College Student’s Guide to 12-Step Recovery

College is the modern rite of passage for young adults, representing new beginnings, finding your identity, meeting new people, and taking on new experiences. So many things come to mind when we think of college, like college parties.

The party scene is so prevalent among students that we have begun normalizing the “sink or swim” and “drink until you pass out” mottos. Unfortunately, this way of thinking is almost just as dangerous as alcohol itself.

When You Don’t Think You Have A Problem

Alcohol can undoubtedly inhibit our judgment and decision-making skills. According to a recent study, 60% of college students admit to binge drinking in the last seven days. Binge drinking is the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period.

Creating dangerous habits with alcohol can lead to a decline in your academics, put you in hazardous situations, and risk your health overall.

However, we don’t see our drinking behavior as a problem if everyone is doing the same thing. In a sense, we have normalized and even enabled the drinking culture in college. Perhaps you are starting to recognize your habits with alcohol as detrimental, but not as an addiction. Programs like AA are incredibly effective in making a lifestyle change.

Losing The Stigma

A dark shadow seemingly follows when you hear “AA.” The shadow of the doubt might be saying not me; I’m not an alcoholic. Or, what will others think when they hear that I’m attending AA meetings? Many students lack familiarity and direct experience with this readily accessible and potentially lifesaving resource.

In a journal posted by the National Library of Medicine, a group of students took an experiential approach to an AA meeting and how it relates to college students. Their results were telling. Upon attending a meeting, they were surprised by “how welcomed they felt, even as they identified themselves as students” and “moved by how open AA members were about sharing their own experiences.”

The authenticity of the meetings is what makes the program so effective. Its raw and organic emotions allow members to connect and guide one another on their journey.

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What Are The 12 Steps?

The 12 steps to recovery, developed in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob, are the core of the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program. They are guiding principles designed to help members reach the end goal of sobriety. It also teaches members who previously battled addiction to sustain a healthy and fulfilled life. These steps have proven to make the program effective as it hones in on mental, spiritual, and physical goals.

Taking The Next Step

The 12-step recovery program is not limited to one sector or one demographic of society, and the hospitality the students felt in the study is universal across all AA meetings. If the stigma of the meetings is holding you back, trust that a community of 2 million members across 180 nations is waiting to meet you.

Changing your lifestyle can be challenging, especially when most of the college population is complacent in the drinking culture. Or, like many, they fail to recognize they have a drinking problem. Find AA meetings near me.

Invite A Friend

College can be difficult, especially if you’re away from your family and close friends. However, it’s also an excellent opportunity to meet new people and make lifelong friendships.

Inviting a friend to an AA meeting might give you that extra support in your journey to recovery. This support friend can also serve as an accountability partner. Find people who want to change with you because birds of a feather flock together for a reason.

Not Ready For Face-to-Face?

There are other options if you’re ready to take the next step but still hesitant to meet face-to-face. First, consider joining a virtual AA meeting. A virtual meeting will allow you to learn more about the 12-step program as you work yourself up to meeting in person. Learn more about online intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous here.

How To Join an AA Meeting

Deciding to seek help is the first and more important step.
Find AA meetings near me.
No need to call, make an appointment, or pay anything. Just show up!
Find a community that fits you! You’re more susceptible to change in a positive and healthy environment. Feel free to try different meetings out to ensure the most impactful experience.

Rising Alcohol-Free Spirits

When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Keep your college bar stocked with alcohol-free spirits that imitate the flavor without the lingering hangover. Here is a list of the top brands that are leading the way in alcohol-free spirits.

The Road To Recovery

College can be daunting enough with keeping up with grades, attending lectures, and managing your newfound freedom. Use that freedom to choose today to better yourself. You may not think you’re addicted to alcohol, but you agree that it has negatively impacted your life.

Join The Sans Bar National Tour, an alcohol-free pop-up

How often have you missed a class because you’re too hungover to attend? Or do you embarrass yourself in front of others because you drank too much? Or you said something you shouldn’t have because of liquid courage. Nonetheless, there are tangible steps and tools to lead college students into a healthy relationship with alcohol. You can still experience all that college has to offer even while being on the road to recovery.

Alcohol & Its Troubling Effects on Youth

Alcohol is the number one drug of choice among America’s youth–and it’s killing them. In small children, it’s a potent poison that can result in seizures, coma, and even death. In teenagers, it can impair cognitive development, prevent them from developing the necessary skills to succeed in today’s society, and also make them more inclined to engage in risky, dangerous behavior. Underage drinking is a serious public health issue that has become a nationwide concern.

Underage Drinking Statistics

Children under the age of 18 who drink alcohol are putting their physical health, psychological health, social skills, emotional well-being–and ultimately their futures–at stake. The earlier they are introduced to alcohol, the greater the risks and consequences are likely to be down the line.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 39.7% of youths between 12 and 20 years old have had at least one drink in their lives; 20% of this group also reported drinking alcohol within the past month.

