A twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction The term "addiction" is used in many contexts to describe an obsession, compulsion, or excessive psychological dependence, such as: drug addiction , video game addiction, crime, money, work addiction, compulsive overeating, problem gambling, computer addiction, nicotine addiction, pornography addiction, etc, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. Originally proposed by Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship of men and women who share a desire to stop drinking alcohol. AA suggests members completely abstain from alcohol, regularly attend meetings with other members, and follow its program to help each other with their common purpose; to help members "stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve (AA) as a method of recovery from alcoholism Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions to refer to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. In common and historic usage, alcoholism refers to any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, despite health problems and negative social consequences. Modern medical definitions describe,[1] the Twelve Steps were first published in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism in 1939.[2] The method was then adapted and became the foundation of other twelve-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous is a twelve-step program of recovery from drug addiction, modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). It describes itself as a nonprofit "fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem", and it is the second-largest 12-step organization. As of 2007[update] there were more than 43,900 NA, Overeaters Anonymous Overeaters Anonymous is a twelve-step program for people with problems related to food including, but not limited to, compulsive overeaters, those with binge eating disorder, bulimics and anorexics. Anyone with a problematic relationship with food is welcomed, as OA's Third Tradition states that the only requirement for memberships is a desire to, Co-Dependents Anonymous Co-Dependents Anonymous is a twelve-step program for people who share a common desire to develop functional and healthy relationships. CoDA was founded in 1986 in Phoenix, Arizona. CoDA is active in more than 40 countries, with approximately 1200 groups active in the United States.[citation needed] and Debtors Anonymous Debtors Anonymous is a twelve-step program for people who share a common desire to maintain financial solvency. DA was founded in 1971 by members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) who found that their financial difficulties were caused by an addictive disease not unlike alcoholism, compulsive debting. In the DA program compulsive debting is considered. As summarized by the American Psychological Association The American Psychological Association is a professional organization representing psychologists in the U.S., with around 150,000 members and an annual budget of around $70m. The American Psychological Association is occasionally confused with the American Psychiatric Association, which also uses the acronym APA, the process involves the following:[1]

