Today, many anonymous groups exist to help people recover from their addiction. The 12-step anonymous tradition all started with Alcoholics Anonymous – or AA. The 12 steps were originally called the “12 Traditions,” and they were written by the founders of AA. All anonymous groups use this 23-step model with minor changes depending on the group.

The 12 Traditions of AA – Their Influence and Importance

The 12 Traditions and Steps were originally written by Bill Wilson for Alcoholics Anonymous. These 12 Traditions are still used and followed today. Other groups such as Narcotics Anonymous use a similar set of Traditions to define the values, relationships and guidelines of the organization. Here is the original short form version of the 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.
7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, 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.”

The 12 Steps of AA – Practical Steps Toward Sobriety

The 12 Steps of AA are spiritual principles that all AA members are meant to progress through. If practiced properly, the 12 Steps should enable the member to maintain sobriety. Other anonymous groups use these original 12 Steps as a model. Like the Traditions, the Steps were originally printed in what addicts in recovery refer to as “The Big Book,” or Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism.

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.
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 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.
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.”

The 12 Step model was a revolution for people seeking sobriety. What began as an alcoholic’s group blossomed. Soon, groups for a variety of addictions began, and they used the 12 Traditions and Steps as a starting point. Addicts in rehab or just beginning their sober journey have options when it comes to anonymous groups.

AA – Alcoholics Anonymous: The Original

AA was established in 1935 in Akron, Ohio by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith. These two men who struggled with addiction decided, after leaving another faith-based sobriety group, to begin Alcoholics Anonymous. According to AA, “Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her drinking problem.” As mentioned before, AA was the first group of its kind and has become a model for all other sobriety groups.

CA – Cocaine Anonymous

Cocaine Anonymous began in the 1980s in Los Angeles after an AA member saw what was happening to friends and people in the film industry. Cocaine was a popular drug at the time. Members, however, need not be cocaine addicts specifically. The group welcomes those addicted to any number of drugs including speed and crack. CA states, “Cocaine Anonymous is a Fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others recover from their addiction.”

CMA – Crystal Meth Anonymous

Crystal Meth Anonymous began the in the mid-90’s in California. According to the 2012 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, approximately 1.2 million people have used methamphetamine. “Crystal Meth Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other, so they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from addiction to crystal meth. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. There are no dues or fees for CMA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. CMA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; and neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to lead a sober life and to carry the message of recovery to the crystal meth addict who still suffers.”

FAA – Food Addicts Anonymous

The FAA was created with the AA program in mind, and was founded in 1987 by a woman in Palm Beach, Florida. The Food Addicts Anonymous program includes and eating plan to keep food addicts from overeating. Their mission, as stated on their website: “FAA is self-supporting through our own contributions. There are no dues or fees required for membership, but only a desire to stop eating addictive foods. We are not affiliated with any diet or weight loss programs, treatment facilities or religious organizations. We neither endorse nor oppose any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay abstinent and help other food addicts to achieve abstinence.”

GA – Gamblers Anonymous

GA began in the late 1950s in California. Today, there are Gamblers Anonymous organizations all over the world. Many members join due to the financial insecurity and family issues that have impacted their lives. “The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling. There are no dues or fees for Gamblers Anonymous membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. Gamblers Anonymous is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any cause. Our primary purpose is to stop gambling and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same.”

HA – Heroin Anonymous

HA began in 2005 in Phoenix, Arizona, and it is not a medical recovery program. Like other anonymous groups, “Heroin Anonymous is a non-profit fellowship of men and women who have found a solution to heroin addiction. HA is a fellowship of complete abstinence from all drugs and alcohol. We are recovered heroin addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay sober. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop suffering from heroin addiction.”

MA – Marijuana Anonymous

MA was formed in 1989 for chronic marijuana users. The pending legality of cannabis in the United States makes the discussion of marijuana use and abuse very complex. The organization strives to stay neutral regarding the legality of cannabis legality. Marijuana anonymous uses the 12 Steps as created by AA, and it is guided by the 12 Traditions.

NA – Narcotics Anonymous

NA has both “open” meetings and “closed” invite-only meetings. They offer meetings to any narcotic addicts and view addiction as a disease. “Narcotics Anonymous is a global, community-based organization with a multilingual and multicultural membership. NA was founded in 1953, and our membership growth was minimal during our initial twenty years as an organization. Since the publication of our Basic Text in 1983, the number of members and meetings has increased dramatically. Today, NA members hold nearly 67,000 meetings weekly in 139 countries.”

OLGA – On-Line Gamers Anonymous

OLGA helps people recover from video game addiction. This non-profit organization and 12 Step recovery program was founded by Elizabeth Woolley, whose son Shawn committed suicide while playing an online game. “On-Line Gamers Anonymous®, founded in 2002, is a self-help fellowship. We share our experience, strengths and hope to help each other recover and heal from problems caused by excessive game playing, whether it be computer, video, console, or on-line. Our community includes Recovering gamers (OLGA members), Family members, loved ones, friends, concerned others (OLG-Anon members), and those who Educate and reach out to others (Outreach members).”

PA – Pills Anonymous

PA is very much like Alcoholics Anonymous. The official book of the program was published in August 2013. “Pills Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from pill addiction. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using pills.”

SA – Sexaholics Anonymous

SA strives for their members to be “sexually sober.” Their stance on same-sex marriages and couples makes the organization controversial. “Sexaholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop lusting and become sexually sober.” Whatever addiction you or a loved one suffers from, rest assured that there are support groups that exists. Thanks to the founders of the AA program, there is a useful, proven model that provides millions of people all over the world with support during their recovery. Remember though, 12 Step programs, while useful, do not provide medical, detox or therapy services. What’s needed is a certified addiction rehab program like those offered at AspenRidge North.

• Alcoholics Anonymous. (2017). The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. Retrieved from: http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/smf-122_en.pdf
• Alcoholics Anonymous. (2017). The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Retrieved from: http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/smf-121_en.pdf
• Alcoholics Anonymous. (2017). What is AA?. Retrieved from: http://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/what-is-aa
• Cocaine Anonymous. (2017). About CC. Retrieved from: https://ca.org/about-ca/
• Crystal Meth Anonymous. (2017). Retrieved from: https://crystalmeth.org/
• Food Addicts Anonymous. (2017). What is FAA?. Retrieved from: http://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org/What-Is-FAA
• Gamblers Anonymous. (2017). What is Gamblers Anonymous. Retrieved from: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/content/about-us
• Heroin Anonymous. (2017). What is Heroin Anonymous. Retrieved from: http://heroinanonymous.org/about/
• Marijuana Anonymous. (2017). https://www.marijuana-anonymous.org/
• Narcotics Anonymous World Service. (2017). Info About NA. Retrieved from: https://www.na.org/?ID=PR-index
• On-Line Gamers Anonymous. (2017). About OLGA and OLG-Anon. Retrieved from: http://www.olganon.org/home
• Pills Anonymous World Service. (2017). Retrieved from: http://www.pillsanonymous.org/
• Sexaholics Anonymous. (2017). What is Sexaholics Anonymous?. Retrieved from: https://www.sa.org/