Teen 12-step recovery
Teen 12-Step Recovery
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Teen 12-step recovery
The 12-Step
recovery process has long been a controversial issue, ever since Alcoholics
Anonymous developed it in the late 1930’s.
It’s controversial because some people insist it is religion, but
actually it is not.
It’s controversial because it requires the individual to
submit to a “higher power” and that goes against human nature.
It’s controversial because it doesn’t fix the person, as
much as it allows the person to see him/her self and deal with the
reality.
Some people don’t like it for
teens simply because they are teens, regardless of their dependence on a substance.
Parents often block
the 12-steps in their teens
Teen 12-step
recovery is difficult because parents may not allow the process to move
forward, wanting an alternative treatment for their child. Alcoholics Anonymous originally developed the
steps because the medical community had no answer for alcoholism, other than to
call it a moral failing.
Teens do not
necessarily want to hear about moral failing, or having to submit, or
experiencing a “spiritual awakening.” People
are quick to call it religion, when in fact it is not.
Young people do
not want to admit that they are powerless.
Addiction is a state of being powerless, as the disease robs the
individual of the ability to make choices, to say no. Teens are invincible and will live forever,
or so they believe.
The idea that they can’t overcome any obstacle is cause for
argument. Taking a moral inventory and
owning up to mistakes is foreign to them, and adults easily dismiss the
behavior of teens as a kind of “rite of passage,” not taking seriously the
indiscretions of youth.
We have shifted away
from religion
When the 12-steps were originally created it
was a different time in America. Since then there has been a steady shift away
from religious life, as a once common practice of going to church on Sunday
morning is now the exception and not the rule.
Most Americans do not attend church, have little or no
religious training, and do not understand the distinction between the
spirituality of 12-step and religious doctrine.
12 -step is not religious, but it is spiritual.
Teens do not necessary understand that we are
all body, mind and spirit and that all three aspects of the human experience
require attention.
Teens may also
bristle at the idea of being an addict, that there is no cure for alcoholism or
drug addiction; that they are going to be an addict for life. It sounds like a sentence. It sounds like
condemnation.
Almost all treatment
includes the 12-steps
However, most
addiction treatment today includes a 12-step component, whether it the program
is in-patient or out-patient. A 12-step
program is inexpensive and proven effective, or as AA says, “It works if you
work it.”
That’s another problem teens have and if often an obstacle to teen 12-step recovery. They live in a “get it now” fast-paced world
and they expect results immediately. 12-step takes time. But the truth is a 12
step program can be very effective in assuring long-term sobriety and health.
12-steps are FREE!
Teen 12-step
recovery is available in every community and it’s free. Parents can be financially drained by a
rebellious teenager, whose drug habit grows out of control and necessitates an
endless succession of hospitalizations and treatment center visits. Other forms of treatment are effective, but
it all depends on the budget.
There are not a
lot of teen addicts in 12-step, probably less than 5%. According to AA, the average age for a 12-step participant is 48, so you can see a pretty wide gap. Somebody who is older is probably very
motivated to get better, more engaged in the process and won’t fight the
program as much as a young person who is going to live forever and can overcome
anything.
There is a cultural divide going on and the teen isn’t going
to gravitate to the treatment program for “old” people.
Another variable that we should consider is
the fact that the teen brain is not fully developed. The pre-frontal cortex, controlling judgment,
impulses and executive decisions, is the last to complete the maturation
process.
Teens will take risks because they don’t reason all the way
through a situation and understand the possible consequences of their
actions.
Getting high is cool, getting
drunk is fun and there are no ill effects connected with that, until they get
into health troubles and find themselves in trouble. That lack of development, combined with a
lack of spiritual training or development, make it very difficult for a teen to
navigate the 12-step process.
They will likely short-circuit the steps and claim they
don’t work. Even older adults do that,
so it understandable that a teen would have trouble grasping the spiritual and
philosophical aspects of the program.
Teen 12-step recovery
is HARD!
Teen 12-step
recovery is difficult, so it is important for parents to be vigilant. The best treatment for drug addiction is not
using drugs to begin with. That means it
is not advisable for parents to allow their children to drink, even if they do
their drinking at home.
It is not a good idea for parents to dismiss the damage of
marijuana, despite all of the hype to the contrary. And if there is suspected drug and alcohol
use, address the issue and don’t sweep it under the carpet. Treatment is always more cost-effective than
long-term health care or, sadly, incarceration.
Finally, teen 12-step recovery is also available at TEEN CHALLENGE an excellent inpatient program for kids.
Here are the 12 steps:
Step One: We admitted
that we were powerless over alcohol–that our lives had become unmanageable.
Step Two: Came to believe
that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Step Three: Make a
decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we
understand Him.
Step Four: Made a
searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Step Five: Admitted to
God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Step Six: Were entirely
ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Step Seven: Humbly asked
Him to remove our shortcomings.
Step Eight: Made a list
of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Step Nine: Made direct
amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them
or others.
Step Ten: Continued to
take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Step Eleven: Sought
through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we
understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to
carry that out.
Step Twelve: Having had a
spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this
message to addicts and to practice these principles in our affairs.