Contents

Overview

Twelve-step methods have been adopted to address a wide range of substance abuse The disorder is characterized by a pattern of continued pathological use of a fatty foods, that results in repeated adverse social consequences related to eating, such as failure to meet work, family, or school obligations, interpersonal conflicts, or dating problems. There are on-going debates as to the exact distinctions between substance abuse and dependency problems. Over 200 self-help The term self-help refers to self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis organizations–often known as fellowships This is a list of twelve-step groups based on the set of guiding principles for recovery from addictive, compulsive, or other behavioral problems that was originally developed by Alcoholics Anonymous. The twelve-step method has been adapted widely by fellowships of people recovering from various addictions, compulsive behaviors, and mental health–with a worldwide membership of millions, now employ twelve-step principles for recovery The Recovery Model is an approach to mental disorder or substance dependence that emphasizes and supports each individual's potential for recovery. Recovery is seen within the model as a personal journey, that may involve developing hope, a secure base and sense of self, supportive relationships, empowerment, social inclusion, coping skills, and. Narcotics Anonymous was formed by addicts who did not relate to the specifics of alcohol dependency.[3] Similar demographic preferences related to the addicts' drug of choice has led to the creation of Cocaine Anonymous Cocaine Anonymous is a twelve-step program for people who seek recovery from drug addiction. CA is patterned very closely after Alcoholics Anonymous, although the two groups are unaffiliated. While many CA members have been addicted to cocaine, crack, speed or similar substances, identifying specifically as a cocaine addict is not required, Crystal Meth Anonymous Crystal Meth Anonymous is a twelve-step fellowship of recovered and recovering methamphetamine addicts. Participants meet in local groups of varying sizes in order to stay clean and help others recover from methamphetamine addiction. CMA encourages complete abstinence from methamphetamine, alcohol, inhalants, and all other drugs not taken as and Marijuana Anonymous The following questions may help you determine whether marijuana is a problem in your life. If you answer yes to any of the questions, you may have a problem with marijuana according to the group. Behavioral issues such as compulsion for, and/or addiction to, gambling, food, sex, hoarding Compulsive hoarding is the acquisition of, and failure to use or discard, such a large number of seemingly useless possessions that it causes significant clutter and impairment to basic living activities such as mobility, cooking, cleaning, showering or sleeping. A person who engages in compulsive hoarding is commonly said to be a "pack rat&, debting Debt is that which is owed; usually referencing assets owed, but the term can also cover moral obligations and other interactions not requiring money. In the case of assets, debt is a means of using future purchasing power in the present before a summation has been earned. Some companies and corporations use debt as a part of their overall and work are addressed in fellowships such as Gamblers Anonymous Gamblers Anonymous is a twelve-step program for problem gamblers. GA began in Los Angeles on September 13, 1957. As of 2005 there were over 1000 GA meetings in the United States and meetings established in the United Kingdom, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Kenya, Uganda, Korea and Japan. The only requirement for GA membership is a, Overeaters Anonymous Overeaters Anonymous is a twelve-step program for people with problems related to food including, but not limited to, compulsive overeaters, those with binge eating disorder, bulimics and anorexics. Anyone with a problematic relationship with food is welcomed, as OA's Third Tradition states that the only requirement for memberships is a desire to, Sexual Compulsives Anonymous, Clutterers Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous Debtors Anonymous is a twelve-step program for people who share a common desire to maintain financial solvency. DA was founded in 1971 by members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) who found that their financial difficulties were caused by an addictive disease not unlike alcoholism, compulsive debting. In the DA program compulsive debting is considered and Workaholics Anonymous Workaholics Anonymous is a twelve-step program for people identifying themselves as "powerless over compulsive work, worry, or activity" including, but not limited to, workaholics–including overworkers and those who suffer from unmanageable procrastination or work aversion. Anybody with a desire to stop working compulsively is welcome. Auxiliary groups such as Al-Anon Al-Anon and Alateen are international organizations jointly known as Al-Anon Family Groups with a membership of over half a million men, women and teens, providing a twelve-step program of recovery for friends and family members of alcoholics. Al-Anon is for adults within the program whereas Alateen is for young people . Al-Anon was formed in 1951 and Nar-Anon Nar-Anon is a twelve-step program for friends and family members of drug addicts. Nar-Anon is complementary to, but separate from, Narcotics Anonymous ; Nar-Anon's traditions state that it should "always cooperate with Narcotics Anonymous." Nar-Anon was originally founded by Alma B. in Studio City, California, but her initial attempt to, for friends and family members of alcoholics and addicts, respectively, are part of a response to treating addiction as a disease that is enabled by family systems Alcoholism in family systems is the conditions of families that enable alcoholism, and the effects of alcoholic behavior by one or more family members on the rest of the family. Mental health professionals are increasingly considering alcoholism and addiction as diseases that flourish in and are enabled by family systems. Family members react to.[4]

History

For more details on this topic, see History of Alcoholics Anonymous The history of Alcoholics Anonymous has been documented in books, movies, and AA literature from its founding in 1935 as a solution for alcoholism by Bill Wilson (known as Bill W.) and Dr. Robert Smith (known as Dr. Bob), through early struggles and worldwide growth.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the first twelve-step fellowship, was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson William Griffith Wilson , also known as Bill Wilson or Bill W., was the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), a fellowship of support groups dedicated to helping alcoholics achieve sobriety. According to the AA Twelfth tradition of anonymity, Wilson was and still is commonly known as "Bill W." or just "Bill." He largely and Dr. Bob Smith Robert Holbrook Smith was an American physician and surgeon who co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous with Bill Wilson, more commonly known as Bill W.. He was also known as Dr. Bob, known to AA members as "Bill W." and "Dr. Bob", in Akron, Ohio. They established the tradition within the "anonymous" twelve-step programs of using only first names "at the level of press, radio and film."[5]

As AA was growing in the 1930s and 1940s, definite guiding principles began to emerge as the Twelve Traditions. A Singleness of purpose The Twelve Traditions of twelve-step programs provide guidelines for relationships between the twelve-step groups, members, other groups, the global fellowship, and society at large. Questions of finance, public relations, donations, and purpose are addressed in the Traditions. They were originally written by Bill Wilson after the founding of the emerged as Tradition Five: "Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers."[6] Consequently, drug addicts who do not suffer from the specifics of alcoholism involved in AA hoping for recovery technically are not welcome in "closed" meetings unless they have a desire to stop drinking alcohol In chemistry, an alcohol is any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (-O .[7] The reason for such emphasis on alcoholism as the problem is to overcome denial and distraction. Thus the principles of AA have been used to form many numbers of other fellowships for those recovering from various pathologies Pathology is the study and diagnosis of disease through examination of organs, tissues, bodily fluids, and whole bodies (autopsies). The term also encompasses the related scientific study of disease processes, called General pathology, each of which in turn emphasizes recovery from the specific malady which brought the sufferer into the fellowship.[8]

