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12 Step Program success blow away high cost treatment programs. W In just my city, Indianapolis, Indiana, there are over 300 different 12 Step meetings every week. The Promises, which are a part of the original AA Big Book actually come true for those willing to put in action the steps. What’s their secret?

What started it all? Well, back in the 1930’s two men came together, Bill and Bob. If you’re a movie fan watch the movie, “My Name Is Bill W.” with James Woods starring as Bill W. This is a great movie about how AA came into existence. Both these men have passed away, but Bill W. lived long enough to see AA spread across the globe.

Most people attending 12 step programs today really have no idea how close this program is tied to religion. And that’s good, because so many have had such a negative experience of the church that if they knew this going in, they’d never show up for the first meeting.

The Oxford Group philosophy included powerful challenges for individuals to completely surrender their affliction to God. Once done, the next steps included a historical analysis of how the alcoholic’s behavior negatively influenced others. From there this information is shared with a trusted person in order to clean oneself spiritually. The approach also included identifying negative personal character traits and turning these over to God as well. The program rounds out as the alcoholic goes about making amends directly, when possible, to heal old wounds caused by alcoholism. The nice finishing touch involves taking what the alcoholic has learned and paying it forward to others in need.

Today most refer to their 12 step experience as spiritual, not religious. This has great appeal and skirts around peoples resistance to religious rituals.

The 12 Step Program worked so well that it wasn’t long before people suffering from other types of addiction began to create their own 12 step program. If you were to be a fly on the wall at 7 different types of 12 step programs you would notice that all the meeting follow the same format. For most every addiction there is now a 12 step program for it. If you suffer from a compulsion that you cannot seem to get over on your own, I’d strongly advise seeking out a 12 step program. You won’t regret it.