12 Step Program - Twelve Step Recovery Meetings
12 Step programs are now familiar Alcoholics Anonymous ( AA) and Narcotics Anonymous ( NA) programs which feature non professional management by recovering alcoholics and drug addicts.
These groups are present throughout the world and are considered highly effective in maintaining sobriety. They appear to be so effective in that they emphasize sharing of personal experiences while maintaining a judgment free atmosphere. The initial stages of participation involve frequent meetings, usually several per week with gradual decrease over time. Many participants maintain a life long attendance in these programs and reformulate their social lives according to behavioral changes acquired through that participation.
Twelve step programs offer the substance abusing teens a structured approach to gaining and maintaining substance free lives by first coming to grips with the reality that they are absolutely powerless in regulating their use of the addictive substance. As a result of that powerlessness they must determine to live life in complete and continuing abstinence from the substance. Several other steps follow including the making of amends to the people they have hurt during the course of their addiction and may even involve making financial restitution for any theft or other misuse of money in the service of their addiction.
An absolutely "core" or essential component of these programs is the linkage between the recovering substance abuser and a sponsor. The sponsor is almost always someone who has acquired years of experience in the program and demonstrates absolute commitment to its principles and philosophy. Additionally, they are seen as responsible and dedicated to those they sponsor and must make themselves instantly available in time of crisis for their clients.
AA and NA components will often be part of residential, day treatment, outpatient, and Tough Love programs so as to initiate the youngster in the approach and to set the stage for continued participation once the teen is discharged from these venues. Often these "in house" AA and NA groups will insist that the teen promise to attend" ninety meetings in ninety days" following discharge.
The attractive feature of these twelve step approaches is that they are available almost world wide and virtually around the clock. Also, the fact that they are conducted by recovering substance abusers and not professionals makes them quite attractive to teenagers because they offer the opportunity for rapid positive role modeling.
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