In 1953 AA gave permission for Narcotics Anonymous to use its Steps and Traditions.[9]

Twelve Steps

These are the original Twelve Steps as published by Alcoholics Anonymous:[10]

  1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
  2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
  3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God God is most often conceived of as the supernatural creator and overseer of the universe. Theologians have ascribed a variety of attributes to the many different conceptions of God. The most common among these include omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, omnibenevolence , divine simplicity, and eternal and necessary existence. God has also been as we understood Him.
  4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
  5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
  6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character Moral character or character is an evaluation of a particular individual's moral qualities. The concept of character can imply a variety of attributes including the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty, or of good behaviors or habits. Moral character primarily refers to the assemblage of.
  7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
  8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
  9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
  10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
  11. Sought through prayer Prayer is the act of addressing a god or spirit for the purpose of worship or petition. Specific forms of this may include praise, requesting guidance or assistance, confessing sins, as an act of reparation or an expression of one's thoughts and emotions. The words used in prayer may take the form of intercession, a hymn, incantation, words of and meditation Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the reflexive, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness. Meditation often involves turning attention to a single point of reference. It is a component of many religions, and has been practiced since antiquity. It is also practiced outside to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His Will for us and the power to carry that out.
  12. Having had a spiritual awakening Religious experience is a subjective experience where an individual reports contact with a transcendent reality, an encounter or union with the divine as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

In some cases, where other twelve-step groups have adapted the AA steps as guiding principles, they have been altered to emphasize principles important to those particular fellowships, to remove gender-biased or specific religious language.[11][12][13]

Twelve Traditions

Main article: Twelve Traditions The Twelve Traditions of twelve-step programs provide guidelines for relationships between the twelve-step groups, members, other groups, the global fellowship, and society at large. Questions of finance, public relations, donations, and purpose are addressed in the Traditions. They were originally written by Bill Wilson after the founding of the

The Twelve Traditions accompany the Twelve Steps, the Traditions provide guidelines for group governance. They were developed in AA in order to help resolve conflicts in the areas of publicity, religion and finances.[14] Most twelve-step fellowships have adopted these principles for their structural governance.[15] The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous are as follows.[5]

  1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity.
  2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
  3. The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.
  4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole.
  5. Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
  6. An AA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
  7. Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
  8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
  9. AA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
  10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
  11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
  12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Process

