12 Step Programs have worked like a virus! That’s right, they’ve become so successful you can travel to nearly any continent and find a 12 step group for your needs. Did you know that 12 step programs have a higher success rate than treatment programs? I’m a professional, who’s specialized in addictions for years, but you simply cannot beat how powerful 12 step programs are in your bid for recovery.

Alcoholics Anonymous is where it all began back in the 1930s. Two men by the name of Bill and Bob came together in their suffering and pieced together a protocol they were able to follow for addiction recovery success.

It may come as a shock to you, but the 12 Step Program has stong roots in Christianity. In fact, you can find every step in the program referenced in the Bible in different places. The AA Big Book today still has many instances to “God” and “The Father.” If I recall correctly, one of the spouses of these two men worked in an office associated with the Oxford Group. This connection to the Oxford Group, a Christian organization, would turn out to be powerfully influential in the development of the 12 Step Program of AA.

Through the two originators, Bill and Bob, one of them had an association with a group known as the Oxford Group. This group emphasized a special sequence of steps leading to personal happiness and freedom. The steps were closely linked to surrendering to God; completing personal inventories; identifying character flaws, making amend to those they had harmed and carrying their story to others who needed it.

Twelve step programs today encourage the use of the word “spiritual” vs “religious” As it turns out, this opens the meeting doors wide to those who may ever consider the 12 steps due to issues with modern-day religious institutions. This may be a bit misleading because each meeting includes readings that still reference God or Father. I know that many instantly tune out from 12 step programs once they hear these words, but if they stay around long enough they soon realize that religion is definitely not pushed on any members.

The 12 Step Program worked so well that it wasn’t long before people suffering from other types of addiction began to create their own 12 step program. If you were to be a fly on the wall at 7 different types of 12 step programs you would notice that all the meeting follow the same format. For most every addiction there is now a 12 step program for it. If you suffer from a compulsion that you cannot seem to get over on your own, I’d strongly advise seeking out a 12 step program. You won’t regret it.

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