Ask recovering addicts this question, “What was the biggest help for you in finding and maintaining recovery from your addiction?”
Most all will answer: “Attending a 12 step meeting!”

If you do not understand the value of attending a 12 step meeting please listen to the audible testimonies on this website. Over the past 6 years I have had the opportunity to talk with hundreds of people in recovery and I can’t tell you how many times I have heard the following: “I was maintaining sobriety very well as long as I was going to my meetings”! The best news is that 12 step meetings are free; however, by design they are programs of attraction and not promotion so unfortunately many people are unaware of them.

Please remember that addiction is chronic, progressive, and fatal. Addiction is a disease of the midbrain often with a genetic component. As soon as you attend a 12 step meeting you will feel hope, support, and healing. You will discover that you don’t have to be alone and long term sobriety is possible!

Do you have a loved one struggling with the bondage of addiction? Addiction in the home can cause extreme negative emotions and behavior. Because addiction is a family disease, the more loved ones learn about the disease of addiction and work their own recovery, the more likely the family will recover from the destructive dependency behaviors which are found in addicted affected homes. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, individuals who suffer from substance abuse have 80% more likelihood of finding long term sobriety (defined as over one year) when their loved ones also engage in recovery! Both Al-Anon and LDS family service’s Addiction Recovery programs offer support and meetings for friends and families who have addicted loved ones.

You can find several categories of 12 step meetings on the internet. Simply search for the type of addiction you are struggling with and hopefully you will be able to locate meetings in your area. If you do not have meetings in your area, you can access phone meetings at some of the websites listed below. There are a lot of good people in the recovery world and once you go to a 12 step meeting you will begin to access resources and recovery principles that are timeless, consistent, effective and powerful!

A popular saying from the Alcoholics Anonymous Program is “You’re only as sick as your darkest secrets!” The very day my husband and I attended our first 12 step addiction recovery meeting was when our family began to heal. As we were willing to reach out for help into the light of recovery, and a run away from the darkness of pride and secrets, things started to shift dramatically in the right direction.

Alcohol Anonymous: www.aa.org
Al-Anon: www.al-anon.org
Narcotics Anonymous: www.NA.org
LDS Addiction Recovery: arp.lds.org
Cocaine Anonymous: www.ca.org
Food: www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org
Nicotine: www.nicotine-anonymous.org