In the twelve-step program human structure is symbolically represented in three dimensions: physical, mental, and spiritual. The problems the groups deal with are understood to manifest themselves in each dimension. For addicts and alcoholics the physical dimension is best described by the allergy-like bodily reaction resulting in the compulsion to continue using substances after the initial use. For groups not related to substance abuse this physical manifestation could be more varied including, but not limited to: compulsive hoarding Compulsive hoarding is the acquisition of, and failure to use or discard, such a large number of seemingly useless possessions that it causes significant clutter and impairment to basic living activities such as mobility, cooking, cleaning, showering or sleeping. A person who engages in compulsive hoarding is commonly said to be a "pack rat&, distractibility Distraction is the diversion of attention of an individual or group from the chosen object of attention onto the source of distraction. Distraction is caused by one of the following: lack of ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of attention; greater interest in something other than the object of attention; or the great, eating disorders An eating disorder is to eat, or avoid eating, in a manner which negatively affects both one's physical and mental health. Eating disorders are all encompassing. They affect every part of the person's life. According to the authors of Surviving an Eating Disorder, "feelings about work, school, relationships, day-to-day activities and one's, dysfunctional enabling As a positive term, it references patterns of interaction which allow individuals to develop and grow. These may be on any scale, for example within the family, or in wider society as "Enabling acts" designed to empower some group, or create a new authority for a body, hyperactivity Hyperactivity can be described as a physical state in which a person is abnormally and easily excitable or exuberant. Strong emotional reactions, impulsive behavior, and sometimes a short span of attention are also typical for a hyperactive person. Some individuals may show these characteristics naturally, as personality differs from person to, hypomania Hypomania is a mood state characterized by persistent and pervasive elevated or irritable mood, and thoughts and behaviors that are consistent with such a mood state. An unequivocal change in functioning that is uncharacteristic when asymptomatic. People experiencing hypomanic symptoms typically have a flood of ideas, and sometimes mildly, insomnia Insomnia is a symptom of any of several sleep disorders, characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. Insomnia is a symptom, not a stand-alone diagnosis or a disease. By definition, insomnia is "difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both" and it may be due to inadequate quality, irritability Irritability is an excessive response to stimuli. Irritability takes many forms, from the contraction of a unicellular organism when touched, to complex reactions involving all the senses of higher animals. In plants, response is usually different from that seen in animals, but is nonetheless present. The term irritability is used for both the, lack of motivation Motivation is the internal condition that activates behavior and gives it direction; energizes and directs goal-oriented behavior. The term is generally used for human motivation but, theoretically, it can be used to describe the causes for animal behavior as well. This article refers to human motivation. According to various theories, motivation, laziness The expression "intellectual laziness" is used to describe a tendency not to ask questions or investigate thoroughly, applying a kind of mental routine or just following the crowd (herd behavior), mania Mania is a severe medical condition characterized by extremely elevated mood, energy, unusual thought patterns and sometimes psychosis. There are several possible causes for mania including drug abuse and brain tumors, but it is most often associated with bipolar disorder, where episodes of mania alternate with episodes of major depression. These, panic attacks Panic attacks are very sudden, discrete periods of intense anxiety, mounting physiological arousal, fear, stomach problems and discomfort that are associated with a variety of somatic and cognitive symptoms. The onset of these episodes is typically abrupt, and may have no obvious triggers, psychosomatic illnesses Psychosomatic medicine is an interdisciplinary medical field studying psychosomatic illness, now more commonly referred to as psychophysiologic illness or disorder, whose symptoms are caused by mental processes of the sufferer rather than immediate physiological causes. These syndromes are classified as neurotic, stress-related and somatoform, poor impulse control Deferred gratification or delayed gratification is the ability to wait in order to obtain something that one wants. This ability is usually considered to be a personality trait which is important for life success. Daniel Goleman has suggested that it is an important component of emotional intelligence. People who lack this trait are said to need, procrastination, self-injury and suicide attempts.[16][17] The statement in the First Step that the individual is "powerless" over the substance-abuse related behavior at issue refers to the lack of control over this compulsion, which persists despite any negative consequences that may be endured as a result.[18]

The mental obsession is described as the cognitive processes that causes the individual to repeat the compulsive behavior after some period of abstinence, either knowing that the result will be an inability to stop or operating under the delusion that the result will be different. The description in the First Step of the life of the alcoholic or addict as "unmanageable" refers to the lack of choice that the mind of the addict or alcoholic affords concerning whether to drink or use again.[19]

The illness of the spiritual dimension, or "spiritual malady," is considered in all twelve-step groups to be self-centeredness. This model is not intended to be a scientific explanation, it is only a perspective that twelve-step organizations have found useful.[16][17] The process of working the steps is intended to replace self-centeredness with a growing moral consciousness and a willingness for self-sacrifice and unselfish constructive action.[17] In twelve-step groups, this is known as a spiritual awakening or religious experience.[20] This should not be confused with abreaction, which produces dramatic, but ephemeral, changes.[21] In twelve-step fellowships, "spiritual awakening" is believed to develop, most frequently, slowly over a period of time.[22]

It is suggested that members regularly attend meetings with other members who share their particular recovery problem. In accordance with the First Step, twelve-step groups emphasize self-admission by members of the problem they are recovering from. It is in this spirit that members often identify themselves along with an admission of their problem, e.g. "Hi, I'm Wendy and I'm an alcoholic." Such catchphrases are now widely associated with support groups. Some meetings are known as dual-identity groups, which encourage attendance from certain demographics, so that some areas have for example, women's groups; men's groups; and gay, lesbian, transgendered groups. There are also in some areas beginner's groups as well as "old-timer" groups that limit who can share, or speak during the meeting, by the length of time the members have in that fellowship.[citation needed]

Sponsorship

A sponsor is a more experienced person in recovery who guides the less-experienced aspirant ("sponsee" or variously, "sponsoree") through the program. New members in twelve-step programs are encouraged to secure a relationship with at least one sponsor.[23] Publications from twelve-step fellowships emphasize that sponsorship is a "one on one" relationship of shared experiences focused on working the Twelve Steps.[24][25][26] According to Narcotics Anonymous:

