12 Step Programs

Founded in 1935 in Akron, Ohio, Alcoholics Anonymous was a peer-based self-help group that changed addiction treatment forever. Since its humble beginnings, it has gone on to drastically change how the world views addicted persons and inspired dozens of other 12 step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous, Dual Diagnosis Anonymous, and many more.

Going to Your First AA Meeting

If you've decided that Alcoholics Anonymous could be helpful for your recovery but have no idea what to expect or how it works, this article will guide you to your first AA meeting.  What to Expect from Your First AA Meeting Be prepared for some level of...

How a Fourth Step Inventory Uses Positive Psychology To Shape Behavior

The fourth step inventory is one of the most well-known amongst 12 step recovery programs. This particular step in the process is a great example of how one can use positive psychology in addiction recovery. The science of positive psychology is amazing for addicts...

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Can I Go to Meetings During Alcohol Drug Detox?

More and more Americans need alcohol drug detox. A new study found that 25% of Americans under the age of 30 are alcoholics. While alcohol drug detox is the first step to getting sober, many other treatment plans can also make a difference. Most alcohol abusers find...

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Embracing the Sixth Tradition

Embracing the Sixth Tradition

It’s June, and we’ve already covered Step Six this month, which means we can move forward to the sixth installment of our monthly series on the Twelve Traditions. Like the five we have covered thus far, the Sixth Tradition pertains less to our individual recovery than...

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Understanding and Practicing Step Six

Understanding and Practicing Step Six

It’s the first day of June, so it seems like the perfect time to continue our monthly tradition of covering each of the Twelve Steps. This month is naturally Step Six, a seemingly simple step that many people tend to misinterpret when not provided with the guidance of...

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Embracing the Fifth Tradition

Embracing the Fifth Tradition

Each month this year, we have been covering one of the Twelve Steps in addition to one of the Twelve Traditions. Now that it is May and we have already covered Step Five, it is time to take a look at the Fifth Tradition. Like many of the traditions we have already...

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Understanding and Practicing Step Five

Understanding and Practicing Step Five

It’s May, which means that summer is just around the corner. More importantly, it’s time for our fifth installment of our series on the Twelve Steps. Step Five is directly related to Step Four, so those who are either on Step Four or about to begin it should benefit...

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The Twelve Concepts for World Service: Concept IV

The Twelve Concepts for World Service: Concept IV

When we touched on the Third Concept last month, we spoke frequently of the “Right of Decision,” the right for AA groups and their members to act as delegates rather than servants. Embedded in Concept IV is the “Right of Participation,” which is similar in some ways...

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Embracing the Fourth Tradition

Embracing the Fourth Tradition

As we have done in previous months this year, we are following our article on the Fourth Step of AA/NA with an article on the Fourth Tradition. We noted in our article on the Third Tradition that, while Tradition One and Tradition Two may have been somewhat related to...

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Understanding and Practicing Step Four

Understanding and Practicing Step Four

Now that we have entered the month of April, it is time to introduce our fourth installment in our series on the Twelve Steps. This is an important one, as it begins a new chapter in our step work. Step One, Step Two and Step Three are all strongly connected as the...

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Seven Heavenly Virtues: Humility

Seven Heavenly Virtues: Humility

Humility is the most important of the Seven Heavenly Virtues, which is why it has been chosen to end this series. Much as pride is often seen as the root of all the Seven Deadly Sins, humility is in many ways the attribute which breeds the rest of the virtues. Without...

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Breaking Down the AA Preamble

Breaking Down the AA Preamble

  Every meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous begins with a moment of silence followed by the Serenity Prayer. After this is concluded, most meetings will begin a series of readings, the first of which is the AA Preamble. To newcomers who are not familiar with it, the...

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A Declaration of Unity

A Declaration of Unity

Fellowship is an issue that has been coming up quite a bit in our articles lately. If you look at every article for the past couple of weeks and scroll to the tags at the bottom, you’ll see the word in almost every single one of them. Part of this is that we’ve been...

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Fulfilling the Twelve Promises: Part 3

Fulfilling the Twelve Promises: Part 3

When we first began on series on fulfilling the Twelve Promises, we mentioned that there are technically only eleven if you read them in Chapter 6 of the Big Book. This is because one of the sentences that makes up that section is cut in half. The first half of that...

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The Twelve Concepts for World Service: Concept III

The Twelve Concepts for World Service: Concept III

Since we waited until a little later in the year to start doing a series on AA’s Twelve Concepts for World Service, the first few have been posted relatively close together. Now that it is March and we are on Concept III, we are finally caught up and able to continue...

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