How Do Non 12 Step Treatment Programs Differ From The 12 Step Approach?

The Differences between Non 12 Step Drug Treatment Centers and 12 Step Rehab

Is non-12 step treatment the right choice for you or your loved one? Perhaps you wonder how non 12 step treatment centers could possibly provide you with the ideal treatment to help you stay clean when you relapsed while attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

Learn why your 12 step “treatment” in NA or AA did not work for you. Discover how receiving treatment at a non 12 step treatment facility can potentially guide you towards getting and staying clean.

I do not understand Why AA or NA Treatment Did Not Work

A common misunderstanding exists about 12 step groups such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Both AA and NA are 12 step support groups; however, they provide no actual addiction therapy or any other form of substance abuse rehab or alcohol abuse treatment. Members in 12 step groups receive support from each other and their “sponsor” in 12 step groups but not from professional staff with the training and expertise to provide actual treatment for addiction.

Perhaps it was not necessarily the fact that you received no actual treatment that resulted in your relapse and subsequent dropping out of AA or NA attendance. For some people, following one or more of the 12 steps and being considered a failure if you do not agree is possibly enough to make the addict or alcoholic not want to return to another meeting. The same is potentially true if an individual fails to progress to the next step in a rehab program utilizing the 12 steps. In a non 12 step treatment program, there is no shaming or labeling anyone a failure.

How Can Non 12 Step Treatment Help Me?

Lance M. Dodes, M.D., explains, “The overall success rate for AA turns out to be between 5 and 10%…” A non 12 step treatment program provides actual comprehensive treatment based on your individual needs. How do non 12 step treatment programs determine your “individual needs?” You have a thorough initial assessment with a highly qualified professional. You do not just walk in to the facility and sit down in a group meeting for an hour once or twice a week like in some 12 step meetings or programs. You do not “work the 12 step program.”

Non 12 step treatment programs give you the structured, comprehensive and ongoing treatment needed to guide you along your path to getting clean and staying clean from the alcohol or other drugs that took you down the path to addiction. If you relapse, you are not considered a failure. The expert staff in non 12 step treatment facilities have the knowledge, training and experience to help those who relapse get back on track in their recovery process.

One major attribute of non 12 step treatment is the comprehensive services provided. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) explains that 12 step facilitation “seeks to guide and support engagement in 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.” On the other hand, in non 12 step treatment, you may receive treatment that includes other services described by SAMHSA, including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Motivational enhancement therapy
• Contingency management therapy
• Medication assisted therapy

Are There Other Benefits of Non 12 Step Treatment?

In addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, medication assisted therapy and other common approaches to treatment, individual and group counseling sessions provide additional support.

Perhaps you need detox services before entering into a non 12 step treatment program. Our partners can assist with your detox needs. When you complete detox, you receive the comprehensive assessment provided to every individual entering into treatment.

Once you receive your assessment, you receive the guidance and support you need on an ongoing basis, throughout your recovery. You do not have to worry about being labeled a failure because you do not progress as fast as the next person does. In fact, in a non 12 step program, your treatment plan is not the same as the next person. Your treatment plan, based on your specific needs, describes your treatment plan goals and helps you work towards the goals of your individualized treatment plan as you recover from the despair of addiction.

Seeking Help at a Non 12 Step Drug Treatment Center

The Treatment Specialist will connect you to a treatment center for addiction and dual diagnosis condition. The treatment center team will provide a free confidential assessment and insurance verification. For more information on treatment programs for yourself or a loved one, contact the Inspiration helpline at (866) 644-7911.