Sponsors share their experience, strength, and hope with their sponsees... A sponsor's role is not that of a legal adviser, a banker, a parent, a marriage counselor, or a social worker. Nor is a sponsor a therapist offering some sort of professional advice. A sponsor is simply another addict in recovery who is willing to share his or her journey through the Twelve Steps.[27]

Sponsors and sponsees participate in activities that lead to spiritual growth. These may include practices such as literature discussion and study, meditation, and writing. Completing the Twelve Steps implies being competent to sponsor to newcomers in recovery.[23] Sponsees typically do their Fifth Step, review their moral inventory written as part of the Fourth Step, with their sponsor. The Fifth Step, as well as the Ninth Step, have been compared to confession and penitence. Many, such as Michel Foucault, noted such practices produce intrinsic modifications in the person—exonerating, redeeming and purifying them—it unburdens them of their wrongs, liberates them, and promises their salvation.[28]

The personal nature of the behavioral issues that lead to seeking help in twelve-step fellowships results in a strong relationship between sponsee and sponsor. As the relationship is based on spiritual principles, it is unique and not generally characterized as "friendship." Fundamentally, the sponsor has the single purpose of helping the sponsee recover from the behavioral problem that brought the sufferer into twelve-step work, which reflexively helps the sponsor recover.[23]

A study of sponsorship as practiced in Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous found that providing direction and support to other alcoholics and addicts correlates with sustained abstinence for the sponsor, but that there were few short-term benefits for the sponsee.[29][30]

Effectiveness

See also: Alcoholics Anonymous: Effectiveness, Crystal Meth Anonymous: Effectiveness, Emotions Anonymous: Effectiveness, Gamblers Anonymous: Effectiveness, Nicotine Anonymous: Effectiveness, Self-help groups for mental health: Effectiveness, and Effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous is the largest of all the twelve-step programs, followed by Narcotics Anonymous; the majority of twelve-step members are recovering from addiction to drugs or alcohol. The majority of twelve-step programs, however, address illnesses other than addiction. For example, the third largest twelve-step program, Al-Anon, treats codependence. About twenty percent of twelve-step programs are for addiction recovery, the other eighty percent address a variety of problems from debt to depression.[31] It would be an error to assume the effectiveness of twelve-step methods at treating problems in one domain translates to all or to another domain,[32] therefore readers are directed to relevant sections in each group's article.

Criticism

See also: Alcoholics Anonymous: Criticism, Celebrate Recovery: Criticism, Emotions Anonymous: Criticism, Gamblers Anonymous: Criticism, Narcotics Anonymous: Controversies, Overeaters Anonymous: Criticism, Self-help groups for mental health: Criticism, and Sexaholics Anonymous: Criticism

The criticisms of twelve-step groups are as varied as the pathologies they address. People have attended twelve-step meetings, only to find success eluded them. Their varied success rate and the belief in a Higher Power suggested in them, are common criticisms of their universal applicability and efficacy.[33]

Confidentiality

The Twelve Traditions encourage members to practice the spiritual principle of anonymity in the public media and members are also asked to respect each other's confidentiality. However, the programs rely on 'obedience to the unenforceable' and there are no legal consequences or sanctions within the program to discourage those attending twelve-step groups from revealing information disclosed during meetings. Statutes on group therapy do not encompass those associations that lack a professional therapist or clergyman to whom confidentiality and privilege might apply. Physicians who refer patients to these groups, to avoid both civil liability and licensure problems, have been advised that they should alert their patients that, at any time, their statements made in working through the Twelve Steps might be disclosed.[34]