To make matters worse is how young underage people drink. They are more prone to binge drinking behavior (this is how 90% of 12 to 20-year-olds consume alcohol) which amplifies the risks of dangerous consequences like alcohol poisoning, overdosing, and death. In an NIAAA survey that surveyed children on their drinking behavior:

4.2 million reported binge drinking in the past month
825,000 binge drank five or more times in the past month

Alcohol causes thousands of deaths in young people ages 21 and under each year. In 2019 there were:

1,092 from motor vehicle crashes
1,000 from homicides
208 from alcohol overdose, falls, burns, and drowning
596 from suicides

Alcohol Effects on Youths

414,000 children aged 12-17 had an alcohol use disorder. However, the adverse effects of alcohol on youths begin well before they get to the stage of developing an addiction.

Impaired Brain Development

The brain isn’t fully developed until we reach the age of 25. Young children who consume alcohol earlier than this may experience neuro and cognitive development delays in the brain. This translates into impaired memory, problem-solving skills, and impulse control. Naturally, this will negatively affect academic performance and put them in a poor position for the future.

An examination comparing the brain activity of drinking versus non-drinking children demonstrated how underage drinking puts youths at a clear disadvantage. The results showed that the brains of children who participated in heavy alcohol consumption were more activated and working harder, though their end performance was the same as their peers. Other studies have shown that underage drinkers have high rates of absenteeism and lower grades.

Mental Health Problems

People who drink alcohol face higher risks of developing mental health problems (someone with an AUD is 3.6 times more likely to develop a mood disorder than someone who isn’t). The teenage years are a tumultuous and emotionally charged period on their own. Adding alcohol to the mix can exacerbate feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress, and quickly result in a feedback loop that leads to greater alcohol consumption, and so on.

Injury & Death

Accidental injury is the leading cause of death for children in America. Alcohol consumption amplifies this risk for young children by lowering inhibitions and impulse control, while also interfering with cognition and coordination.

The situation is even stickier for teenagers, who naturally have a greater inclination for thrill-seeking at their age but don’t yet have a developed enough prefrontal cortex to properly weigh potential consequences.

Unsafe Sex

Underage drinkers are more likely to be sexually active at a younger age and to engage in risky behavior such as unprotected sex. This can result in an increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.

Criminal Behavior

One of the most common causes of arrests of Americans under the age of 21 is ‘Minor In Possession’ However, that’s not the only reason why youths who drink are clashing with law enforcement. The lack of impulse control paired with thrill-seeking behavior means underage drinkers are more likely to engage in other illegal behaviors like driving under the influence.

Lack of Social Skills

Many of the social skills children develop are related to their brain development as they age. Alcohol gets in the way of that and can inhibit a child’s ability to process situations and choose an optimal response. Additionally, alcohol can increase antisocial behavior such as aggression or isolation.

Kids shouldn’t drink alcohol–not just because underage drinking is against the law (a misdemeanor that could result in jail time), but because youth alcohol consumption can have disastrous long-term consequences. If you have a young person in your life who you suspect is abusing alcohol, get help as soon as possible.

Sources:

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics

The Connection Between Addiction & Homelessness

Drug abuse and addiction are pervasive issues that affect homeless populations at consistently higher rates than the general public. While it’s true that many people who are homeless struggle with substance abuse, the relationship between addiction and homelessness is not as cut and dry as most might think.

Drug Addiction and Homelessness: Which Causes Which?

Homelessness is defined as an “individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence”. Neither the pathway to homelessness nor the one to addiction is a straight line, it’s cyclical and with numerous potential entry points.

Addiction and homelessness have a pattern of dysfunction similar to that of co-occurring disorders (also known as dual diagnosis) where drug addiction and mental illness feed and worsen each other. Also like dual diagnosis, either can cause the other–here’s how:

How Addiction Can Cause Homelessness

It’s most common for substance abuse to be the cause of homelessness, rather than the other way around. According to a 2008 survey of U.S. city mayors, drug use was the number one cause of homelessness in their cities. In another survey, two-thirds of individuals experiencing homelessness at the time self-reported that substance abuse was the main reason that led to being homeless.

Drug use can damage a person’s relationships with their friends and family. The lack of this support system can leave a person extremely vulnerable to the domino effect aftermath of drug use leading to job loss, which is then followed by financial instability and inevitably leads to a lack of shelter. And because getting out of homelessness is a lot more difficult than just finding employment, once a person has reached this point, it can be incredibly challenging to overcome.

How Homelessness Can Cause Addiction

Drug addictions often come about because a person uses drugs as a coping mechanism for dealing with stressful situations. Homelessness is an incredibly stressful situation (so much so that it’s been directly linked to higher rates of having a severe mental illness and lower levels of recovery).

Regrettably, with no other support systems to turn to, many of the people experiencing homelessness will turn to drugs for relief from their problems. Drug abuse can make a person unemployable as well as ineligible for governmental assistance, leaving them socially stranded and without a lifeline.

