Understanding and Implementing the 12 Steps into Your Program2007 Georgia Drug and DUI Court Conference - Peachtree City: Understanding and Implementing the 12 Steps into Your Program 2007 Georgia Drug and DUI Court Conference - Peachtree City Thomas Harrison-Burke & Michael Devine, Hall County


Why Bother?: Why Bother? Old playgrounds Old playmates Lifestyle Change Breaking through Cognitive Defense Mechanisms (Denial) We won’t be there forever Long-term recovery support


Is AA the only way?: Is AA the only way? Absolutely not! Faith-based support groups such as Celebrate Recovery Secular Organization for Sobriety Rational Recovery Church/Religion External Support System needs to be developed


Then why AA/NA?: Then why AA/NA? Prevalence Number of available groups Availability of ‘clubhouse’ settings Process Addiction affects thinking and actions, 12-step focuses on action which changes thinking over time 12-step is a blueprint for a selfless vs. selfish lifestyle (regardless of the false saying “it’s a selfish program” – it is not) “Psychic change at depth”


Spirituality – outside of Religion: Spirituality – outside of Religion Attitudes Spiritual in nature Beliefs Religious beliefs Personal beliefs Core beliefs about life Value System Morality set as chosen by the person Effects Attitude/Belief sets Enhances or detracts from recovery


12 Steps: 12 Steps 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable. 2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.


12 Steps: 12 Steps 7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. 9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. 11. Sought though prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. 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.


How many times is Alcohol mentioned?: How many times is Alcohol mentioned? Exactly ONE TIME Steps are about lifestyle change that supports recovery Steps are also about giving to others instead of keeping your recovery to yourself Selfish?


So, why do some established groups struggle with court mandated programs?: So, why do some established groups struggle with court mandated programs? Relations With Outside Agencies The Fellowship has adopted a policy of ·cooperation but not affiliation· with other organizations concerned with the problem of alcoholism. We have no opinion on issues outside A.A. and neither endorse nor oppose any causes. – from A.A. at a Glance Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole. – 4th Tradition


12 Traditions: 12 Traditions 1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity. 2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern. 3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. 4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole. 5. Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. 6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.


12 Traditions: 12 Traditions 7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. 8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers. 9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. 10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy. 11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films. 12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.


Implementing 12 Steps into your program: Implementing 12 Steps into your program Using the Steps in Treatment Step Work 1st Step 2nd & 3rd Step 4th & 5th Step 6th & 7th Step 8th & 9th Step 10th-12th Step


Principles behind the Steps: Principles behind the Steps Step 1: Honesty  After many years of denial, recovery can begin when with one simple admission of being powerless over alcohol -- for alcoholics and their friends and family. Step 2: Faith It seems to be a spiritual truth, that before a higher power can begin to operate, you must first believe that it can. Step 3: Surrender A lifetime of self-will run riot can come to a screeching halt, and change forever, by making a simple decision to turn it all over to a higher power. Step 4: Soul Searching There is a saying in the 12-step programs that recovery is a process, not an event. The same can be said for this step -- more will surely be revealed. Step 5: Integrity Probably the most difficult of all the steps to face, Step 5 is also the one that provides the greatest opportunity for growth. Step 6: Acceptance The key to Step 6 is acceptance -- accepting character defects exactly as they are and becoming entirely willing to let them go.


Principles behind the Steps: Principles behind the Steps Step 7: Humility The spiritual focus of Step 7 is humility, asking a higher power to do something that cannot be done by self-will or mere determination. Step 8: Willingness Making a list of those harmed before coming into recovery may sound simple. Becoming willing to actually make those amends is the difficult part. Step 9: Forgiveness Making amends may seem like a bitter pill to swallow, but for those serious about recovery it can be great medicine for the spirit and soul. Step 10: Maintenance Nobody likes to admit to being wrong. But it is absolutely necessary to maintain spiritual progress in recovery. Step 11: Making Contact The purpose of Step 11 is to discover the plan God as you understand Him has for your life. Step 12: Service For those in recovery programs, practicing Step 12 is simply "how it works."


Verification of Meeting Attendance: Verification of Meeting Attendance Problems Falsification of documents Sheets must be signed by someone whose signature is verifiable Autonomy of Groups in AA/NA means that some groups may choose NOT to sign them Lack of details on specific meetings can lead to problems in verification


Verification of Meeting Attendance: Verification of Meeting Attendance Solutions Develop detailed sign-in form Include date, time, meeting name Choose a designated signer for your documents; i.e. – only meeting chairperson or meeting secretary Include brief description by participant of meeting topic and what they learned Develop your own meetings in-house Allows you to have a sign-in attendance sheet Supervision can be done by staff Supervision can be done by senior participants or alumni


Slide17: Discussion