Non 12 Step Rehab Treatment Programs
Background - Non 12 Step Rehab vs. 12 Step Rehab Programs
Treatment and rehabilitation for alcohol and substance abuse is primarily a medical problem. Both alcoholism and drug addiction are fatal diseases.
Statistically, the rate of people who go to rehab and then relapse, is very high. The 12 Step rehab model is 
used is over 95% of all alcohol drug treatment programs. When you put these two facts together, it is apparent focusing on the 12 Steps, as the primary design in drug and alcohol treatment, is not very effective.
Historical Background on the Twelve Steps
The vast majority of drug and alcohol rehab treatment centers in the United States are based on the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The 12 Steps are the core of AA, and the AA program of recovery from alcoholism. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935.Since that point drug rehabs began building the foundation of their treatment programs based on the 12 Steps.
The difference between Non 12 Step and 12 Step Rehab Programs
Twelve Step Based Treatment Programs
Today, over ninety percent of all alcohol and drug treatment centers in the United States are based on the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. The way many of them work is they focus much of their efforts and energies on taking their clients to 12 Step meetings and learning about the process. Many require their clients to complete the first 3 to 5 steps before leaving treatment. This tends to put the focus of treatment on what will happen after the person leaves rehab, rather than on working on the underlying causes and solutions to their alcohol and or drug abuse.Non Twelve Step Rehab Programs
Non 12 Step rehab programs do not put any of their treatment energies and efforts into the 12 Steps. Rather, they will take a more individualized, holistic approach and focus on the clinical, therapeutic needs of their clients.
Good non 12 step rehabs are research based, and use a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model. Some 
non 12 Step rehab programs will suggest their clients start to attend 12 Step meetings after they leave treatment. However, if the client has had previous negative experiences with working the 12 Step program, they will suggest one or more of the non 12 Step alternative support programs, such as SMART Recovery.
Key Issues
The first issue is the 12 steps are considered to be religion, according to the federal courts. Non 12 Step rehab recovery programs understand this concern, and offer rehab without religion. Non 12 Step rehab recovery programs have evolved into a better way of treatment. Treatment should be about therapy and teaching alcoholics and addicts about the problem and giving them the tools to deal with them.
Another concern is the fact that the 12 Steps are an aftercare support program. They are designed to keep someone clean and sober, not get them clean and sober. The 12 Steps are not therapy and therefore not a form of treatment. They are a support group for maintaining abstinence, after the fact.
- The 12 steps are based on a belief in God, and a Higher Power
- Research clearly shows the 12 step approach does not work for a lot people
- Patients in rehab are offered the 12 step model of recovery, exclusively
- The primary focus of rehab might be better if they addressed mental health issues
- The 12 Steps are a program for keeping sober, not as a design for treatment
- Some people who go to rehab have tried the 12 Step approach, and failed.
The All-encompassing Non 12 Step Rehab Treatment Model
Ideally, the best treatment plan would be to offer both a 12 step based and a non 12 step based program. This would give each patient the opportunity to see if the 12 steps were a viable option, or not.
Exposing new patients, who had never seen or heard of the 12 steps to both a 12 step and a non 12 step approach would seem to make the most sense. Those who were drawn to one or the other could chose which they preferred. If they weren't’t sure initially, could postpone making a decision and participate in some of both.
Providing the alternative option of either a 12 step or a non 12 step oriented approach in rehab would seem to be the ideal treatment model. By offering the option, more patients could find lasting recovery from alcohol and or substance abuse.
For those patients who had already tried the 12 Step approach, they could be placed directly in the non 12 step program if they chose it. Patients who were atheists, and naturally resistant to the God, Higher Power component, would be able to participate in the non 12 step program.
Non 12 Step Rehab Programs - Offering Choices and Options
The truth of the matter is we know a lot more about alcoholism and drug addiction today than we did 70 years ago. So, it would seem like the drug rehab industry has fallen far behind the times.
Alternative Support Programs
Today their are several alternative support group organizations which are non 12 Step based. SMART Recovery, Rational Recovery, SOS and Life Ring are some of the leading non 12 step based recovery support organizations.
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