For those who fall through social safety nets, their new reality is one where drug abuse is rampant and sometimes a social expectation within the homeless community. Many who find themselves in this situation have little to no motivation to stop using drugs. Homelessness can be considered a chronic condition in its own right. Even if addiction didn’t land a person on the streets, drugs are all too effective at keeping them there.

Other Potential Causes

When it comes to determining whether addiction caused homelessness or vice versa, it’s not a simple ‘either or’ situation. There are also numerous other conditions that could’ve been the primary factor in one or the other, or might have been an underlying factor in both.

Mental illness can play a major role as it can directly lead to an increased risk of homelessness and substance abuse. It’s estimated that over one-third of people experiencing homelessness have a mental illness. Of those, 25% have a serious mental illness.

There’s a significant overlap in the factors that can lead to both addiction and homelessness.

Homelessness and Addiction Statistics

A common misconception about people experiencing homelessness is that all of them are drug users or addicts. Aside from being dehumanizing and insensitive, it’s simply not true.

There are an estimated 552,830 homeless people in the United States — approximately 0.2% of the population.
Over half had either a mental disorder or a co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders
Homeless adults age 65 or older have a higher prevalence of unmet needs for substance use and mental disorder treatment compared with younger homeless adults
People experiencing homelessness are at higher risk of overdose from illicit drug use
68% of men and 76% of women who are homeless and in substance use treatment reported experiencing a trauma-related event
38% of homeless people were dependent on alcohol and 26% abused other drugs compared to 15% of the general U.S. population

Getting Help for Homeless Individuals Struggling With Addiction

Government and private aid is often very limited and sometimes fails to reach the individuals who need their services the most. Peer-based support groups offer an always-free alternative for addressing substance abuse issues. Find the AA group or NA group closest to you today.

Sources:

https://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/addiction.pdf

https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/SAMHSA_Digital_Download/PEP20-06-04-003.pdf

What Is Addiction According To Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?

Addiction is a problem for societies around the world. It affects the lives of people who care about us. But, it’s a very complex problem in which genetic, social, familial, and other factors create an illness that is hard to overcome.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a non-professional American organization founded in 1935 dedicated to helping people overcome alcohol addiction through support groups.

AA’s teachings have a strong spiritual component that reflects the religious beliefs of its founders. In this article, we’ll explore how AA’s definition of addiction differs from other health organizations and why it can provide value to people trying to overcome their alcoholism.

The Traditional Definitions Of Addiction & Alcoholism

The National Health Service (NHS) defines addiction as “not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you.” This definition is most commonly associated with behaviors such as gambling, drugs, alcohol, and smoking.

However, people can be addicted to almost anything, including internet use, work, shopping, and more.

The NHS also defines alcohol misuse as drinking “in a harmful way, or when you’re dependent on alcohol.” To minimize the health risks of alcohol, the CDC recommends moderate alcohol consumption, which means 2 drinks or less in a day for men and 1 drink or less in a day for women.

One drink, according to the CDC, means:

12 ounces of beer (5% ABV)
8 ounces of malt liquor (7% ABV)
5 ounces of wine (12% ABV)
1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (40% ABV)

*ABV means alcohol by volume.

Alcoholics Anonymous’ Definition Of Addiction

AA has a three-part definition of addiction. This doesn’t mean it’s “better” or “worse.” It’s a different perspective that may be useful for some people struggling with alcoholism.

AA (and similar groups such as Narcotics Anonymous) has a definition of addiction that involves the following elements:

Physical
Mental
Spiritual

Let’s explore them.

Physical Allergy

The first part of AA’s definition refers to the physical experience of being addicted to alcohol (and other substances).

In general, people who abuse alcohol tend to have poor physical health, suffer from anxiousness, poor cognition, dizziness, a higher risk of high blood pressure and liver disease, and more.

AA defines these physical symptoms as an “allergy.” An allergy is a condition that makes people sick or causes skin or breathing issues due to eating or being near substances they have become hypersensitive to.

This classification may, however, not be correct. Alcohol allergy or intolerance is a rare condition that causes adverse reactions after drinking alcohol, like a stuffy nose and skin flushing. It’s caused by the body’s inability to process alcohol. Alcoholics typically don’t suffer from alcohol intolerance.

While it may be helpful for some people to think of alcohol as something they must avoid, like a substance that makes them allergic, it’s important to recognize that alcoholism is not the same as having an alcohol allergy.

This idea was proposed in the 1930s, almost 100 years ago.

We know much more about allergies today and can confirm that classifying alcohol addiction as an allergy is incorrect.

Mental Obsession

The second part of AA’s definition is the mental fixation with consuming alcohol.

This “mental obsession” refers to the addict’s inability to see their substance of abuse as something harmful to avoid, but rather something good that makes them feel alleviated. They ignore or refuse to recognize that this comfort comes at the cost of their overall health.

“The Big Book” of AA describes the person struggling with alcoholism “at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink.” They cannot stop themselves, and all logical reasons why drinking is not a good idea are ignored.