Teen 12-step recovery:
It works if you/they work it!
Research has shown that teens that work these steps and become
a sponsor of another teen whose is struggling have a much greater chance of
staying sober. When you teach someone else you learn yourself. Also, when a
teen sponsors another teen they develop all new friendships that are generally
much healthier than they prior relationships were when they were using.
That completes our section on Teen 12-step recovery, visit our home page for more information.
Me A Meth Addict!?!
by Jayson
(Safford AZ)
Hi my name is Jayson and yes I am a
grateful recovering addict. Here we go..
I was born at a early
age in Watsonville CA. We were poor didn’t have much. Dad killed
himself when I was 9. I was molested by the youth leader in my church
a few months later. I had a tough childhood.
I was first
introduced to meth at the age of 13. My step dad at the time made me
be his driver. Didn’t use at that time but always had it in my mind.
I was one of the top athletes at my age, loved sports. Above average
student in high school.
My sophomore year I meet the girl of
my dreams. Didn’t party or go out. I spent all my time with her. I
excelled in all sports always had a job.
“You see when I
was younger I always said that I want to be a good dad, A dad that
mine wasn’t. And that I’d have money”. And I did.
After
I graduated, I once again came across meth. I tried it, and I feel in
love. At this time my same girlfriend informed me that we were having
my first daughter. I was so strung out, in and outta jail. My disease
had taken control of my life. I put my girl threw so much stuff.
Over the next 7 years we were blessed with 3 more kids. But
that didn’t stop me. I had lost everything cars, houses, family, my
wife countless times. Yes, after all I put her threw she still
married me. She finally had had enough and left me.
I had
nothing. I was homeless at 26 lost all my top teeth. My life was
unmanageable. I was powerless over my disease. I hadn’t seen my kids
in 6 months. I hit rock bottom hard.
I dropped to my knees
and begged for someone or something to help.
That day I put
the pipe down. I checked myself into the Salvation Army
Rehabilitation Center. I then heard about the 12-Steps and found out
that recovery was possible. People just like me have been recovering
from drugs and alcohol for years and years.
Finally, I had
something to believe in, which has led me on a journey of recovery
that has brought me a life of serenity and confidence.
There
was so much information to learn, and I became willing to do whatever
necessary to stay clean and sober. After going to meetings and
speaking with people in recovery, I found out that I would have to
surrender my will over to a Power greater than myself.
In
meetings, I heard over and over to stay “Honest, Open-minded,
and Willing”.
After the days had progressed in
my early recovery, everything started to make sense. I told myself
that I needed to apply the suggestions in my own recovery, and, by
doing so, I would surely recover. I found the courage to surrender my
will over to a Power greater than myself. After doing so, the journey
of self-discovery, enlightenment, awareness, and spiritual growth
commenced.
I finally found the missing link that had been
missing from my life – a God of my understanding. I was able to let
go of my past, and forgive those who harmed me. From the moment I’ve
accepted God into my life, I have been truly set free from a life of
active addiction and alcoholism.
My Higher Power, who I choose to call Jesus Christ, has
given me the life that I had always dreamed of. I can truly say today
that I live a life beyond my wildest dreams. Today, not only do I
live a life that’s free of drugs and alcohol, but I also live a life
that’s full of serenity, hope, faith, peace, and success. None of
this would have been possible without turning my will over to a God
of my understanding.
After I surrendered to God, I
continued to follow the suggestions of the 12-step program. I started
working the Steps, and going to meetings. I found out that I wasn’t
alone on this journey in recovery. Fellow addicts and alcoholics were
right beside me with open arms and open hearts.
I’ve
discovered that the 12-step program really does work. Daily, I put
forth the courage to always strive forward. The personal growth and
spiritual enlightenment that has resulted is phenomenal. I am amazed
of the life I am able to live today, and how far I’ve come out of the
depths of self-destruction.
From working a good program of
recovery, I no longer crave drugs or alcohol. I have been set free
from a life of chaos and destruction. I am not perfect by no means. I
don’t go to as many meetings as I should but when I need a meeting I
am there.
Today, I try to give back what has been so freely
given to me. It is now my lifelong goal to spread the message of hope
and strength that has saved my life. You too can recover, and live a
life that you’ve always dreamed of. By following the suggestions of
the program, we will stay clean and sober together.
Honesty,
open-mindedness, and willingness are the first steps to success.
Surrender is the next crucial step that will lead us on a journey of
self-discovery and enlightenment that will truly set us free.
By
having the courage to step forth in faith, we will be greatly
rewarded with a life that’s full of serenity and hope. No longer do
we have to be bound by the deadly grips of addiction or alcoholism.
These 12-steps, this program, all those I met along the way saved my
life and showed me there was hope. Life is so much better on gods
side.
Today I am over a year clean and in control. I am still
married to the love of my life. I am a great dad to my 3 girls and
son. I am a living miracle and proof that there is hope.
Finding
a God of our understanding will enable us to fully enjoy the
wonderful gifts of the program. I hope that everyone can live and
enjoy a life that’s free of drugs and alcohol. Good luck to all, and
to all a good recovery.
God bless!
and Finally Remember:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
– Matthew 7:7-8
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