Cultural identity

One review of twelve-step programs warned of detrimental iatrogenic effects of twelve-step philosophy, and labeled the organizations as cults.[35] However, a further study concluded that these programs bore little semblance to religious cults because the techniques used appeared beneficial.[36] Another study found that a twelve-step program's focus on self-admission of having a problem increases deviant stigma and strips members of their previous cultural identity replacing it with the deviant identity.[37] A survey of twelve-step group members, however, found they had a bicultural identity and saw twelve-step programs as a complement to their other national, ethnic, and religious cultures.[38]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b VandenBos, Gary R. (2007). APA dictionary of psychology (1st ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. ISBN 1591473802. OCLC 65407150.
  2. ^ Alcoholics Anonymous (June 2001). Alcoholics Anonymous (4th ed.). Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. ISBN 1893007162. OCLC 32014950. http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/.
  3. ^ Narcotics Anonymous (1987). "Chapter 8: We Do Recover". Narcotics Anonymous (4th ed.). Van Nuys, CA: Narcotics Anonymous World Service Office. ISBN 0912075023. OCLC 14377415.
  4. ^ Crnkovic, A. Elaine; DelCampo, Robert L. (March 1998). "A Systems Approach to the Treatment of Chemical Addiction". Contemporary Family Therapy 20 (1): 25–36. doi:10.1023/A:1025084516633. ISSN 1573-3335.
  5. ^ a b "The Twelve Traditions". The A.A. Grapevine (Alcoholics Anonymous) 6 (6). November 1949. ISSN 0362-2584. OCLC 50379271.
  6. ^ Alcoholics Anonymous (February 2002). Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Hazelden. ISBN 0916856011. OCLC 13572433.
  7. ^ Alcoholics Anonymous. "For Anyone New Coming to A.A.; For Anyone Referring People to A.A.". Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.. http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_information_aa.cfm?PageID=11. Retrieved on June 15, 2006.
  8. ^ George E. Vaillant (2002). "Singleness of Purpose" (PDF). About AA: A Newsletter for Professionals (Fall/Winter). http://www.aa.org/en_pdfs/f-13_fall-winter02.pdf.
  9. ^ RonStarR; TraditionallyStepping (January 13, 2006). "The Founding of Narcotics Anonymous in California in 1953". http://www.na-history.org/THE_FOUNDING_OF_NARCOTICS_ANONYMOUS.html. Retrieved on December 25, 2007.
  10. ^ Alcoholics Anonymous (June 2001). "Chapter 5: How It Works" (PDF). Alcoholics Anonymous (4th ed.). Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. ISBN 1893007162. OCLC 32014950. http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/en_bigbook_chapt5.pdf.
  11. ^ Narcotics Anonymous World Services (February 23, 2007). "World Service Board of Trustees Bulletin #13: Some thoughts regarding our relationship to Alcoholics Anonymous". http://www.na.org/bulletins/bull13-r.htm. Retrieved on October 7, 2007.
  12. ^ RonStarR and TraditionallyStepping (January 13, 2006). "NA History Chronology". http://www.na-history.org/NA_History_Chronology.html. Retrieved on October 7, 2007. "Note the 1953 Events Detailing step adaptation: NA emphasizes the unity by starting all steps with 'we'"
  13. ^ Crystal Meth Anonymous. "The 12 Steps of Recovery". http://www.crystalmeth.org/cma-world-services/cma-12-steps.html. Retrieved on March 5, 2009.
  14. ^ Bill W. (April 1946). "Our A.A. Experience Has Taught Us That:". The A.A. Grapevine (Alcoholics Anonymous) 2 (11). ISSN 0362-2584. OCLC 50379271.
  15. ^ See Programs patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous in the List of twelve-step groups article.
  16. ^ a b Kurtz, Linda F.; Chambon, Adrienne (1987). "Comparison of self-help groups for mental health". Health & social work 12 (4): 275–283. ISSN 0360-7283. OCLC 2198019. PMID 3679015.
  17. ^ a b c Ronel, Natti (2000). "From Self-Help to Professional Care: An Enhanced Application of the 12-Step Program". The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 36 (1): 108–122. doi:10.1177/0021886300361006. ISSN 1552-6879. OCLC 1783135.
  18. ^ Alcoholics Anonymous (June 2001). "Chapter 2: There Is a Solution" (PDF). Alcoholics Anonymous (4th ed.). Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. p. 21. ISBN 1893007162. OCLC 32014950. http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/en_bigbook_chapt2.pdf. "At some stage of his drinking career, he begins to lose all control of his liquor consumption, once he starts to drink."
