This is part two of a four-part series looking at the question, ‘what is recovery?’

In part one we looked at the question from a high level and laid out three stages common to most drug or alcohol recoveries – it begins with abstinence, moves into discovery and change, and arrives at maintenance and growth. Let’s look at abstinence a little closer.

This is the first episode of a four-episode series looking at the question, ‘what is recovery?’ 

These two steps are the shortest in the Big Book, for good reason. Either we’re committed to a new manner of living, or we aren’t. It’s not any more complicated than that. 

He’s not talking about us when he says “we.” He uses the pronoun “you” when he’s talking about us. 

But while step four will, in fact, contain some things we aren’t proud of; is that the point of the step? The amends don’t come for another five steps after step four, so is four mostly about inventorying what we did? Is it about the what? 

Unable to stop drinking and unable to keep drinking, I committed suicide. Opiates and alcohol are a deadly mix. There’s no reason I should have been found, resuscitated or still be here, but I woke up the next morning in an ICU anyway, and angry - very angry.

There is often a difference between what the Twelve Step fellowship says versus what the Twelve Step program says. Sometimes the differences are inconsequential, but sometimes they are serious distortions and lead new members in the wrong direction. This program vs fellowship series points out some of those differences.

There is often a difference between what the Twelve Step fellowship says versus what the Twelve Step program says. Sometimes the differences are inconsequential, but sometimes they are serious distortions of the program and lead new members in the wrong direction. This program vs fellowship series points out some of those differences.