug and alcohol addictions remain extremely problematic.
Impairing the lives of millions of people, treatment is required to ensure that the steps to addiction recovery can be completed. However, a significant number of people attempt to recover from a drug or alcohol addiction by simply eliminating substances from their lives.
Although abstaining from drugs and alcohol assists the addiction recovery process, addiction recovery is much more complicated than many believe. Recovering from an addiction, be it to drugs or alcohol, takes time and is a life-long commitment.
If you are struggling with addiction and find yourself questioning, “what are the steps to addiction recovery?”, we have shared a wealth of information to support you here.
What Is The 12-Step Programme Towards Recovery?
Ensuring that addiction recovery can be maintained, numerous recovery programmes have been created. Among said programmes is the 12-step addiction recovery programme.
Defined as a programme that operates when a recovered alcoholic shares their experience with alcohol and sobriety with others, the 12-step programme towards recovery helps those struggling with addictions achieve sobriety.
Created by Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935, studies show that the 12-step programme towards recovery is 20% more effective than other treatment programmes.
Proven to help individuals from all walks of life maximise their recovery potential, organisations worldwide have since adopted and adapted the steps to support substance addictions, emotional disorders, and behavioural addictions.
The 12-Steps To Addiction Recovery
Encountered upon attending support groups, the 12-steps to addiction recovery presented by Alcoholics Anonymous can be found below.
Step 1. Admitting powerlessness over substances and confessing that life has become unmanageable
Step 2. Believing that a power greater than oneself can restore sanity
Step 3. Making a decision to turn will and life over to the care of God
Step 4. Making a searching and fearless moral inventory of oneself
Step 5. Admitting to the higher power, oneself and another human being the exact nature of the wrongdoings
Step 6. Being ready to remove all defects of character and addiction
Step 7. Humbly asked Him to remove shortcomings
Step 8. Making a list of all persons harmed and being willing to make amends for those wrongs
Step 9. Making direct amends to people wherever possible, except when doing so would injure them
Step 10. Continuing personal inventory and promptly admitting when wrong
Step 11. Seeking enlightenment through prayer and meditation to improve conscious contact with God as he is understood, praying only for knowledge of His will and the power to carry that out
Step 12. Carrying this message to alcoholics and practice these principles in all affairs
The Aim Of The 12-Step Programme Towards Recovery
Essentially guidelines to follow, the overall aim of the 12-step programme towards recovery is to ensure that those affected by addictions have the support and assistance they need to achieve and maintain sobriety.
As each step is encountered throughout the programme, those in recovery are encouraged to understand how their addiction has impaired their life. With appropriate support, they can also determine the cause of addiction and navigate negative behaviours associated with addiction.
Although uncovering these factors and behaviours can be daunting, doing so enables many to acknowledge what needs to change if they are to recover from their addiction.
Furthermore, the 12-step programme towards recovery aims to repair relationships that may have broken down as a result of an addiction.
Additional Steps Towards Addiction Recovery
When questioning “what are the steps to addiction recovery?” it is worth noting that in addition to the 12-step programme created by Alcoholics Anonymous, several other steps to addiction recovery have been devised. In fact, many rehabs and support groups adopt a four, five and six-step approach to addiction recovery.
For example, four-step addiction recovery programmes include treatment, early abstinence, maintaining abstinence and advanced recovery.
Other four-step programmes, such as the one employed by SMART Recovery, includes building and maintaining motivation, coping with urges, managing thoughts, feelings and behaviours and living a balanced life.
Meanwhile, 6-step addiction recovery programmes include admitting that a drug or alcohol addiction is present, understanding rehab and treatment options available, securing treatment, completing addiction treatment, amending relationships harmed by an addiction and maintaining sobriety in the weeks, months and years that follow.
Whilst the steps to recovery often differ, irrespective of whether a four, five or step-step addiction recovery programme is followed, the overall aim of addiction recovery remains the same.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Although recovery programmes are effective when encountered upon attending recovery support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, they do not replace the need for professional addiction treatment.
To ensure that sobriety can be achieved and maintained, securing treatment via a private drug and alcohol rehab is advised.
Understanding that 12-step programmes are effective, many drug and alcohol rehabs, such as our own, incorporate recovery programmes into personalised treatment programmes.
When combined with treatments such as detoxification, psychological therapy, well-being therapy, one-to-one therapy and group therapy, recovery programmes ultimately ensure that those struggling with addictions can progress through the various steps to addiction recovery at their own pace.
Attending rehab additionally guarantees that those in recovery are safeguarded against any triggers that could hinder their recovery as they take the first steps to addiction recovery.
Contact Us Today
Though the above information answers the question “what are the steps to addiction recovery?”, it is important to remember that addiction recovery is different for everyone. Although the basis of addiction recovery consists of the steps outlined above, personalised treatment must be secured when an addiction is present.
If you would like to learn more about the steps to addiction recovery, contact us today. In doing so, we can offer you personalised support and guidance.
Likewise, if, upon reviewing the steps to addiction recovery, you find yourself ready to take the first step in your recovery, contact us directly today by calling 0800 470 0382.
Alternatively, for immediate addiction recovery support and guidance, text HELP to 83222.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3753023/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-12step-alcohol-abuse-idUKKBN20Y3F2
https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/addiction-12-step-programs-and-evidentiary-standards-ethically-and-clinically-sound-treatment/2016-06
https://www.orlandorecovery.com/blog/4-stages-of-recovery-from-addiction/#gref
https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/about-aa/the-12-steps-of-aa