In this sense, AA and modern medicine are an alignment. Scientific associations, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA), both recognize addiction as a “brain disease.”

Also, the DSM-V classifies addiction as a mental health condition called substance use disorder.

Spiritual Malady

This is the part of the definition where AA’s religious and spiritual background shows the most. According to AA beliefs, addiction is, at its core, a spiritual disorder, disease, or ailment.

The spirit is often understood as the characteristics of a person separate from the body, which is the seat of our emotions and overall character. In this sense, AA’s definition of addiction may be considered an illness of the soul, which spreads through all other aspects of our lives.

AA’s strong emphasis on spirituality may be problematic for some people, and it’s one of the reasons many may have trouble following the 12 Steps.

But for people who have spiritual beliefs or are willing to engage with that side of themselves, it can be powerful to know that AA’s methods connect closely with their values.

Finding Help Beyond Definitions

Whatever your definition of addiction is, it must recognize that it is a challenge that needs to be overcome. The method you use to overcome it should take into account the multiple factors that come to play in addiction and help address them to achieve long-term sobriety.

If you or someone you know is dealing with alcohol addiction, consider talking to a professional about it. Alcoholism is a progressive disease that can cause many disturbances in your private and professional life and can also be fatal when not treated. Consider speaking to an addiction specialist to discuss treatment options.

What Are the Treatment Methods for Alcohol Addiction?

Alcohol abuse is among some of the most common addictions in the world with many people struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD). When the habit of drinking starts affecting a person’s daily life and their health, it is classified as alcohol addiction. In 2017, it was estimated that 19.7 million people battled alcohol use disorder in the US. The WHO informs us that alcohol abuse claims almost 3.3 million lives all around the world. These statistics show the alarming level of harm that alcohol abuse poses. In order to protect yourself and combat AUD, professional help should be sought out. The best way to protect yourself against alcohol addiction is to seek professional help. The following are the treatment options for those who battle alcohol addiction.

Medication

Medication is an effective treatment for alcohol abuse disorder (AUD).. There are certain medicines that have been approved by the FDA that are employed in this type of treatment. Primarily, three of the drugs have been approved:

Disulfiram
Naltrexone
Acamprosate

Alcohol treatment Drugs like acamprosate can aid in lowering alcohol consumption. They are prescribed by a primary care physician or another healthcare provider and can be taken alone or in conjunction with psychotherapy. However, it is important to get help from other treatments, such as therapies.

Detoxification

Alcohol detoxification, commonly addressed as detox, is the process in which toxins left by heavy alcohol usage are eliminated from the body. t. It is usually the first step when a treatment is sought out. This is done to reduce withdrawal effects and clear the body of whatever hazardous items remain inside and keep pestering the body. In a therapy context, alcohol detox is often supported by medicine, medical monitoring, and counseling. Therapists are available in the addiction clinic to assist those who may start to experience withdrawal symptoms while undergoing alcohol detox.

Behavioral Therapies

Behavioral therapies are crucial for people who deal with alcohol addiction or any other form of addiction. They help the patients develop skills and attitudes that help them stay away from drugs and alcohol. They also assist individuals in adhering to a healthier lifestyle. There are various therapies that are offered to individuals and are usually part of treatment plans. The following are some of the therapies that are also found in outpatient alcohol addiction treatments:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This type of therapy assists patients in identifying, avoiding, and resolving situations where drug use is most likely to occur. The core tenet of the CBT paradigm is the interconnectedness of your ideas, emotions, and actions. For instance, if you are self-conscious, you may feel alone and unhappy, which may encourage you to drink alcohol to dull the pain inside of you. The purpose of CBT, which is a problem-focused treatment method, is to discover healthy solutions to your present difficulties rather than concentrating on the underlying causes of these problems. By addressing the root cause of a problem, CBT can be an excellent way to provide long-term recovery and reduce the risk of relapse in people.

Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT)

Addiction can be a hereditary issue, and this therapy can be effective for people with co-occurring disorders because it addresses a person’s underlying issues. To address issues in this way, a holistic therapy known as multidimensional family therapy and an outpatient counseling technique is also well known. Using a combination of family therapy, drug counseling, and personal and multiple-systems-focused intervention techniques, MDFT is an integrated outpatient treatment. The interventions focus on the interrelated areas of development of an individual and, within them, the situations and activities that are known to cause and/or maintain dysfunction.

Support Groups

Support groups, such as Alcohols Anonymous (AA) meetings or 12-step rehabs, are one of the treatments that may be opted by the people who struggle with AUD. These support groups cater to people who are looking to relinquish or reduce drinking habits. With the assistance of medical expertise and mutual-support groups, most efficacious results for AUD can be attained. As the name suggests, these organizations operate anonymously. However, this is exactly why researchers find it challenging to evaluate the likelihood of success of mutual-support groups. Organizations for the treatment of alcoholism and support groups may be crucial components of the trip. These organizations can help individuals who are looking to minimize chances of relapse.. These organizations persistently assist with “step work,” which is the process of going through all 12 AA stages in order to become sober and keep it that way.

