Alternatives to AA: 7 Best Non 12-Step Programs

Individuals that use it have access to live chats, forums, live group meetings, Facebook groups, and email groups to keep them on track with their own goals. Research has shown that part of why SOS is effective might have to do with the fact that it’s a program that’s easy to follow, and most people can follow through and use the tools without fail as fast as 5 minutes. The easier recovery without aa it is to step into the road to recovery to good health, the faster and easier it is to stick to the recovery method.

How Much Does Rehab Cost?

Lying to loved ones about what you’re doing and with whom, or feelings of shame about your problem alcoholism can lead to feelings of isolation. The further you stray from who you used to be, the more you feel that you can’t relate to others (or that they can’t relate to you). Having peers who are going through or have dealt with the struggles of alcoholism provides much-needed emotional support.

“Honestly, Workit Health is the best choice I’ve ever made.”

This program utilizes cognitive-behavioral techniques that help individuals develop motivation, manage cravings, and maintain a balanced life without relying on spirituality. Non-12-step recovery programs have gained traction as alternatives for individuals seeking support tailored to their beliefs and lifestyles. Popular options include SMART Recovery, LifeRing Secular Recovery, and Women for Sobriety (WFS). These programs tend to attract members who are less religious and often possess higher education and income levels compared to traditional 12-step participants. Research shows that despite members attending fewer in-person meetings, they report elevated satisfaction and cohesion within their groups, underlining their effectiveness for many individuals in recovery.

• Instead, alternatives to 12-step programs will usually focus on self-reliance and assist in encouraging each individual with substance abuse problems to recover to total health.
• Whatever course you choose, know that there’s so much joy, health, and inspiration waiting for you in a life with less alcohol (or no alcohol at all).
• The good news is there are many other paths to help you moderate or manage your alcohol use, or to achieve full sobriety.
• It works by blocking the effects of opioids, helping you avoid intoxication and physiologic dependence.
• Finding the right alcohol addiction management and recovery support system for you starts with getting information.

HAMS: Harm Reduction for Alcohol

This may include connecting with friends and family, joining a sober living community, or attending support groups that align with your personal values and beliefs. One of the reasons why people seek alternatives to AA is that it may not align with their beliefs or values. Some individuals may feel uncomfortable with the religious or spiritual aspects of AA, while others may prefer a more secular approach. Connecting with others who are also on the path towards sobriety offers unique benefits.

• Maybe peer support groups are not your thing, and you desire an alternative to support groups not because of the spiritual aspect, but because you want to focus on recovery in a more individual manner.
• It’s an AA alternative that involves 17 steps instead of 12, and supports moderate drinking and harm reduction in addition to full sobriety.
• One of the major downsides of AA is that it can feel a bit negative at times.
• But if you find yourself falling into previous unhealthy drinking habits, abstinence may be your better option.
• Transparency builds trust within support networks, making it easier for them to provide appropriate assistance when needed.

Yes, there are many alternatives to AA that focus on different approaches to alcohol recovery. These include therapy, motivational coaching, other support groups, mindfulness practices, and technology-based solutions like alcohol reduction apps. The group works on developing techniques to enhance this version of self instead of the addict self who has previously been in control of all decisions and led to destruction in life. Each person is encouraged to find their own method of encouraging their sober self within a LifeRing program.

Mental Health Treatment

• It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
• He expressed that frustration by writing “Sobriety Without Superstition,” published in Free Inquiry, a secular humanist journal.
• Pitts tried other drugs during his PhD studies, and psychostimulants became his escape.
• If this perspective is a reason you want to stop drinking without AA, these won’t be suitable.
• Alternatives to AA will also change frequently, based on discoveries made through scientific research and clinical trials involving addicts.

Although this way of thinking and treatment works for some people, it is a very specific approach. If someone sees their addiction as something separate from themselves, they may have a hard time adhering to the idea that they can never rid themselves of addiction, that it’s always doing to be around the corner. Some people need a different approach that separates the addiction from them and shows them that they can leave that life behind. The 12-step program tells the patient in a group setting that they have certain moral defects and that the recovery process provided to them during treatment will “fix” or rectify this issue. The program also tells the addict that they are utterly powerless against the addiction. Even when following the program, they still need to look at themselves as an addict, as this is something that they will always be.

How Journaling Might Assist in Maintaining Focus Amidst Emotionally Challenging Periods

It offers a variety of tools and techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and rational emotive behavior therapy, to help individuals overcome addiction. SMART Recovery also has an online community where members https://ecosoberhouse.com/ can connect and support each other. At the end of the day, the treatment that might work for someone else might not work for them.

These medical practices include Workit Health (MI), PLLC, Workit Health (CA), P.C., Workit Health (NJ), LLC, Workit Health (OH), LLC, and any other Workit Health professional entity that is established in the future. Researchers found that CBT has different effectiveness rates for different substances. For example, it is more effective at treating cocaine and opioid addictions than it is for tobacco and polydrug use (use of multiple substances). A 2014 study showed that “baseline motivation and self-efficacy” are key predictors of moderation success (5). In other words, those who are motivated and believe they can successfully moderate their drinking tend to have the best results. It’s understandable if you don’t want to share this part of your life with friends or family.