When you think of 12 step programs, you automatically think of Alcoholics Anonymous, which is where it originated. Alcoholics Anonymous is an organization that is famous for helping people with addiction problems. The 12 step program is the foundation for the organization’s program. The basis of the 12 step programs can be used in a variety of different situations, but is widely used in programs that treat addictions. Many individuals have incorporated the 12 step program into their lives for all kinds of addictions in addition to alcoholism and drug problems. Anyone who wants to take control of his life and behavior may benefit from a 12 step program. The 12 step program has traditionally been based on Christian ideology but can be changed to meet each individual’s recovery needs. Of course, there are twelve levels to the program. According to www.12step.org, the steps are as follows: The first step is to relinquish power or powerlessness, in other words, the person’s life spins out of control when the alcohol, drug or other damaging element is present. The second step asserts that the person needs to believe in a higher power or hope. Many critics of the 12 step program assert that the system is too religious in nature. And the third step is contends that the person needs to turn his life over to God or Faith. The forth step is made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. This step is another one closely tied to religion as anyone who has sat in a confessional will attest. The moral inventory leads to the fifth level of the 12 step program in which the individual admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs or it is called honesty. The sixth step is ironically similar to step one. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Instead of being powerless to the harmful element, he becomes powerless to God. The higher being is responsible for removing the negative aspects of the individual’s character. This passive approach to recovery has been criticized as well or we call it preparation. The next three levels involve letting go, humility and forgiveness or we can say it apologizing and making amends for the wrongs which individual had committed. From there, the tenth level continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it and the eleventh step sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. The twelfth level of the 12 step program which is the last step, promises that having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs to spread the word of his success. This down-to-earth approach describes a path that is meaningful regardless whether your orientation is humanist, secular (non-religious) or spiritual or religious. This 12 step programs are structured so that everyone is working toward the same goal, even though their situations may be very different. Depending on what type problems are being addressed, and the level of severity, 12 step programs are worked at the individual’s pace, and not something that is given a strict time frame for completion. Completing the steps is challenging for everyone, and may even seem impossible for some, but once a person seeks recovery and chooses a 12 step program, he or she has made a commitment to rediscover themselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We all know that some people seeking treatment and recovery may not feel comfortable with 12 step programs that use a Christian based approach, and this is alright. Let yourself explore what comes up for you as you go through the steps. Take the time to digest each step before moving on to the next. Various treatment facilities and recovery programs use a non-biased interpretation of the 12 steps and encourage participants to complete the program in accordance with their own beliefs. 12 step programs have proven to be very effective, and have helped many people turn their lives around for good. You should remember that, recovery is a constant process, and 12 step programs encourage participants to continue to work the steps even after they have conquered their addiction, to keep them focused and on task. Crizza For more information about 12 step programs, please visit our web site, The Smoking Solutions Blog where you will also find information on the latest stop smoking programs