Alateen

Some unique support groups, such as Alateen, are also available. Alateen caters to those whose parents struggle with alcoholism. People share their experiences and traumas in this support group. Lessons and directions are given less attention. Alateen can link you with other young people dealing with comparable difficulties. It can aid in both finding support and becoming more comfortable asking for help.

There are plenty of treatments for those who struggle with alcohol addiction. The journey is not always easy, and alcoholism is not easily cured. It requires years to break the drinking habit. However, help is available, and with some effort, there is a great chance that you will live a more fulfilling life.

Is Alcohol a Depressant?

There are a lot of different ways to classify drugs, such as their chemical structure or how they’re used (i.e. crushed and snorted, swallowed, or injected as a liquid). One of the most common classifications is based on the way the drug affects the body, whether it speeds your body up or slows it down. Drugs that perk you up are known stimulants or “uppers”; those that slow you down are depressants and aptly nicknamed “downers”.

Most drugs fall neatly into one category or the other. Alcohol, however, is a special case. It has the qualities of both stimulants and depressants which makes it difficult to classify, and an unpredictable drug in guessing how it might affect someone.

Where does alcohol, the world’s most widely used psychoactive drug, fall in these groupings? We dive in to answer once and for all if alcohol is a depressant or stimulant.

How Depressants vs. Stimulants Affect the Body

To accurately assign alcohol with the label of ‘depressant’ or ‘stimulant’, you’ll first need a better idea of what these two classifications mean. Both affect the central nervous system (CNS), but do so in opposite ways. By speeding up or slowing down the way the spinal cord communicates with the brain, related organs or brain functions that are controlled by the CNS will be similarly affected. It is this chain of events that results in the most widely-known symptoms of both uppers and downers.

What are depressants?

Depressants slow down the responsiveness of the spinal cord and brain function. They do so by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid. GABA is a neurochemical that specifically reduces central nervous system transmissions. Short-term symptoms of a depressant include:

Confusion
Difficulty concentrating
Drowsiness
Feelings of calmness or relaxation
Low blood pressure
Loss of coordination
Slowed heart rate and breathing

Types of depressants include opioids like heroin and fentanyl, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines (also known as ‘benzos’ and include the like of common anti-anxiety drugs such as Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin).

What are stimulants?

Stimulants also affect the central nervous system, but do so in a completely opposite manner. They speed up the messages sent between the spinal cord and the brain, causing the organs to work overtime and the brain to become overstimulated. Stimulants affect different neurotransmitters than depressants do. Instead of GABA, stimulants increase levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline).

Dopamine is a part of the brain’s reward system and plays an important role in regulating feelings of pleasure (this is the neurochemical largely responsible for eliciting the euphoric “highs” that some drugs cause). However, dopamine also is a key player in controlling cognition, impulse control, coordination, and motivation.

Serotonin is in charge of mood regulation and is nicknamed, ‘the feel good’ hormone. The majority of the body’s serotonin is actually in your GI tract where it plays a big role in gut health and digestion. When serotonin levels are too high it causes nausea and vomiting.

Norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline, is a part of the body’s fight-or-flight response. When activated, it increases blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar, while overall increasing stress on the body’s organs. But those are just the physiological side effects of norepinephrine, there are also key behavioral effects that occur as well. The primary one is increased aggression, unsurprising given the fight-or-flight’s role as an evolutionary defense tactic. Other disruptive behaviors include wandering, hostility, and uncooperativeness.

Together, the combined effect of increased levels of these neurotransmitters can cause:

Alertness
Difficulty sleeping
Euphoria or sense of well-being
Higher libidido
Increased energy
Increased blood pressure and heart rate
Increased aggression
Irritability
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting

Is Alcohol a Depressant or a Stimulant?

It’s clear that several of alcohol’s key side effects have similarities to those in both the stimulant and stimulant categories. However, alcohol is technically categorized as a depressant. Here’s why:

The stimulating effects of alcohol occur first after consuming alcohol (increased blood pressure and heart rate, feelings of well-being, and increased energy). However, once a person’s BAC is over 0.08, the depressant effects such as a loss of coordination as well as other cognitive functions, and sleepiness, take place. The energizing effects you experience during the first stages of intoxication are temporary and the sedative effects are much longer lasting.

Although alcohol is legal to buy, it’s still a powerful drug that can cause significant long-term damage to one’s physical and mental health. It’s also one of the most addictive substances on the planet. If you have a loved one with a drinking problem, find an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting near you, today.

Adult Children of Alcoholics: Finding Recovery Support

The Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) program is a 12-Step program that focuses on emotional sobriety. It focuses on the family system, addressing common behaviors and personality traits that result from childhood trauma. The program provides a safe space for people to share their experiences, strength, and hope with each other to help them heal and find freedom. While a considerable portion is focused on alcoholism, ACA or ACoA is a program that helps people who grew up in dysfunctional families. ACA is a program that helps people who grew up in homes where abuse, neglect, and trauma were prevalent.

