The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is the best-known system for recovery, and is generally thought to be the most consistently successful. But it is not the only system.
Some people have difficulty with the language of AA. Written in 1939, it can be challenging to understand some of the phrases since word usage has changed greatly over the last seven-plus decades.
For others, the masculine emphasis of the language may seem to be a barrier. At the time the steps were written, using the masculine pronoun as all-inclusive was a standard writing practice. Also, most of the people in AA at the time were men.
Perhaps the most common reason for discomfort with the 12 steps, however, is the perceived religiosity of the program. Despite the fact that AA is very clear in its literature that belief in any religion or deity is not required for recovery, and indeed many atheists do recover using the 12 steps, the frequent use of the words “God,” “prayer,” “meditation, and so on are a turn-off to many people.
Thus, other programs and systems were developed over the years to respond to these issues, and all recovery processes have their place. Whatever works for the individual is the best one for that person, and no one should feel excluded from an opportunity for recovery just because they feel excluded from a recovery model.
Among the many alternative recovery systems that have developed over the years, some of the better known include: Rational Recovery, Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS), Women for Sobriety, Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART Recovery), Lifering Secular Recovery, and Moderation Management. In addition, there are other processes such as The Addiction and Recovery Cure, The Sedona Method, Seven Weeks to Sobriety that have had success. And of course there is psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapies, psychotropic therapy and religion, which are used by some people as well.
Some of these models are not specific to recovery, but each has a place in the overall spectrum of assets for people who want to leave their active addiction behind. Some people have found that blending two or more of these models is most effective for them.
The point is, if the method of recovery you have chosen is working for you, it is the right one for you. If it isn’t, there are options available. The key is to be really honest with yourself in being sure that you have fully committed to whatever process you choose, because whether any of them work or not is up to the individual and his/her effort.
In the remaining articles, we will shift the focus to long-term recovery, sometimes called advanced recovery or Stage II recovery.