2       Acceptance of a higher power
3.      Sponsor or accountability partner
4.      The 12 Steps (step work)
5.      Service to others

1)         Regular meeting attendance:
This is an opportunity for the recovering addicts and their supporters to connect with others who are actively pursuing their recovery and to get guidance and support with their struggles. Meetings cover variety of topics and will sometimes have a dedicated speaker for the evening. This is a chance for members in attendance to learn more about how addiction works as well as a forum to carry a message of hope to others.

2)         Acceptance of a higher power:
It is important for an addict to turn their lives over to a Higher Power of their understanding. The 12 Step program is essentially a spiritual program and spiritual groups, prayer and meditation is at the core of treatment programs.. The definition of a Higher Power often varies from person to person, but AA and NA do not subscribe to, or endorse any religion or lack thereof. People of all belief systems and faiths are welcome, no one will ever be turned away because of their beliefs.

3)         Getting a sponsor or accountability partner after treatment is vital. A sponsor acts as a guide for the journey through the 12 steps, as well as acting as a mentor and forms an important part of a recovering persons support structure. Some support groups refer to a wise council instead of a sponsor.  They are also recovering addicts with many years of clean time. The benefits of one addict helping another is so valuable because they ,fully believe and live by what they preach and they offer support from a place of mutual understanding.

4)         The 12 Steps is a written spiritual program which deals with all aspects of addiction. Denial, powerlessness, unmanageability, coming to believe in a higher power, personal inventory, defects, amends, forgiveness, guilt, shame and trauma are only some of the issues covered. Written Step work is the core of the 12 steps program and clients are required to spend much of their lime on this crucial process. Step work is an opportunity to critically look at the behaviours, attitudes, and pre-conceived ideas that lead to a person seeking help. It is an opportunity to challenge the addict’s thinking, getting to the root of a problem that may in the past not have been given much thought.

5)         Service to others and giving back to society is a corner stone of the 12-step programs. Being not for profit institutes, and being almost entirely run by volunteer involvement, the 12 step programs only exist because recovering addicts put their time and energy into service to keep the doors to the meetings open. Being of service to others and carrying a message to fellow addicts is what helps keeps a person clean and sober.  This is why recovering addicts are motivated to get involved in community work and other outreach programs.

Coming into a fellowship can be intimidating and confusing for someone who has never been part of a support group before. The recovery principles is based around the 12 steps and 12 step groups because it is such an effective way for a person to have long term support in their recovery. It is a way for a person to keep bettering themselves, long after they have left a treatment facility.

Author: Elmarie Spingies