Understanding the Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) Program

The ACA program began in 1986. It’s based on the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) principles as adapted for people struggling with the effects of growing up in an alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional family. ACA is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or any other 12-step organization; it’s simply one of many groups that have adopted AA’s principles to address a different kind of addiction: one that many children inherit when they grow up in an alcoholic home.

ACA is a 12-step recovery program for people who grew up in dysfunctional families. Dr. Janet Geringer Woititz initially started the program. She identified the three basic characteristics of children raised in these environments: fearfulness (fear of abandonment), low self-esteem, and perfectionism.

The ACA Literature

Similarly to AA, the ACA program bases its teachings on the literature that outlines the program and helps members navigate through concepts, steps, and guidance to find long-lasting recovery:

The Laundry List: 14 traits that define an adult child of an alcoholic.
The Problem: Explains how children in alcoholic or dysfunctional households protect themselves by becoming people-pleasers and adapting other personality traits that continue to affect their adult lives.
The Solution: To teach people how to become their loving parents.
The Promises: Bits of hope and promises to help motivate people to focus on recovery.

The 12-Steps

The 12-Steps are adapted from the initial steps of AA:

We admitted we were powerless over the effects of alcoholism or other family dysfunction and that our lives had become unmanageable.
We believed that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
We decided to turn our will and lives over to God’s care as we understand God.
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
We admitted to God, ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.
Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except would injure them or others.
We continued to take personal inventory and promptly admitted it when we were wrong.
We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understand God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out.
Having had a spiritual awakening from these steps, we tried to carry this message to others who still suffer and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

What to Expect from ACA Meetings

ACA has the adult child and family members attend separate meetings held throughout the week and weekend schedules at several locations. ACA also offers an online group where you can talk with others about your experiences growing up in an abusive/dysfunctional home.

Meeting types and formats are designed to help members feel comfortable and safe. Some meetings are open to anyone, while others have restrictions such as men-only, women-only, young adult, or teen-only.

Each meeting starts with an introduction to the meeting and a moment of silence followed by the Serenity Prayer.

A member might read a portion of The Problem or an item from The Laundry List. Another one will read The Solution, and a third member will read an item from The 12-Steps. The meeting’s host will also explain the style of the meeting and will talk a little bit about what to expect.

Most meetings focus on learning about the steps, identifying The Problem, and learning how to live with The Solution, one day at a time.

The idea of these meetings is to reinforce the learnings of ACA:

I didn’t cause the addiction
I can’t control the addiction
I can’t cure the addiction

These are huge lessons for many and can take quite some time to understand. The ACA was created to help people identify the problems that have arisen from their upbringing and offer a path to a solution.

Consider Joining an ACA Meeting Near You

The Adult Children of Alcoholics program is designed to help you find your way out of the pain and confusion of being raised in an alcoholic or dysfunctional family. It will give you tools to break the cycle of abuse, neglect, and abandonment that has been passed down through generations. It can bring you peace and joy in your life and the ability to live free from fear, guilt, or shame.

If you or someone you know grew up in a household with substance use disorder, consider seeking an ACA meeting near you to start your recovery journey.

Why Attend AA or NA 12 &12 Meetings?

You wouldn’t think twice about going to the doctor when you’re sick, or going to the gym if you want to get in shape, right? Well if your goal is to stop drinking or using drugs with the philosophy of the Twelve Steps as your guide, then it’s obvious why going to 12 Steps and 12 Traditions meetings is the logical choice.

What’s the 12 & 12? The different AA and NA meeting formats

12 & 12 meetings are just one of several different formats held by 12-step-based support groups. These focus specifically on—you guessed it—the 12 Steps that originated from Alcoholics Anonymous.

But aren’t all AA and NA meetings based on the 12 Steps?

While the discussions may always have an underlying theme of the 12 Steps, the 12 & 12 is a type of meeting that is devoted to studying these steps, principles, and other core concepts. They’re ideal for individuals who are working through the steps for the first time or people who are struggling to work through a particular one. Other types of meeting formats will have a different emphasis and structure.

Speaker meetings

Speaker meetings are ones where the majority, if not all, of the meeting time is dedicated to one speaker or presenter, typically chosen by the group’s chairperson. This is the single speaker format.

Sometimes a portion of the meeting will be used to discuss what the speaker said. This is the speaker/sharing format. Note that the goal isn’t to have everybody weigh in or talk about their own experiences.

Discussion meetings

Discussion meetings are topical and encourage input from members. Meetings of this format may take place as a round-robin discussion where everyone speaks (typically 3-5 minutes maximum) or one that’s guided by the chairperson and other members speak up as they so choose.

Meditation meetings

Unlike all the other AA meeting formats, the focus of this type is silence. Meditation meetings may also be referred to as 11th Step meetings, as this step encourages the strengthening of people’s connection to their higher powers (“Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out.”)

