In this guide
The Twelve-Step program is among the most well-known mutual aid programs for addiction recovery in the world. It was first developed around 1938-39 to help people recover from alcohol dependence. Since then, it has been adapted to programs for other addictions, such as gambling, sex, and eating.
The 12 steps of AA are foundational to Wasatch Crest's holistic and experiential recovery program for men and women. They serve as the basis for our residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs, all of which have helped around 95% of patients reach their treatment goals.
As a great first step in your own recovery or that of your loved one's, learn more about the 12 steps below and how Wasatch Crest helps individuals overcome addiction.
History of Alcoholics Anonymous
How It Began
According to this 2010 article about their 75th anniversary, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was founded in 1935 by Dr. Bob Smith and Mr. Bill Wilson in Akron, Ohio.
New to sobriety themselves, these two individuals sought to help others recover from their alcohol abuse with practical resources. This led to the duo developing the 12-step program in their first published pamphlet titled "Alcoholics Anonymous: How Over 100 Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism."
The 12 Traditions & Growth
By 1946, membership in AA was growing, and so Dr. Smith and Mr. Wilson developed the 12 traditions to create a more formal framework for how groups would function and interact. One commonly known practice was for members to use only their first names.
While AA membership and participation were strictly for those struggling with alcohol use, other similar groups formed. They took on some of the same traditions and principles, but focused on recovery from other issues such as gambling, drug addiction, smoking, and so on.
AA's Influence Today
Today, after nearly a hundred years, AA has over a million members across 180 nations worldwide, and its literature is translated into over 100 languages.
Through this highly influential program, the 12 Steps of AA have helped countless individuals reshape their lives from old patterns and difficult conflicts with alcohol dependency. At Wasatch Crest, we proudly follow in the same traditions of recovery and personal growth.
An Overview of All 12 Steps of AA
What are these 12 steps? The twelve-step program is a process that all AA members follow to help them remain motivated and accountable throughout their recovery journey. It also gives individuals struggling with addiction a clear path and a defined set of goals as they work toward lasting sobriety.
Here's a breakdown of each of the 12 steps of AA, according to Alcoholics Anonymous:
Step 1
"We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable."
As with all problems, the first step toward positive change is to accept that you have one. This involves admitting you have trouble with alcohol that you can't control through willpower alone.
You're also accepting that, due to alcohol, you've also lost control of your personal life.
Step 2
"Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."
This step is about finding faith in a higher power or something larger than oneself (however one may define that). It's about connecting with that greater force and allowing it to help you let go, heal, and begin improving yourself.
Step 3
"Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him."
Once you accept that higher forces are at work, this step is about submitting to the idea that you aren't in control of everything.
This doesn't mean you have no control over yourself or your choices, but rather that certain life events and outcomes are beyond what you can make of them. As you strive to release what isn't yours to carry, you are now accepting that a higher power will help lead you to recover and reach sobriety.
Step 4
"Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves."
Now moving from the internal and abstract, you perform a more concrete action: self-reflection. You consider your own character and behaviors. You remember your own actions toward yourself and others.
This isn't about brutal self-judgment, but admission and understanding of who you are now, what character defects you may have as a result of your non-sober self, and how you may have affected others, from loved ones and colleagues to acquaintances. This step can be uncomfortable, but it's also deeply courageous and often serves as a pivotal turning point in your sobriety journey.
Step 5
"Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."
This next step involves sharing your honest reflections with someone you trust (often a sponsor), as well as with yourself and your higher power. At this point, you're stating the specific wrongdoings you know you have committed, making your admissions external.
Step 6
"Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."
At this step, you're opening yourself to the possibility of changing the negative aspects of yourself that are tied to alcohol and the negative acts you performed while under the influence. You're also accepting that you need help making these changes to your current self.
Step 7
"Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings."
In this step, you're outwardly affirming your need for help and support to free yourself of the negative traits and patterns you go through that lead you to drink. This can be done by praying or asking your higher power for help.
Step 8
"Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."
Remember all of your wrongdoings while drinking and the people you affected. These can include friends, family, significant others, coworkers, acquaintances, and even random people you may know from afar. List as many as you can and commit yourself to making amends with them.
Step 9
"Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."
Aside from those who refuse to interact with you or those you're simply unable to reach, find those you've wronged and sincerely apologize to them. This means taking full responsibility and seeking accountability for your actions while drinking. It's also about showing true concern and empathy for those who may have been harmed by your addiction.
Step 10
"Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it."
This step further acknowledges that the process is ongoing. It involves making self-reflection a continuous habit, taking stock of yourself as you continue to live in and pursue sobriety.
Step 10 is even more important because you are also accepting that mistakes and even lapses will occur, but that you're willing to quickly acknowledge and correct them when they happen.
Step 11
"Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out."
Whether through prayer, meditation, or another practice, this step focuses on spiritual growth with your higher power. It's meant to help you seek guidance and strength, and connect with your purpose in life.
Step 12
"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."
The final step is about sharing your personal experiences with the 12 steps of AA with others who are seeking sobriety. You may also demonstrate its positive effects by practicing the core principles in all areas of your life.
Why the Twelve Steps of AA Work
After over 90 years, the 12 steps of AA continue to be an effective path to sobriety from alcohol, according to Stanford Medicine.
One reason is that the program is so comprehensive, starting from the internal source causing the addiction, and then reaching out and amending past harms, seeking forgiveness, and making efforts toward sobriety externally.
However, there are many more specific reasons why the twelve steps are so beneficial for those who follow them:
It Involves Self-Admission & Reflection of One's Alcohol Addiction
Like the old saying goes, "The first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one," and the 12-step program thoroughly puts you through the paces of understanding, admitting, and identifying the issues you may have with alcohol addiction.
It Is Based in Communal and Spiritual Principles
Working together with other like-minded individuals seeking recovery helps you maintain sobriety throughout and beyond the 12-step program. Community is also extremely supportive during critical moments, and connection to a higher power can further sustain you by bringing purpose into your struggle.
It Ensures Every Individual is Accountable
A central part of the 12 steps of AA is taking responsibility. You are taught to remain aware of your actions and behaviors toward yourself and others, particularly in steps 5, 8, 9, and 10.
By listing your wrongdoings, making amends, and continuously self-reflecting, you stay accountable to yourself and others, supporting lasting change.
It Hands People a Chance to Give Back & Find Forgiveness
One of the toughest parts of overcoming addiction is feeling the guilt of what you may have done in the past. The difficulty of remembering and the feeling of being unable to move on keep many stuck in the same place.
However, the 12 steps provide a clear path toward finding redemption and forgiveness. By making amends with those we wrong and helping others improve their lives, people struggling with alcohol use disorders can find a new sense of purpose and change their lives for the better, long-term.