In the last decade there have been more drug treatment facilities that offer alternative approaches not based on the traditional 12 step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. While the simple reason for this could be that people like having more choices, there may actually be several contributing factors for this emergence.
One of the biggest reasons is that people might have a disagreement with one or more aspects of the 12 step philosophy. For some it might be a religious factor or that they do not believe they are powerless to their addiction. Other people may not like the idea that they are diseased for life or that they are told relapse is a part of recovery.
A large number of people looking for non-12 step rehabs do so because they have tried unsuccessfully one or possibly numerous attempts at treatments using the traditional method and are seeking something that is new.
There are also more types of alternative facilities than ever before. Some of them are heavily medicalized and still use lots of prescription drugs, while on the opposite end of the spectrum you can find those that are much more dedicated to natural health. A number of rehabs rely primarily on their physical treatments of the brain and body, yet others are more educational in nature. Of course there are plenty that fall somewhere in between with a mixture of some or all of these methods available.
Despite the growing number of non-12 step treatments, they are still scarce in comparison to traditional facilities and are not available in every state, which often means that someone seeking a specialized facility has to travel in order to attend the type of program they choose. This may not be a bad thing, though, since being in a distraction-free environment to focus on recovery can be extremely beneficial to the process.
After initial treatment is completed, some people still want a recovery support group despite not wanting to attend AA or NA meetings. There are support groups and aftercare programs available that are also not based on the 12 steps, such as SMART Recovery, Rational Recovery, Secular Organizations for Sobriety, and many more. A quick search will turn up several options.
If you are seeking non-12 step rehab options, it is a good idea to consider what makes the most sense to you and of ask for some references of other people who have been successful with that facility or program. You may want to compare several types before making your decision, or seek an independent consultant who can honestly cover the benefits of each type of treatment.
Lucas Catton is the CEO of Addiction Recovery Consultants and the producer of the award-nominated documentary film "Curing Addiction." He has been working in the drug education, intervention and treatment field for more than a decade and his primary focus is supporting what works for each individual.
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