However, these meetings start and end the typical way as all other AA meetings and there will likely be a portion after the silent meditation to share with the group.

What happens at 12 Steps and 12 Traditions meetings?

Affectionately known as 12 & 12 meetings, it is one of several different AA and NA meeting formats. In these types of meetings, the discussion centers around a passage or chapter from the organization’s literature, and members study the fundamental concepts behind the 12-step-based groups. This is sometimes distinct from Big Book study meetings.

In this format, it’s usually conducted where the group reads the entire chapter and then there’s discussion, or the group reads a paragraph or two before opening up to discussion. It’s a good idea to have someplace to jot down your thoughts as you read to prevent you from forgetting once it’s time to speak.

Depending on the group, the members may opt to spread out the reading of a single chapter over several 12 & 12 meetings since they can be long (over 20 pages), and leave little time for discussion afterward.

Why should you attend a 12 & 12?

Attending these specific meetings isn’t mandatory (nothing about AA or NA is), but both beginners and seasoned members can benefit from 12 & 12s study meetings.

What are the 12 Steps?

The Twelve Steps were created by the founders of AA to serve as the guidelines for overcoming the compulsive behaviors that led to alcoholism. They foster self-reflection and help put people in the mindset to create long-lasting change in their behavior and thought patterns.

What are the 12 Traditions?

The Twelve Traditions establish how the organization functions in its relationship to the public, itself, and its members. These traditions ultimately determine how groups run themselves as well as drawing the line of what’s the responsibility of the members and what’s the responsibility of the organization’s headquarters.

What are the 12 Concepts?

The Twelve Concepts is essentially the hope of AA’s co-founder Bill W. for the organization’s future operations. Adopted in 1962 at the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous, this literature highlights A.A’s early history and the importance of leadership to always act in the best interest of the entire fellowship.

Find a 12 & 12 meeting near you

You don’t need any prior knowledge of any AA or NA literature to attend a 12 &12. However, if they’re pretty new to you, we recommend finding a twelve steps and twelve traditions study guide so that you can take part in the discussion (and perhaps have some questions prepared prior to the meeting).

Why is Integrated Treatment Impactful?

Addiction and mental illness are treatable conditions. Have you ever wondered what happens if addiction and mental illness are developed at the same time? This phenomenon is called co-occurring disorders.

Co-occurring disorders, or the circumstance in which a person has at least one substance addiction disorder and at least one mental health disorder, have advanced in understanding, and we now know much more about them. Now it is evident that treating only a portion of the issue results in treatment failures whereas treating all substance addiction and mental health disorders simultaneously as part of a holistic strategy has a much higher chance of success. Integrated treatment essentially means that both mental health and substance use therapy are provided by the same provider (or team of providers).

What Is Integrated Treatment?

Mental illnesses are brain disorders that frequently result in a decreased ability to cope with the everyday demands of life, much like diabetes is a sickness of the pancreas. While addiction is a medical illness, substance abuse is a behavioral issue. Alcohol and other drug use habits that are harmful as a result of substance addiction and dependence cause severe impairment and distress.

When mental illness and addiction go hand in hand it means that a person is suffering from a co-occurring disorder. This is when Integrated Treatment comes in. Integrated treatment refers to the employment of several treatments, such as the blending of medication like Suboxone and Subutex, and therapy like CBT and DBT. Integrated Treatment’s primary focus is to address both mental and physical aspects of addiction and how it is leading to mental health disorders.

Why Mental Illness and Addiction Often Go Together

Sometimes it might be challenging to distinguish between an addiction and a mental illness. How can one tell if depression is brought on by substance usage, withdrawal from substances, or a diagnosable depressive disorder? How can one distinguish between anxiety brought on by cocaine abuse and anxiety disorders? How can someone tell the difference between mood swings brought on by the overuse of depressants like alcohol and stimulants like cocaine and bipolar disorder? Yes, it might be challenging to detect the difference. It can be unexpected to learn that a sizable percentage of people seeking treatment for addiction also have a mental health condition.

A person may be more likely to struggle with addiction if they have depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, trauma, or ADHD. Because they are unaware they have a mental illness, the problem has gone misdiagnosed, or they don’t like the medication recommended for their condition and how it makes them feel, many people who are experiencing emotional problems turn to drugs or alcohol as a form of self-medication. However, experts and people in recovery can attest that while these drugs may reduce symptoms temporarily, they ultimately worsen mental health problems. They are never cured.

Is Integrated Treatment Impactful?

