What is a 12-Step Program?
Addiction Treatment Center Versus 12-Step Programs
Addiction Treatment Centers across the United States and most Texas alcohol and drug rehabs operate their treatment centers with an emphasis on clinical and therapeutic approaches combined. Some alcohol rehabs and drug rehabs reference that they are 12-step based treatment programs. These programs have certain elements of their treatment that focus on the 12-step principles in their addiction treatment centers.
What is a 12-Step Program?
A 12-Step Program is a support group or fellowship that meet daily or weekly with a common problem. They are typically nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical and available in most major cities and rural communities. Most do not have an age limit or educational requirements. It is important to understand that a 12-step program is not a treatment center. Some common 12-Step Programs are Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotic Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Al-Anon Family Groups, Emotions Anonymous, Metamphetime Anonymous, and Celebrate Recovery.
12-Step Based Treatment Programs:
There are many different modalities of care that treatment centers identify with or incorporate into their treatment programs. Some addiction treatment centers claim that their overall treatment program is 12-Step Based and others add pieces of the 12-Steps into their treatment curriculums during the treatment process.
12-Step Facilitated Therapy:
Currently, 12-Step Facilitated Therapy is the only recognized evidence-based practice that an addiction treatment center can utilize that has been researched and measured by research studies. Alcohol and drug treatment centers that use this therapy become trained in 12-Step Facilitated Therapy. The type of therapy involves active engagement. One element of the therapy is to increase the likelihood that someone with a substance use disorder will successfully discharge from treatment and become affiliated with a 12-step self-help group. 12-Step Facilitated Therapy primarily deals with alcohol, stimulants, and opiates, however, in recent years, other substances are now being addressed using this therapy.
Why Do Addiction Treatment Centers Recommend 12-Step Programs?
Addiction Treatment Centers have noticed over the years that those who complete a treatment program and then attend 12-step groups enhance the likelihood that they will stay in personal recovery. These individuals remain abstinent without a return to drinking alcohol or using drugs. For this reason, an addiction treatment center will recommend that patients attend 12-step groups.
What if I am not interested in a 12-Step approach?
The good news is that if you are not interested in a 12-step approach, then a treatment center should be able to provide you with other approaches to the treatment of substance use disorders. A good treatment center will be able to accommodate your desire not to utilize a 12-Step approach and offer other evidence-based therapies at their treatment centers. No two people recover the same way or at the same rate. Addiction Treatment Centers offer many different modalities of care. If you or a loved one is experiencing a problem with alcohol or drugs, please don’t hesitate to call Summer Sky Treatment Center 24-hours per day at 1-888-857-8857.
We look forward to the opportunity to help and serve you with your treatment needs.
