12-Step Recovery Theory and Application

The concepts, principles, practices, and suggested 12 steps to recovery of the 12-step recovery approach to treating addictive disorders are examined.

Twelve-step recovery approaches are complex, multidimensional, biopsychosocial, and spiritual programs widely available in the United States and some other countries to people with addictive disorders, their family members, and significant others.

it has not been widely recognized that these programs are complex programs for living and address many issues other than alcohol and drug consumption.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Al-Anon, Alateen, and other 12-step recovery groups have flourished for the better part of the twentieth century, whereas many other treatment approaches have been tried and abandoned.

Although much discussion has centered on their spiritual emphasis, 12-step recovery approaches are clearly psychosocial recovery programs in which many important features entirely consistent with

behavior modification,
recent cognitive therapies,
modern social learning theories,
social psychology, and
sociology are very much in evidence.

Although many people are aware that 12-step recovery approaches are designed to deal specifically with drinking and drug misuse, it has not been widely recognized that these programs are complex programs for living and address many issues other than alcohol and drug consumption.

By JACK Wallace. In: P.J. Ott, R.E. Tarter, and R.T. Ammerman (Eds.), Sourcebook On Substance Abuse: Etiology Epidemiology, Assessment, and treatment. Allyn & Bacon 1999.