Yes. Integrated treatment is impactful because:

It offers simultaneous treatment of a mental health condition and an addiction
It uses the same expert team for the treatment of both illnesses
It creates a solid network of social support while receiving therapy
It utilizes a variety of therapeutic modalities to address each person’s goals and issues
It offers flexible treatment options that take into account the unique requirements of each patient

Benefits of Integrated Treatment

Addiction treatment programs that offer dual diagnosis can help a person who is suffering from addiction and mental health disorders. Here are a few benefits of Integrated Treatment:

Help patients understand the part that drugs and alcohol play in their lives.
Approach to both the mental health condition and the substance abuse
Gives patients the chance to learn about the interactions between drugs, the symptoms of mental illness, and other medications
Utilize these problems as a backdrop for investigating their own substance use
Offer counseling that is provided in the form of individual, group, family, or a combination of these sessions
Offers therapy that is specifically tailored to the special requirements of people with co-occurring illnesses
Encompasses support services, such as employment assistance, and may aid patients in their recovery
Helps patients to determine personal recovery objectives and understand how each sickness will be recovered from

The Bottom Line…

Integrated treatment reduces symptoms and enhances the capacity for healthy functioning since it treats co-occurring illnesses concurrently. Abusing drugs or alcohol makes mental health issues worse.

Integrated treatment may help a person to develop healthy coping mechanisms and more effective ways to manage the symptoms of a mental health condition by treating substance addiction as well as the underlying mental health disorder.

Why You Can’t Quick-Study The 12-Steps

The 12-Steps are one of the cornerstones of the Alcoholics Anonymous approach to getting sober. They are 12 spiritually-focused steps recovering alcoholics should follow on their path to sobriety, serving as overarching guidelines for the entire process.

Regardless of the substance they’re addicted to, many people find the Steps transformative and one of the main reasons they got sober. However, incorporating the Steps into your recovery means understanding them profoundly and knowing how to apply them to fit your needs.

This means that you can’t “quick-study” the Steps as a means to accelerate your recovery. In this article, we’ll talk about why you shouldn’t try to quickly learn the Steps and apply this incomplete understanding to your recovery. We’ll also discuss how you can “work the Steps” and integrate them into your recovery.

Why Can’t You Quick-Study The 12-Steps?

The urge to get “the gist” of the 12-Steps may be strong, but we urge you to reconsider this approach. When following the 12-Steps, you must take them seriously and observe them continuously. Not every day, but you need to incorporate them into your life, which takes time. These are the main reasons you can’t adopt them into your recovery:

You need dedication

The 12-Steps are a guideline for your recovery process. To successfully incorporate them into your life, you must prepare for each Step. The first three Steps focus on a positive mindset and connecting with your Higher Power. Some people will find these easy to follow, while others may not.

Take the time you need on Steps that you find more challenging.

You need a spiritual connection

Alcoholics Anonymous is open to non-Christian and non-religious people. Still, they are heavily spiritually focused, and it may be challenging for people who don’t have strong spiritual beliefs to find them fulfilling.

The terms “God” and “Higher Power” may be uncomfortable for some people. If that happens to you, discuss your thoughts with a sponsor, a former or recovering alcoholic who’s more experienced than you in the Steps. They may have words of advice or encouragement on how to manage the spiritual aspects of the Steps.

You need to fit them into your needs and lifestyle

People who successfully apply the Steps integrate them into their lifestyle, adapting them to their needs and circumstances. Some people read daily affirmations related to the Steps, while others take time out of their days to incorporate the Steps into their daily meditations or prayers. Whatever works for you is what you should do.

What Are The 12-Steps?

These are the original 12-Steps created by the Alcoholics Anonymous founders. Be aware that over time other substance abuse recovery programs have incorporated the 12-Steps into their approach. They maintain the essence of the Steps but in the context of other addictive substances, such as cocaine.

The original 12-Steps outlined in the book are:

We admitted we were powerless over alcohol.
We believed that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
We decided to turn our will and lives over to God’s care as we understood Him.
We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Admitted to God, ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
We’re entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when doing so would injure them or others.
We continued to take personal inventory and promptly admitted it when we were wrong.
We sought through 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.
Having had a spiritual awakening from these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and practice these principles in all our affairs.

The 12-Steps Simplified

The 12-Steps wording hasn’t changed much since its conception in 1930. Over time, it’s become difficult for some people to follow. To help adapt the language to modern times, the simplified version appeared, focusing on the main guiding principle of each Step:

Honesty
Hope
Faith
Courage
Integrity
Willingness
Humility
Discipline and action
Forgiveness
Acceptance
Knowledge and awareness
Service and gratitude

What Is “Working The Steps” And What Are The Benefits?

“Working the Steps” is a common expression you’ll hear if you attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings or any other organizations that adopted the Steps into their approach.

“Step work” is anything that helps you cultivate and understand the Steps to aid your recovery process, such as: reading AA literature, attending meetings, and observing the Steps through personal reflection.

The benefits of working the step include, but are not limited to:

Finding the right structure to support your recovery process
Building stronger relationships with other sober individuals
Fostering spirituality
Improving physical and mental health
Achieving mental clarity
Maintaining long-term sobriety

The Bottom Line

Recovery is a long and challenging process. You can’t “cheat” your way through it by quick-studying the 12-Steps and casually applying them to your life. It takes time to absorb their meaning and learn to integrate them into your life.

Don’t try to speed past them, or you’ll be doing yourself a great disservice. Take your time. The rewards will be worth it.