The "Powerlessness" Concept of Twelve Step Recovery

Here are some thoughts about opponents of the Twelve Step Programs' approach to recovery from addiction, namely, the requirement that the individual admit "powerlessness" over addiction as the threshold condition for successful recovery (Step One of AA and NA).

There are researchers who do not accept the Twelve Step approach; they do not support the concept that a person must internalize a complete lack of efficacy over the ability to control alcohol or drugs. These researchers maintain this absolute powerlessness (or lack of self-efficacy) approach dooms the addict or alcoholic who relapses to take the relapse to a point as severe as the point at which the person began recovery. These researchers distingush between a "lapse" and a "relapse", the former being a minor slip that does not progress to a full, severe relapse.

In my view, these researchers are mistaken and do not understand the power of addiction or the alcoholic or addict mind set. To suggest to a recovering person that one can have a lapse and quickly return to abstinence though development of self-efficacy skills, as these researchers propose, would be to open the door to use. Every alcoholic and addict would dearly love to find a way to use with just a minor degree of problems (a lapse) and then return to abstinence. In my experience it would be dangerous to recovery for a person to "lapse" and NOT experience serious consequences; the addicted mind would then conclude, "they (those people in AA and NA) were wrong; I CAN use without serious problems", and then plan the next "lapse." So, for me, it IS an all or nothing proposition for the addicted person: he/she must internalize that he/she has no control over the use of any amount of drugs or alcohol.