8 Common 12 Step Recovery Groups

When it comes to 12 step programs, there’s no doubt the meetings and recovery support help addicts and alcoholics remain sober. But with so many options, it can be difficult to know which 12 step program you should choose, yet getting the right program can make or break an individual’s recovery.

To help make the decision easier, here are eight of the most common 12 step programs, who they’re designed for, and what they’re about. If you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol and ready to start on the road to recovery, now’s the time.

Call 800-781-0748 (Who Answers?) today to talk to an addiction professional who can discuss your treatment options, answer your rehab questions, and get you the help you need to change your life around.

AA—Alcoholics Anonymous

The beginning of the 12 step movement, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was started in 1935 when two alcoholics, Bill W. and Dr. Bob, realized that helping each other stay sober protected their own sobriety. Designed especially for alcoholics, AA helps individuals let go of their addiction, negative behaviors, and thought patterns and move towards sobriety by making amends, asking for help, and helping others.

NA—Narcotics Anonymous

Recovery Groups

GROW provides peer support to those with severe mental illnesses.

Designed for men and women “whom drugs have become a major problem,” NA was started by Jimmy Kinnon in 1953 and directly designed from AA. It’s open to all addicts, regardless of what they’re using, and like AA, the only requirement is the desire to be sober.

Al-Anon/Alateen

Addiction is a family disease, and that’s how Al-Anon and Alateen arose, as a way to help the families of alcoholics and addicts learn to deal with the disease and have support to stop enabling their loved ones. Formed in 1951, the Al-Anon meetings are designed for any and all friends and families of alcoholics, regardless if that person is in recovery.

CoDA—Codependent Anonymous

Codependence and addiction are often two-fold, so it makes since that there’s a meeting for it. Started in 1986, CoDA is specifically for those people who want to learn how to develop functional and healthy relationships.

MA—Marijuana Anonymous

Designed for those who abuse, are addicted to, and feel that their lives are controlled by marijuana, MA meetings can be found in cities across the country and online.

OA—Overeaters Anonymous

OA is open to those who have compulsive issues with food, including overeaters, bingers, bulimics, and anorexics. If food controls your life, OA is the program for you.

12 Step Programs: Just how Many are There?

Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery is a Christian based recovery program founded in 1990. Designed for any and all people who have “hurts, habits, and hang-ups” including drug and alcohol addiction, sex addiction, gambling issues, eating disorders, mental health issues, or a history of abuse.

GROW

GROW was formed in 1957, when a Catholic priest and group of individuals with mental health diagnosis realized they could help each other. Designed to offer peer support, GROW is for those with serious mental illnesses, both seeking recovery from and prevention of regression.

Are You Ready?

Are you ready to take back control of your life? Are you done with drugs and alcohol? Call 800-781-0748 (Who Answers?) today to learn how to make it a reality and get the help you need.

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Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser: ARK Behavioral Health, Recovery Helpline, Alli Addiction Services.

By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.

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