Addiction is one of the hardest things to overcome. People can experience homelessness as a result of addiction, or people can become addicted as they use drugs and alcohol to deal with the trauma of homelessness. Let’s sort out the myths from the truth regarding the 12 steps.
You Only Need to Do the Steps You Want
The steps were created with a purpose. They are in order for a reason. The myth that you can take what you want and leave the rest leads to relapse or, even worse, death. The truth is when the steps are done as outlined, the person receives the promise of sobriety, relationships are restored, and life takes on new meaning.
You Have to Believe in Religion to Succeed
The 12-step program helps the person establish they do not have the willpower to stop their addiction. The 12 steps help the person establish a concept of a power greater than themselves. It is the willingness to have an open mind that there is a power greater than willpower. This willingness is all it takes to move forward in the steps. What that looks like for everyone is different. Even atheists can find their “higher power” and recover from addiction.
Once Recovery Has Been Achieved, It Isn’t Necessary to “12-Step” Anymore.
The 12-steps are a way of life. They are not a checklist to check off and graduate. The twelfth step states that they carry the message of recovery to others suffering from addiction. The 12th step provides a sense of purpose and belonging.
12-Stepping Is Weakness.
The 12-step program teaches people in recovery to acknowledge when they are wrong and make amends to the people they have harmed. Admitting one’s faults shows great strength, not weakness. Having rectified the past, the person who suffered from addiction can now walk with their head held high instead of hung down in shame. Admitting faults builds stronger, healthier relationship and forms positive connections with others.
The Midnight Mission Recovery Program embraces the twelve-step recovery process, considered the most effective program in helping millions recover from addiction. The Midnight utilizes peer-to-peer support, offering accountability and stability for our participants to rebuild their lives. Participants learn self-respect and responsibility and gain new skills for maintaining relationships. The Midnight Mission’s program helps participants develop support networks in the recovery community and learn from others living sober lives. They help participants move toward independent living and self-sufficiency by connecting them to the best resources from our innovative safety net.
Potential participants can come to The Midnight Mission Access Center to be enrolled in the recovery program from 7 am to 7 pm seven days a week. or more information: Matt Scharf Recovery Program Director mscharf@midnightmission.org, (213) 624-9258, Ext. 1701.