The 12 step recovery program, originally used as a method for recovery from alcoholism. Plus as published in the big book ( AA Big Book ) of Alcoholics Anonymous in the late 30’s. It has since been adapted as a tool for recovery from addiction compulsion or various forms of behavioral issues. The twelve step program is now used by Narcotics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous. Also Overeaters Anonymous, Co-Dependants Anonymous as well as all twelve step self help support groups.

Recovery program involves the following steps

1, Admitting our powerlessness over alcohol or mood altering substances 
2 & 3 Recognizing a power greater than ourselves needs to be sought and then when found asked for help.
4 & 5 Making a searching and fearless moral inventory and then sharing it with another recovering alcoholic / addict (usually a sponsor )
6 & 7 Recognizing our defects of character and asking Higher Power for help removing them
8 & 9 Making a list of those harmed by our past behaviors and making amends when possible.
10, 11 & 12 Maintenance steps, continue taking inventory remaining connected to our higher power and helping those still suffering by carrying the message of recovery.

Substance Abuse Recovery

The 12 step recovery program is now used to address almost every substance abuse and dependency problem that involves self help support. These are more commonly known as fellowships and have memberships of millions world wide all working the twelve step principles of recovery.

After Alcoholics Anonymous the next most known self help group is Narcotics Anonymous. This was formed by those addicted to drugs who needed a place of identification to relate to each other rather than Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Other groups are now working like Cocaine Anonymous, Crystal Meth Anonymous, Marijuana Anonymous, and Heroin Anonymous.

Narcotics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous does work for anyone with any of the above mentioned drug specific dependencies, however there are those that feel the need to have drug specific Anonymous meetings for there own members identification and ongoing recovery issues. The 12 Step recovery program is also now used for behavioral / compulsion problems such as Sexual compulsion Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous or Over-eaters Anonymous. 

The original Twelve Steps as published by Alcoholics Anonymous

Steps 1 to 3

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. 

Steps 4 to 7

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. 

Steps 8 to 12

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. 

Self help recovery group members, regularly attend meetings with others who can identify with their recovery related problems.
This is for Narcotics, Alcoholics, Gambling and all other Anonymous self help programmes.