Central to recovery from addiction
using the 12 Step Programs (for example, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics
Anonymous) is the development of a relationship with a God of one’s
understanding (a Higher Power) or other source of spiritual strength. As stated
in AA’s basic text, Alcoholics Anonymous,
called the “Big Book”, the experience of the early AA members makes clear three
pertinent ideas:
“(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.
(b) That probably no human power
could have relieved our alcoholism.
(c) That God could and would if He
were sought (Alcoholics Anonymous, page
60).”
The 12 Steps suggest that the
recovering individual decide to turn his/her “will and life over to the care of
God” as the individual understands God to be, and are geared toward guiding the
individual to a spiritual awakening. It is clear that foundation for recovery
in the 12 Step Programs is dependent upon the development and nurturing of an
ongoing relationship with a source of spiritual strength. Again, as stated in
the AA Big Book: “***The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental
defense against the first drink. Except in a few cases, neither he nor any
other human being can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a
Higher Power (Alcoholics Anonymous,
page 43).
Newcomers to recovery, as well as
many researchers in the addiction field, have reservations about the
spirituality of the 12 Step Programs, expressing concern that turning one’s
life over to the care of God or a Higher Power may foster an unhealthy
dependence on AA of NA and somehow prevent the individual from
self-actualization and independence. In fact and in practice, the spiritual
strength developed in 12 Step recovery enables the individual to set aside
fear, insecurities, unhealthy attachments, including, of course, abuse of
alcohol and other drugs, and to utilize all of the innate strengths and
abilities that were hindered and distorted by addiction.
The Big Book lists a number of
promises that stem from the process of 12 Step recovery: “We are going to know
a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut
the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No
matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can
benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We
will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking
will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of
people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how
to handle situations which used to baffle us (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84).”
Indeed, the co-founder of AA, Bill
Wilson, directly addresses the erroneous notion that dependence on a Higher
Power or other source of spiritual strength may produce and unhealthy
dependence: “The more we become willing to depend upon a Higher Power, the more
independent we actually are. Therefore, dependence, as A.A. practices it, is
really a means of gaining true independence of the spirit (Step 3, 12 Steps and 12 Traditions).”
As always, comments are invited.
Jan Edward Williams, www.alcoholdrugsos.com,
03/18/2014.
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