Learn / Beyond the 12 Steps: Alternative Paths to Recovery for Young Adults: Megan Cornish
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In 1935, Bill Wilson and Bob Smith were both fighting to keep their alcoholism in check while juggling demanding jobs. When they met and began to talk about their battles, they recognized a truth that would become the foundation of the recovery community in the United States: staying sober is a whole lot easier when you’re not doing it alone. By 1950, Alcoholics Anonymous (the group Bill and Bob started, also known as AA) had already helped more than 100,000 people find their way to recovery.
AA struck a chord in early 20th-century America. Its manual, called “The Big Book” by members, laid out 12 steps to guide people through recovery. The approach fit right in with the era’s thinking around addiction, spirituality, and self-care.
AA was built on a framework that included:
There’s a reason AA’s so popular. Research shows that, for many people, it works. In fact, AA’s 12 step program was found to be 60% more effective than other interventions for helping people get into recovery from alcoholism.
90 years have passed since Bill and Bob founded AA, and while it’s still easier to stay sober with help, a lot has changed. The old model tends to resonate with the older generations, who identify with the framework that AA was built on. But there are a lot of people—especially young people—looking for recovery resources who might not connect with AA’s traditional (and, at times, inflexible) views on recovery. And though it’s hard to find a non-12-step based recovery program, they do exist—it’s just a matter of figuring out where to look for what will work for you.
If you walk into a typical 12 step meeting, you’ll probably find people of all ages, but you might also notice that the average veers towards the older generation. Possibly that’s because it takes time to realize you need support to stay sober, and the young people who make their way to 12 step meetings are ahead of their peers. No matter what the reason, there can be a certain energy in AA meetings: stories full of hard-earned wisdom, decades-long battles, and the kind of insight that only time can give.
This wisdom is something young people in recovery need—but sometimes, they need support from people their own age, too.
Young People in Recovery (YPR) is a non-profit that’s trying to offer exactly that. YPR gets that young adults (under the age of 30) in recovery are facing unique pressures: navigating college life, launching careers, building relationships—all while managing sobriety in a world where social media, parties, and stress are ever-present.
YPR offers local chapters, life-skills workshops, advocacy projects, and social events, and welcomes all recovery pathways, including people in 12-step programs. They try to create a space where young people can connect with people their age who understand the here-and-now challenges they’re struggling with.
Not everyone battling addiction is fighting alcohol. Maybe it’s opioids, stimulants, or even behaviors like gambling or overeating. And while many people struggling with other addictions find AA to be helpful, others don’t—and that’s okay.
SMART Recovery stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training, and it focuses on giving struggling people practical tools and strategies to overcome addiction. SMART emphasizes personal responsibility and secular principles, and it draws on ideas from cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing to address any type of addiction.
Instead of 12-Steps, SMART Recovery uses a 4-Point Program:
Now, while SMART Recovery is gaining popularity and has helped many people, it’s worth noting that there’s not as much research on its effectiveness compared to programs like AA. Early studies are promising, but more comprehensive research is needed to fully understand how well it works across different populations.
But if you’re looking for a recovery program that isn’t specific to alcohol, SMART Recovery might be worth checking out.
In 1935, faith and religion played a huge role in the day-to-day lives of most people. It’s estimated that as many as two out of every three people identified as religious by the 1950s. Today, that number is much lower—less than half—with one in three people identifying as “spiritual, but not religious.”
The move towards non-religious-affiliations is most noticeable with younger generations. According to research conducted by the Pew Research Center, only around four in ten millennials reported religion as being “very important” to them, compared to just 60% of Baby Boomers. Many young adults describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious,” or they don’t identify with any spirituality at all.
Alcoholics Anonymous, which is religious by nature, won’t work for someone who doesn’t believe in a “higher power.” And although AA has widened its definition of a “higher power” to include anything that gives you strength—even if it’s not a traditional deity—that concept still doesn’t resonate with everyone.
If you’re among those who feel like you might need recovery support without the religious or spiritual framework, there are a few options for you.
The Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS), also known as “Save Our Selves”, promotes a non-religious path to sobriety. It was founded in 1985 by James Christopher, who felt that the spiritual focus of traditional programs like AA didn’t fit with his beliefs.