  19. ^ Alcoholics Anonymous (June 2001). "Chapter 2: There Is a Solution" (PDF). Alcoholics Anonymous (4th ed.). Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. p. 21. ISBN 1893007162. OCLC 32014950. http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/en_bigbook_chapt2.pdf. "These observations would be academic and pointless if [he] never took the first drink, thereby setting the terrible cycle in motion. Therefore, the main problem...centers in his mind....The fact is that most alcoholics...have lost the power of choice in drink...unable, at certain times, to bring into [his] consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of a month or even a week ago. [He] is without defense against the first drink."
  20. ^ Roehe, Marcelo V. (September/December 2004). "Religious Experience in Self-Help Groups: the neurotics anonymous example" (in Portuguese). Psicologia em Estudo 9 (3): 399–407. doi:10.1590/S1413-73722004000300008. ISSN 1413-7372. http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-73722004000300008&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=pt.
  21. ^ Marmor, Judd (01 April 1980). "Recent trends in psychotherapy" (abstract page). American Journal of Psychiatry 137 (4): 409–416. ISSN 0002-953X. PMID 6987904. http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/137/4/409.
  22. ^ Alcoholics Anonymous (June 1976). "Appendix II. Spiritual Experience". Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. ISBN 0916856593. OCLC 32014950. http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/en_appendiceii.cfm.
  23. ^ a b c Alcoholics Anonymous (PDF). Sponsorship Q&A (pamphlet). New York, New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/p-15_Q&AonSpon.pdf.
  24. ^ Crystal Meth Anonymous. "NYCMA: What is a Sponsor?". New York, New York: New York Crystal Meth Anonymous Intergroup. http://www.nycma.org/sponsor.html. Retrieved on October 8, 2007.
  25. ^ "#SLAA Online Group of Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous - Sponsorship Online". February 5, 2007. http://www.slaaonline.org/sponsor.html. Retrieved on October 8, 2007.
  26. ^ "Overeaters Anonymous Unity Intergroup Website: Sponsorship". September 19, 2007. http://www.overeaters.org/#sponsorship. Retrieved on October 8, 2007.
  27. ^ Narcotics Anonymous (2004) (PDF). Sponsorship, Revised (pamphlet): What does a sponsor do?. Van Nuys, CA: Narcotics Anonymous. http://www.na.org/pdf/litfiles/us_english/IP/EN3111.pdf.
  28. ^ Kriz, Kerri-Lynn Murphy (May 2002). The Efficacy of Overeaters Anonymous in Fostering Abstinence in Binge-Easting Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05092002-143548/.
  29. ^ Crape, Byron L.; Latkin, Carl A.; Laris, Alexandra S.; Kownlton, Amy R. (February 2002.). "The effects of sponsorship in 12-step treatment of injection drug users". Drug and Alcohol Dependence 65 (3): 291–301. doi:10.1016/S0376-8716(01)00175-2. ISSN 0376-8716. PMID 11841900.
  30. ^ "NCJRS Abstract - National Criminal Justice Reference Service". Ncjrs.gov. February 1, 2002. http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/Abstract.aspx?id=196100. Retrieved on March 5, 2009.
  31. ^ Makela, Klaus (1996). Alcoholics Anonymous as a Mutual-help Movement: A Study in Eight Societies. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299150046.
  32. ^ Saulnier, Christine (Winter 1996). "Images of The Twelve-step model, and Sex and Love Addiction in an Alcohol Intervention Group for Black Women". Journal of Drug Issues 26 (1): 95.
  33. ^ Brandsma, Jeffrey M. (1976). "Toward a More Rational Alcoholics Anonymous". Rational Living 11 (1): 35–37. doi:10.1016/j.nuclcard.2007.06.118. ISSN 0034-0049. OCLC 1763461.
  34. ^ Coleman, Phyllis (December 2005). "Privilege and Confidentiality in 12-Step Self-Help Programs: Believing The Promises Could Be Hazardous to an Addict's Freedom". The Journal of Legal Medicine 26 (4): 435–474. doi:10.1080/01947640500364713. ISSN 0194-7648. OCLC 4997813.
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  38. ^ Wilcox, D.M. (1998). "Chapter 7: Language, Culture, and Belief". Alcoholic thinking: Language, culture, and belief in Alcoholics Anonymous. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 109–124. ISBN 0275960498.

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'Twelve-step Program' Answers
Are twelve step programs really effective?
Q. There seems to be so much hype regarding twelve-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
Asked by annie lk - Mon Aug 20 01:59:36 2007 - - 12 Answers - 0 Comments

A. According to researches made by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, participating in complementary 12-step programs increases the individual's chances of staying in a drug treatment program for a longer time. There was also a study that found that the patients who attended more individual and group counseling sessions were found to have significantly lower levels of drug usage during and after treatment than those who had participated less frequently. This does not mean, though, that patients can already forgo going to drug or alcohol treatment programs in favor of just 12-step programs alone.
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