12-Step Facilitation For Veterans With Addiction

12-Step program groups and 12-Step facilitation therapy can help guide Veterans on their path to recovery from addiction.¹ 

This page will provide a brief guide on the 12-Step program for Veterans, and help you find effective addiction treatment for Veterans who are struggling.

What Are 12-Step Programs?

12-Step programs are peer-support addiction recovery programs that utilize the methodology initially laid out by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The “12 Steps of Recovery” have been adapted to help people with addictions to other addictive substances and behaviors.¹

12-Step programs are free and open to anyone who needs help with their recovery, regardless of their political, religious, or other beliefs. Their purpose is to help people achieve and maintain sobriety.² During a 12-Step program, members:²

• Work through the 12 Steps of Recovery.
• Benefit from the guidance of the group and often a sponsor, while providing this guidance to other fellowship members.
• Participate in regular support groups, connecting with others who know what it’s like to be in the same shoes.

Types of 12-Step Programs

Many groups have adopted the 12 Steps of Recovery to provide support and fellowship to those struggling with addiction, including Veterans. These include:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which is perhaps the most widely known support group for helping people with alcohol use disorder.²
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA), which focuses on helping people in recovery from drug addiction.³
• Cocaine Anonymous (CA), which is geared toward those struggling with cocaine use disorder.³
• Marijuana Anonymous (MA), which is designed for those facing cannabis addiction.⁴
• Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA), which provides support and guidance to those struggling with meth addiction.⁵

What Are The 12 Steps of AA?

As mentioned above, 12-Step groups rely on the 12 Steps of Recovery initially laid out by AA to support people in their recovery.¹ These steps are as follows:⁶

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. 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.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

How 12-Step Facilitation (TSF) Therapy Can Help

Twelve-step facilitation therapy (TSF) is one type of therapy that is often employed as a part of a comprehensive treatment approach for Veterans struggling with addiction. It is an active engagement strategy that is designed to help patients become familiar with and increase their chances of actively participating in 12-Step recovery groups.⁷

12-Step facilitation therapy focuses on helping people understand three key concepts, which includes:⁷

• Acceptance, meaning that patients learn to accept that their addiction is a disease over which they have no control, that their lives have therefore become unmanageable and cannot be controlled with willpower alone, and that abstinence is the only option.
• Surrender, meaning that patients turn control of their lives over to a higher power of their choosing and belief, accept the fellowship of others who are also struggling with addiction, and follow recovery activities laid out by the 12 Steps.
• Active engagement, meaning patients actively participate in 12-Step support groups.

Aside from the increased likelihood of participation in 12-Step groups, research shows that there are many potential benefits to 12-Step facilitation therapy, including:⁸

• Increased rates of abstinence.
• Improved coping skills.
• Improved recovery motivation.
• Enhanced abstinence self-efficacy.
• Better psychological well-being.
• Reduced impulsivity and cravings.

Recovery takes time, patience, and dedication. Many Veterans will require ongoing efforts, such as 12-Step group participation, to support their abstinence and maintain recovery.⁹ Facilitation into these programs often begins during rehabilitation treatment.

Are There 12-Step AA Programs Specifically For Veterans?

Many rehab centers, including American Addiction Centers (AAC), offer specific recovery programs that utilize a 12-Step recovery approach for Veterans. As per the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 12-Step programs help facilitate personal growth, allow people to cultivate healthy, supportive, and substance-free relationships, and can complement other forms of treatment.¹

Find a treatment center near you.

How Effective Are 12-Step Programs?

Research shows that members who regularly attend 12-Step meetings can achieve and maintain their sobriety. Outcomes further improve among those who attend 3 or more meetings per week.³

Additionally, being actively engaged in the 12-Step process, which can include doing service at meetings, reading 12-Step literature, doing “step work,” or working with a sponsor, is associated with a higher chance of positive outcomes when compared to just attending meetings.³

Can 12-Step Programs Be Combined With Other Addiction Treatment?

Yes, 12-Step programs are often combined with other forms of addiction treatment to create a comprehensive approach that addresses all aspects of a person’s recovery. Other therapies that may be used in rehab include:^7,10

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).
• Contingency management (CM).
• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET), also known as motivational interviewing (MI).
• Family therapy.

AAC’s Veterans programs that include 12-Step facilitation therapy can take place on various levels of care, such as:

• Medical detox.
• Inpatient rehab.
• Outpatient care for Veterans.
• Sober living.

Our Veteran Team Can Help You Get Care

If you or a Veteran you care about is struggling, we are here to help. AAC’s Veterans rehab programs offer a complete continuum of care, providing effective, evidence-based treatment for substance misuse and Veterans’ mental health. Our customized treatment plans are personalized to address each Veteran’s unique needs.

Please reach out to us at to speak to a knowledgeable admissions navigator. We can help you understand our Veterans’ admissions process and help you find a rehab approach that works for your needs. Our Veterans team can help you navigate the VA and private healthcare system, understand VA benefits, and quickly verify your insurance.