12 Step Program
The 12 Step Program at TN Detox Center combines several of the most effective methods to battle addiction, integrating both the support of 12 Step support groups and the best evidence-based treatments and therapies that a dedicated addiction treatment center can offer. By choosing the 12 Step program, you choose an option that provides international support, science backed therapy, and a time-tested approach.
The 12 Step Program: What Are the Steps?
The 12 Steps come from the group Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which has helped millions of people worldwide break free from alcohol addiction. But the steps aren’t just for people struggling with alcohol – and have been adapted into several programs for drug use, problem gambling, sexual addiction, and much more.
Taken from the book Alcoholics Anonymous, the 12 Steps are designed as a structured pathway for people to break free from addiction and achieve a lasting recovery. They are meant to be taken in order, and are usually worked with a sponsor. The 12 Steps are as follows:
- We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
- 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.
- 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.
In addition to the Steps themselves, 12 Step programs offer meetings for members across the country that are free to attend, the only requirement being that you have a desire to stop drinking or using drugs. These groups create vast social support networks for people in recovery, and offer members an opportunity to give back what they’ve learned in their recovery journeys to others.
Working these steps can create a dramatic change in your life – not only helping you to break free from addiction, but start a path of self-improvement that can last a lifetime. And at TN Detox Center, these steps are just one component of our comprehensive treatment process.
The Evidence for 12 Step Programs
It’s a common misconception that a 12 Step facilitation program doesn’t have the rigor and evidence base as conventional therapies and addiction treatments. In fact, researchers have found time and time again that starting treatment at a 12 Step program is the most effective way of producing lasting sobriety, even when compared against rigorous clinical practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Other findings investigating the effectiveness of 12 Step programs have listed key elements of success:
- The earlier somebody gets involved in a 12 Step program, the more likely they are to remain abstinent later.
- People who attend 12 Step support groups after completing treatment are twice as likely to stay abstinent compared to those who don’t.
- The more 12 Step meetings somebody attends, the more likely they are to remain abstinent.
- One of the strongest contributing factors to 12 Step program’s success is the strong social support networks that people can find from attending programs such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous.
While 12 Step programs don’t always work for everyone, choosing a 12 Step program for your addiction treatment gives you the greatest chances of achieving a lasting and worthwhile recovery.
What to Expect From Our 12 Step Program in Tennessee
As simple as the steps may seem, working them is not always easy. Particularly in early sobriety, when people are facing persistent withdrawal symptoms and invasive drug and alcohol cravings, it can be incredibly helpful to have the support of a team of addiction professionals to help you along the way.
A 12 Step facilitation program isn’t just a method of introducing people to a 12 Step support group – but rather, offering support and guidance for people trying to work the steps, expert advice from people who have worked them themselves and achieved lasting recovery, and targeted supports for every setback or obstacle you may face in the process.
At TN Detox Center, the 12 Step program integrates these methods in with all the other evidence-based tools to help people achieve a lasting and worthwhile recovery. This includes methods such as:
- Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT): MAT uses targeted medications to treat withdrawal symptoms and reduce the intensity and frequency of drug and alcohol cravings.
- Individual Therapy: Working with an individual therapist helps people to understand the root cause of their addiction and provides actionable strategies to overcome the challenges of early recovery.
- Group Therapy: Group therapy programs bring multiple people working on overcoming addiction together, allowing people to share their experience with the Steps, their success in overcoming challenges, and to support one another in the recovery process.
- Mental Health Treatment: Almost 40% of people living with a substance use disorder have a co-occurring mental health condition. And while the Steps are a time-tested strategy to overcoming substance use disorders, they aren’t designed to help people overcome mental health symptoms. Dual diagnosis treatment can fill this gap, connecting our clients to psychiatrists, specialized behavioral interventions, and mental health support groups.
Together, these treatments can help people through nearly any challenge they face on their journey towards sobriety.
Who a 12 Step Program is For
Working the steps can be beneficial for nearly anyone with a substance use disorder. You have multiple options for a 12 Step program: AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), NA (Narcotics Anonymous), HA (Heroin Anonymous), PA (Pills Anonymous), CMA (Crystal Meth Anonymous), or CA (Cocaine Anonymous) – and that’s just a few of the wide variety of programs available to you.
A 12 Step program is for anyone struggling with addiction. While some aspects of the steps may be daunting, coming with an open mind and a willingness to change can take you a long way towards achieving your goals of recovery.
Start a 12 Step Program in Tennessee Today
When you or a loved one is struggling to overcome a substance use disorder, TN Detox Center is here to help. Our 12 Step Program in Nashville, Tennessee has all the tools and resources you need to finally break free from addiction once and for all, and start a life in recovery that can help you start to feel like you’re back in control over your own life.
When you’re ready to begin, reach out to our team of recovery advocates by calling 615-488-5311 or filling out our confidential online contact form for a no-obligation consultation. From medical detox, to drug and alcohol rehab, to extensive aftercare programs – we’ll be there to help you every step of the way.
