From A to Z and everything in between there are more than fifty types of 12 step programs. Many of these programs are strictly based on the same 12 steps developed by Alcoholics Anonymous. Other are loosely based on these steps. There is a type of 12 step program for most anything’from AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) to WA (Workaholics Anonymous). The myriad of problems covered range from social issues (like gambling) to drugs (alcohol, cocaine, heroin), eating (overeaters and eating disorders) and support for family members and friends who are in the 12 step programs (i.e. Al-Anon and Alateen).
These types of 12 step programs are developed by people who have overcome the problems. These people then help others through the 12 step program to overcome their addiction, problem, or disease. The 12 steps of these programs deal with the causes of the addictions so that the people will not go back to doing the same actions again. All of the groups are anonymous, meaning only first names are allowed.
Of the types of 12 step programs, there are two ways to describe them’based on 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and loosely based on the 12 steps. There are dozens of types of 12 step programs that are loosely based on the steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Some examples of these are Celebrate Recovery, Courage International and Parents Anonymous.
Parents Anonymous was started by Jolly K. in 1969. She wanted a way to show parents how to strengthen their families. People who attend these meetings are sometimes survivors of child abuse, and they are looking for ways to stop the cycle and create a safe place at home for their children. At the meetings, as with others, only first names are allowed. Parents lead the meetings and the group shares positive parenting methods. This is one of the types of 12 step programs that is loosely based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Alcoholics Anonymous was the first of the 12 step programs. Today, there are many types of 12 step programs that are designed to follow its path. In 1935, Bill Wilson started Alcoholics Anonymous. There is a book that contains the 12 steps used to help alcoholics overcome their addiction to drinking. This type of 12 step program has many different types of meetings’men only, women only, alcoholics only, and open to the public. Today, because of the popularity of this type of 12 step program, Alcoholics Anonymous is worldwide. There are meetings for this type of 12 step program all over the globe!
Another type of 12 step program is for Gamblers. In 1957, two friends who were trying to give up gambling decided to support each other in their quest. Once they stopped gambling, they started the 12 step program for gamblers (known as Gamblers Anonymous). They believe that if you stop the behavior totally, it will be easier to quit forever. It is a ‘cold turkey’ process and not a weaning off of the addictive behavior. This type of 12 step program also offers the person support from someone who has given up gambling. This is another type of 12 step program that meets around the world.
Another way to group types of 12 step programs is by what they help the person with. The four main types of 12 step programs are Social Issues, Drugs (including alcohol), Eating, and For Families/Friends. There is a type of 12 step program for most every drug out there’marijuana, cocaine, heroin, alcohol, and nicotine. If there is not a specific 12 step program for a drug, the person can go to any of the other 12 step programs or to one for drug addicts (in general).
The Social Issues 12 step programs are for things like gambling, codependence, sex addiction, kleptomaniacs, and workaholics. The types of 12 step programs for Eating are overeaters, food addicts, food addicts in recovery, eating disorders (in general), and anorexics and bulimics.
There are also types of 12 step programs for the friends and family members of people who are addicts. These programs help the friends and families balance their focus, so they do not focus only on the addict. Examples of these 12 step programs are Al-Anon, Alateen, and Nar-Anon. These 12 step programs help the families and friends to heal themselves while they are helping the addict to recover from their problem, addiction.
There are more types of 12 step programs than could ever be listed. There is a type of 12 step program for almost any person, idea, problem that needs support. If there is an issue, there is a type of 12 step program to help overcome it.