List Of 12-Step Programs & Fellowships

If you or a loved one has struggled with alcohol, you’ve probably heard of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). 

Founded in 1935, this program encourages members to follow 12 steps to recover from alcohol abuse. It also offers 12-step meetings (also called “fellowships”), where AA members share their experiences with each other. 

Over the years, the 12 steps of AA have been adapted for other recovery programs, which focus on a variety of drug addictions and other mental health concerns.  

What Are The 12 Steps?

The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are:

1. admit that you’re powerless over alcohol
2. trust that a higher power can help you recover from your alcohol problem
3. recognize that you cannot recover from your alcohol problem without help from your higher power
4. identify how your alcohol problem has affected you and those around you
5. admit your mistakes to your higher power and another person
6. accept your character defects and become willing to let them go
7. ask a higher power to help you overcome your character defects
8. make a list of people you have harmed
9. make amends with the people you have harmed
10. continue to admit your mistakes and make amends for them
11. ask your higher power to help you understand and achieve your life goals
12. continue to practice what you have learned and share it with other people affected by alcohol abuse

Other 12-step programs adapt these steps for their specific purposes. For example, in a 12-step program for people who compulsively gamble, all mentions of alcohol would be replaced with mentions of gambling. 

How Many 12-Step Programs Are There?

There are about 50 programs that have adapted the 12 steps of AA. There are also several programs that are inspired by AA but don’t follow the 12 steps exactly. 

Most 12-step groups fall under one of the following categories: substance abuse, mental and emotional health, eating disorders, sex and love, gambling, gaming, finances, family support, and religious and cultural programs. 

Substance Abuse Programs

These programs help people recover from substance abuse and addiction:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Cocaine Anonymous (CA)
• Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA)
• Heroin Anonymous (HA)
• Marijuana Anonymous (MA)
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Nicotine Anonymous (NicA)
• Pills Anonymous (PA)

Mental & Emotional Health Programs

These programs help people recover from mental and emotional health problems:

• Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA)
• Depressed Anonymous (DepA)
• Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA) (for people recovering from substance abuse and at least one other mental health problem)
• Emotional Health Anonymous (EHA)
• Emotions Anonymous (EA)
• Neurotics Anonymous (Neura)
• Obsessive Skin Pickers Anonymous (OSPA)
• Schizophrenics Anonymous (SA)
• Self Harmers Anonymous (SHA)
• Self Mutilators Anonymous (SMA)

Eating Disorder Programs

These programs help people recover from eating disorders:

• Anorexics and Bulimics Anonymous (ABA)
• Compulsive Eater Anonymous (CEA)
• Eating Disorders Anonymous (EDA)
• Food Addicts Anonymous (FAA)
• Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA)
• GreySheeters Anonymous (GSA)
• Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

Sex & Love Programs

These programs help people recover from compulsive sexual and love-related behaviors:

• Love Addicts Anonymous (LAA) 
• Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA)
• Sexaholics Anonymous (SA)
• Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA)
• Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA)
• Sexual Recovery Anonymous (SRA)

Gambling Programs

These programs help people recover from compulsive gambling:

• Bettors Anonymous (BA)
• Gamblers Anonymous (GA)

Gaming Programs

These programs help people recover from compulsive gaming:

• Computer Gaming Addicts Anonymous (CGAA)
• On-Line Gamers Anonymous (OLGA)

Finance Programs

These programs help people manage their finances better:

• Debtors Anonymous (DA)
• Spenders Anonymous (SA)
• Underearners Anonymous (UA)

Family Support Programs

These programs support family members affected by a loved one’s addiction or other unhealthy behavior:

• Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA)/Dysfunctional Families 
• Al-Anon
• Alateen
• Co-Sex Addicts Anonymous (COSA)
• Co-Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (COSLAA)
• Families Anonymous (FA)
• Gamer-Anon
• Mar-Anon Family Groups (MA)
• S-Anon (for people affected by a loved one’s sex addiction)

Religious & Cultural Programs

These programs adapt the 12 steps to support people from specific religions or cultures. Many of them don’t follow the 12 steps exactly but are still inspired by AA: 

• Celebrate Recovery (for Christians recovering from addiction and other mental and behavioral issues)
• LDS Family Services Addiction Recovery Program (for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recovering from addiction)
• Refuge Recovery (for Buddhists recovering from addiction)
• Wellbriety Movement (for Native Americans recovering from addiction)

Other Programs

Other 12-step programs that don’t fall under the other categories include:

• Chronic Pain Anonymous (CPA)
• Clutterers Anonymous (CA)
• Parents Anonymous (PA) (for parents who are involved in the child welfare system or experience other family problems) 
• Recoveries Anonymous (RA) (for people recovering from any addiction or other unhealthy behavior)
• Recovering Couples Anonymous (RCA) (for couples recovering from any addiction or other unhealthy behavior)
• Survivors of Incest Anonymous (SIA)
• Workaholics Anonymous (WA)

If you or someone you love struggles with substance abuse, please contact an Ark Behavioral Health specialist. Our addiction treatment centers offer a variety of recovery-focused services, including 12-step support groups.