The 12-Step Program is a set of guiding principles and spiritual practices created by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to help individuals overcome addiction to alcohol. The program has since been adapted by other addiction recovery groups, including Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Cocaine Anonymous (CA), to help individuals overcome addiction to other substances.

The 12 steps are:

Admitting powerlessness over addiction and that life has become unmanageable.

Believing in a higher power that can restore sanity.

Making a decision to turn one’s will and life over to the care of a higher power.

Taking a personal inventory of one’s flaws and defects.

Admitting to a higher power, oneself, and another person the nature of one’s wrongs.

Being entirely ready to have a higher power remove all defects of character.

Humbly asking a higher power to remove shortcomings.

Making a list of all people who have been harmed and becoming willing to make amends.

Making direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when doing so would harm them or others.

Continuing to take personal inventory and promptly admitting when wrong.

Seeking through prayer and meditation to improve one’s conscious contact with a higher power.

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, carrying this message to others and practicing these principles in all affairs.

The 12-Step Program emphasizes the importance of surrendering to a higher power, being honest with oneself and others, and seeking support from others in recovery. It also emphasizes the importance of making amends and helping others in their recovery.