America, the 12 Steps and DOC

[lizw]

Since I am a New Zealander I am totally unaware of how many 12 step programs there are overseas.

Here we have or have had at some stage (that I have heard of)
aa, na, al anon, al ateen, nar anon, oa, grey eaters, aba, coda, acoa, slaa
NZ only has 3 - 4 million people too, so we are a pretty small country.

I was wondering what other 12 steps programs there are and also what the 3rd tradition is of each one? For example AA's 3rd tradition is anyone with a desire to stop drinking, can attend AA.

I also wondered if all 12 step substance abuse programs, encourage abstance from ALL mind and mood altering substances? Like NA says alcohol is a drug so should be avoided etc.. Or do they suggest just stay away form the one you have trouble with hence the use of the term DOC, i.e pills.??

I look forward to reading any info anyone can provide.

[sailorjohn]

Originally Posted by lizw

Since I am a New Zealander I am totally unaware of how many 12 step programs there are overseas.

Here we have or have had at some stage (that I have heard of)
aa, na, al anon, al ateen, nar anon, oa, grey eaters, aba, coda, acoa, slaa
NZ only has 3 - 4 million people too, so we are a pretty small country.

I was wondering what other 12 steps programs there are and also what the 3rd tradition is of each one? For example AA's 3rd tradition is anyone with a desire to stop drinking, can attend AA.

I also wondered if all 12 step substance abuse programs, encourage abstance from ALL mind and mood altering substances? Like NA says alcohol is a drug so should be avoided etc.. Or do they suggest just stay away form the one you have trouble with hence the use of the term DOC, i.e pills.??

I look forward to reading any info anyone can provide.

I think they do, and for a very good reason, addicts can switch addictions/DOC very easily, and despite what you've read not all substances have the same addiction rates. IIRC I've read that cocaine and alcohol have around 10% addiction rates-despite what they say about crack-but heroin has a 100% addiction rate. If you use heroin for 4 weeks you will be an addict. I am of the firm belief that generally, addicts are addicts, if we are lucky/unlucky enough to be alcoholics, we need to avoid all mind-altering substances. Just my thoughts, ymmv.

[NoelleR]

"...I was wondering what other 12 steps programs there are and also what the 3rd tradition is of each one?..."

The list you put up just above is pretty close to all that we have here in the States (oh yeh; I got one not on the list...GA (gamblers anonymous); but then I don't know them all.....lol.....and I only know AA & NA intimately since they're the only ones I really need and have attended and utilized, so, I'm really only familiar with their traditions.


"... AA's 3rd tradition is anyone with a desire to stop drinking, can attend AA..."

Actually the only requirement for MEMBERSHIP is a desire to stop drinking. Anyone can attend an OPEN AA meeting, but only those who are willing to admit they are alcoholics should go to CLOSED AA meetings.


"...I also wondered if all 12 step substance abuse programs, encourage abstance from ALL mind and mood altering substances?..."

Since I can only honestly speak for AA and/or NA, I guess I can point out that yes, NA states to abstain from all mind altering substances, BUT AA has a 'Singleness of Purpose,' in which they state that they only deal with alcohol, alcoholics, and alcoholism. Therefore AA's stand (not the opinions of AAer's, but of AA as the entity) is abstinance from alcohol only (personally, not my kind of sobriety or recovery, but what the hey....lol).


"...NA says alcohol is a drug so should be avoided..."

Yup, it's not just that NA says that alcohol is a drug; it is a drug and therefore included throughout NA and in their third tradition.....: the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using all mind-altering substances).


NoelleR

P.S. "...NZ only has 3 - 4 million people too, so we are a pretty small country..." ---- As you can see from my profile I'm in Houston, TX, and in TX everything is bigger....lol....heck Houston is as big as the state of Rhode Island (granted it's a small state, but it is a state....lol), and a recent count showed there are approximately 5.5 million folks livin' here.....our medical center here is so large (with 65,000-70,000 job oportunities and approximately 160,000 folks in 'n outta there daily) it qualifies for the 17th largest CITY in the US (o:
Y'all c'mon over fer a visit 'n set a spell........... (o:

P.P.S. Whoops, I almost forgot.....my DOC was whatever was in front of me at the time.

[Gertiegirl]

Hey Liz, you forgot a few things in there. In NZ we also have Celebrate Recovery programmes, Salvation Army Bridge programme and the Capital and Coast Community Alcohol and Drug service is pretty impressive too! But Im coming in way late to this thread! lol .

[lizw]

Originally Posted by Gertiegirl

Hey Liz, you forgot a few things in there. In NZ we also have Celebrate Recovery programmes, Salvation Army Bridge programme and the Capital and Coast Community Alcohol and Drug service is pretty impressive too! But Im coming in way late to this thread! lol .

I was thinking about this today when I was using their gym!! Lol

[Gertiegirl]

LOL which group's? I only thought to post it cause I saw your thread and I had appointments with both Sallies and CADS today... Just wondering - who has a gym??? lol