Addiction Is Not a Choice

Addiction often leads to feelings of isolation, and the environment surrounding it can hinder the recovery process. Engaging with others who share similar challenges can provide a sense of relief.

Social connections foster a sense of purpose and create opportunities to counter negative self-perceptions. Forming new relationships can offer valuable insights on managing cravings, practical strategies to avoid substance use, emotional support, and the reassurance that one is not alone in their battle. Research conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH) supports the findings from surveys of mutual support group participants, affirming the clinical efficacy of the 12-step model. At Northridge Addiction Treatment Center, we firmly advocate for 12-step therapy and incorporate its essential principles into our treatment programs. Our goal is to motivate our residents to engage in 12-step meetings, surrounded by a supportive community that fosters sobriety and promotes a more positive outlook.

“If you want to change your behavior, find other people who are trying to make the same change.”
– Keith Humphreys, Ph.D., Stanford Medicine Psychologist

What Is 12 Step Facilitation Therapy?

Twelve-step facilitation therapy is a therapeutic approach designed to promote active engagement in 12-step support groups. This method aims to enhance the likelihood of individuals connecting with self-help groups based on the 12-step model, thereby fostering a commitment to sobriety.

What Are the Principles Behind the 12 Steps?

The foundation of 12-step facilitation therapy is built upon three essential principles:

1. Acceptance – recognizing that substance addiction is a chronic and progressive illness that is beyond one’s control, leading to an unmanageable life due to substance use, and understanding that willpower alone is insufficient to overcome this challenge, with abstinence being the sole viable option.

2. Surrender – relinquishing oneself to a higher power, embracing the support and companionship of fellow individuals in recovery, and engaging in the recovery processes outlined in the 12-step program.

3. Active involvement – engaging in, participating in, and sharing experiences within 12-step meetings and related activities.

What Are the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous?

The twelve steps serve as foundational principles in the treatment of addiction, providing a framework for managing alcohol and drug dependencies, as well as addressing cravings and compulsive behaviors.

See the 12 Steps

Step 1
We acknowledged our lack of control over alcohol, recognizing that our lives had become unmanageable.

Step 2
We came to trust that a Power greater than ourselves could restore our mental well-being.

Step 3
We made a commitment to surrender our will and our lives to the care of God as we understood Him.

Step 4
We conducted a thorough and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Step 5
We confessed to God, to ourselves, and to another individual the true nature of our wrongs.

Step 6
We became fully prepared to have God eliminate all our character defects.

Step 7
We humbly requested Him to remove our shortcomings.

Step 8
We compiled a list of all individuals we had harmed and became willing to make amends to each of them.

Step 9
We made direct amends to those individuals whenever possible, except when doing so would cause harm to them or others.

Step 10
We continued to take personal inventory and promptly admitted when we were wrong.

Step 11
We sought to enhance our conscious contact with God through prayer and meditation, asking only for knowledge of His will for us and the strength to fulfill it.

Step 12
Having experienced a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we endeavored to share this message with other alcoholics and to apply these principles in all aspects of our lives.

Where Did the 12 Steps Come From?

The 12 steps were formulated in 1938 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. They were first published in “The Big Book,” which is often regarded as the foundational text for Alcoholics Anonymous. The 12 steps serve as guidelines for spiritual growth and character development, a role they continue to fulfill today, forming the cornerstone of addiction recovery programs.

What Is the Purpose of the 12 Steps?

Twelve-step programs provide accessible and cost-free resources for individuals grappling with addiction. The primary aim is to shift one’s viewpoint, recognizing addiction as a manifestation of a deeper issue. Maintaining sobriety is achieved through the application of the 12-step philosophy and the sharing of experiences with others who have faced similar challenges.

How Do the 12 Steps Function?

Research has investigated the factors that enhance abstinence and cognitive improvement associated with 12-step facilitation therapy. A crucial and effective component is the sense of community found within 12-step groups. Joining these groups facilitates a transformation in an individual’s social circle, reducing interactions with those who promote substance use and fostering connections with individuals who advocate for sobriety. This gradual change in social networks correlates with diminished exposure to alcohol and drug-related environments, which can trigger cravings. It contributes to the establishment of social abstinence, self-esteem, and fulfilling personal relationships. The supportive bonds formed within the fellowship offer structure, a sense of purpose, role models for achieving sobriety, engagement in naturally rewarding activities that can substitute for substance use, and the development of effective coping strategies.