Drug rehab has taken on many different forms over the years, and the 12 step program is one of the earliest still-existing therapy options. This process provides many benefits that help to enhance a person’s recovery. Therefore, those interested in this care option must know how a 12 step program helps recovery. Doing so can help them better understand if this care option is right for their needs.
The Nature of the 12 Step Program
The 12 step program was one of the first methods created to treat addiction. Created in the early 1900s, it was an attempt to assess the source of a person’s addiction – at that point, mostly alcoholism – and to help them understand its roots. Then, they were to walk through the 12 steps of the program – in whatever order they wanted – to understand their addiction fully and to beat it for good.
The earliest 12 step programs had a substantial religious nature to them. Even now, people who go through this program are asked to state that a power higher than them – for many, God – is necessary to help them beat addiction. However, those who want a more secular approach can now choose the 12 step program or a rehab group as their higher power or define that term any way that they wish.
A core component of the 12 step program is the meetings that many people associate with Alcoholics Anonymous – the group that developed these steps. Meeting with others, admitting that you have a problem, and talking about it was designed to help a person overcome their dependency. In this way, it is somewhat similar to psychotherapy but is usually directed by non-professionals. Now, let’s examine how a 12 step program helps recovery for people like you.
How a 12 Step Program Helps Recovery
Although physician-approved care options exist to help with drug recovery, 12 step programs are still available. Why? They provide many benefits that make them a powerful way to overcome addiction. Just a few ways that a 12 step program helps include how it:
- Makes a person admit they have a problem – This step is critical for those trying to deny abuse patterns
- Lets them talk about it – Open discussion in group settings help a person better understand themselves
- Teaches coping tips – Others in the 12 step program can teach a person how to cope with relapse
- Provides structure – Many people with addiction need extra structure to overcome this problem
- Spiritual guidance – Those with religious feelings may have spiritual experiences in 12 step care
By now, you should have a pretty good idea of how a 12 step program helps recovery from substance abuse. All of these benefits make it one of the most powerful ways to overcome the dangers of addiction. And the enhancement and expansion of other care rehab options can also provide you with the treatment expertise that you need to beat this danger for good.
Integrating 12 Step Care Into Broader Rehab Treatments
Those interested in substance abuse treatment may wonder how a 12 step program helps recovery in rehab. First of all, many care specialists use the structure of this system to direct their patients out of addiction, particularly when it comes to emotional issues. For example, the idea of accepting an addiction is critical to treatment success.
Just as important is the concept of a person overcoming emotional problems by reaching out to those who may have been adversely affected by that individual’s addictive behavior. And this help can also make spiritual recovery easier for many people to handle. In this way, integrating this program into addiction recovery is simple.
See for Yourself How a 12 Step Program Helps Recovery
If you want to learn more about how a 12 step program helps recovery, please contact BoardPrep Recovery Center right away. When you call 866.796.4720, you can chat with a counselor and learn more about how we help you. Treatment options include a 21-bed quasi-residential program, dual-diagnosis, professionals help, and more. And since our treatment has been board-approved by the state, you know that it is of the highest possible quality.
