Alcoholic 12 Steps Programs

Millions of individuals who suffer from alcoholism have successfully learned to deal with their addiction through a twelve step program such as utilized in "AA" or "Alcoholics Anonymous" which is a worldwide support group for alcoholics.

"Alcoholics Anonymous" was the first support group of this type and was founded in the year of 1935 by Bill Wilson and Bob Smith who came together to help each other as each was battling this disease and found that through the support of one another and their belief in a God they were able to maintain their sobriety which led them to realize that many others could benefit from being helped in this way.

Since then this twelve step program has been adapted and been successful in helping many individuals with other types of addictions such as, drugs, over eating, gambling, and numerous others.

Part of the twelve steps include that the individual must recognize and admit that they have problem with addiction which they can not control themselves and that there is a higher power that can assist them in doing so. The individual through the help of an experienced member of the group which is assigned as their sponsor, acknowledge the mistakes which they have made in the past including the harm which they have caused others, and attempt to make amends for those errors.

The addict must also learn the skills given to them through this program to change their behaviors which will help them maintain their sobriety and adapt to a new life of being clean and sober along with helping others to the best of their ability who are struggling with the same addiction. "Alcoholics Anonymous" is the largest of these twelve step programs with over two million members worldwide, followed by "Narcotics Anonymous" with over twenty five thousands groups in one hundred and twenty seven countries.