Here’s what’s different about SOS:
One thing to keep in mind is that SOS isn’t as widespread as some other programs, so finding a local meeting might require a bit of searching. But they do offer online resources and support groups, which can let you access SOS even if there’s no chapter near you.
LifeRing is another option if you’re looking for a secular approach to recovery. Like SOS, LifeRing was established as an alternative to religion-focused recovery programs. It also grew out of a demand for more flexible approaches that didn’t prescribe strict guidelines for recovery.
As a recovery program, LifeRing:
While LifeRing isn’t as widely known as some other programs, it’s gaining popularity, especially among young adults who are looking for recovery support that’s personalized to them and non-religious. As with other alternative recovery programs, there’s less research on its effectiveness compared to AA, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t find it to be valuable on your path to sobriety.
AA was created by men. That’s not to say it hasn’t helped women—it has, by the thousands—but women didn’t even attend AA until after the Big Book was written.
The experiences, challenges, and societal expectations faced by women can be really different.
Dr. Jean Kirkpatrick wanted to get sober, but found that AA didn’t help her—- at least, not in the ways she needed as a woman battling alcoholism. After discovering and defining the strategies and principles that actually did help her achieve sobriety, she established Women for Sobriety in 1975.
WFS is all about:
WFS offers both in-person and online meetings, which is awesome if you’re balancing a busy schedule or prefer connecting from the comfort of your home. Plus, it’s secular, so there’s no religious component unless you want there to be.
She Recovers was founded by Dawn Nickel and Taryn Strong, a mother/daughter duo. Like WFS, She Recovers is specifically built for women, but they use tools like yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to bolster their recovery program. Plus, it tackles issues like mental health, trauma, and stress.
The She Recovers approach centers on:
She Recovers also offers a directory of Certified Recovery Professionals whose training and work align with She Recovers principles. Women pursuing recovery can find coaches, yoga instructors, dance facilitators, and other healthcare professionals that can support their pursuit of sobriety.
You don’t have to be an addict to want to change your relationship with substances. Alcoholics Anonymous has a hardline approach to recovery- if you’re an addict, you need to stop using all substances, period. But not all people feel like they need that- and not all recovery programs require complete abstinence, either.
Audrey Kishline founded MM in 1994. She wanted to help people who wanted to reduce drinking to healthier levels rather than quit entirely. According to MM, problem drinking exists on a spectrum, and not everyone needs (or wants to commit to) lifelong abstinence.
The key features of MM include:
MM isn’t right for everyone. If you have a severe alcohol dependence or a history of failed attempts at moderation, you might benefit more from abstinence-focused programs or professional treatment.
At first glance, the recovery world seems very 12-Step centric. Young people especially might not vibe with the traditional framework of AA, since the spiritual emphasis, the abstinence-only approach, and the fact that it was developed nearly a century ago by and for men can make it seem out of touch.
But the good news is that there are many ways to get to recovery.
If you’ve tried AA and know that it’s not what you need to get (and stay) sober, remember you’re not alone—after all, what works for a friend might not be what works for you. There are other communities available to help you. Don’t be afraid to explore your options, remember that recovery isn’t a straight line, and keep pushing to find the path that leads from where you are to a happier, healthier life.
The Start and Growth of A.A. | Alcoholics Anonymous. https://www.aa.org/the-start-and-growth-of-aa.
[email protected], Mandy Erickson Mandy Erickson is a science writer in the Office of Communications Email her at. “Alcoholics Anonymous Most Effective Path to Alcohol Abstinence.” News Center, 1 Oct. 2015,
Kelly, John F., et al. “Alcoholics Anonymous and Other 12‐step Programs for Alcohol Use Disorder.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, no. 3, 2020. www.cochranelibrary.com,
Finke, Roger, and Rodney Stark. The Churching of America, 1776-1990: Winners and Losers in Our Religious Economy. Rutgers University Press, 1992.
Inc, Gallup. “In U.S., 47% Identify as Religious, 33% as Spiritual.” Gallup.Com, 22 Sept. 2023,
NW, 1615 L. St, et al. “Religious Landscape Study.” Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project,
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