The 12-Step Program, a set of 12 consecutive steps or activities, refers to a targeted recovery plan that emphasizes viewing addiction as a disease or medical condition. The philosophy of the problem lies in arresting the disease rather than hating, stigmatizing or neglecting those living with an addiction.
At Athena, the 12-Step Program is delivered through self-help groups where people with addiction are assisted in:
Realizing how powerless they were against alcohol and drugs
Accepting the immoral side of addiction
Admitting the nature of their wrongdoings
Creating a list of individuals whom they have harmed
Make amends by doing the needful for those people
These steps are important in the view that they help develop an innate desire to overcome addiction, while repairing the past and preventing future damage.
What does the 12-Step Program Comprise?
Athena’s 12-Step program for recovery from addiction has the following 12 steps or active ingredients:
Treating each case individually
Making the patient believe what’s wrong with addiction
Motivating the patient to quit addiction
Strengthening self-belief and willpower to attain sobriety
Working to ensure abstinence from alcohol or drug use
Encouraging patients to attend self-help group meetings
Making them confident so that they admit and accept the dark side of addiction
Introducing them to a social circle of people who support abstinence
Decreasing exposure to drinking-related activities
Ensuring non-availability of cues that induce cravings
Familiarize the patient with rewarding social relationships
Inculcating effective coping skills to avoid relapse and maintain sobriety
How Effective is the 12-Step Program?
Researchers have confirmed that the mechanism of action of the “active ingredients” of the 12-Step programs is effective in increasing the likelihood of “abstinence and improved psychosocial function”.
What are the Expectations from Patients and their Families?
To gain the maximum benefit from a 12-Step program we have set some expectations from the patients and their family members.
Expectations from patients
Attending meetings and participate in recovery activities
Meeting attendance and engagement requirements
Following medication schedule and therapy sessions
Abiding by the instructions of therapists and nursing staff
Staying positive and motivated
Expectations from family members
Following the visitation and meeting schedule strictly
Not sharing any unpleasant news or information with the patient
Not paying heed to patient’s demand for a substance, no matter how much they plead