12 Step Programs: Outdated?

Are 12 Step programs out of date? Does a more modern method need to be established?

Submitted by GregoryHillsman on Tue, 11/25/2008 - 01:43.

Not at all. I believe there is a strong place for spirituality in addiction recovery. The 12 Steps in and of themselves echo many basic spiritual tenets and can be applied to many different spiritual paths. They sure helped me.

Submitted by SteveMann on Wed, 11/26/2008 - 06:15.

I don't think so. I think they are very helpful. I think people are skeptical because society has regressed away from a G-d centered reality and has gotten really self absorbed.

Submitted by janbear on Thu, 02/05/2009 - 05:39.

I dont feel 12-step recovery is out-dated either. It still helps so many. I am grateful for Bill W.(AA) and Jimmy K (NA). AA and NA both have shown this recovering alcoholic/addict how to live without the use of drugs and alcohol on a daily basis. I am grateful for what they started. Thanks for letting me share. jan

Submitted by npr1 on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 18:26.

I believe they are a crucial part to recovery.

Submitted by drake on Sat, 04/11/2009 - 11:25.

Like anything else in this world, you get out what you put into it. The content of the programs are about 10% of the puzzle. Execution of the program is the other 90%.

There is some relevant info at www.12step.com as well.

Submitted by Chaz on Sat, 04/11/2009 - 19:01.

I believe the core components of the 12 steps are solid and timeless. They have been applied for decades for the effective treatment of many, many disorders. So in this respect, they are time-tested and proven.

I do feel that adaptations are not unreasonable. Celebrate Recovery, for instance has adapted them well to those who specifically undertand God as the Bible Describes him.

In spite of any controversy created by some, there is nothing more effective that I have ever seen or experienced in aiding in recovery than the 12 steps.

Surely, some have carried them away and gotten fanatical and wierd with them. And surely, there are some people who simply cannot connect with them. But recognize that before the 12 steps were developed in the 1930's, severe, chronic alcoholism such as the founders of AA were experiencing was considered untreatable. Including by Sigmund Freud.

So while there may be other ways in which people recover, no other strategy is as widely used and effective as the 12 steps. So I believe strongly that the fundamentals need no change.

Ciao.

Chaz

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