About the Smokers Anonymous 12-Step Recovery Program

Smokers Anonymous is usually referred to as Nicotine Anonymous. The nonprofit organization is composed of a group of individuals who have suffered from or been affected by a nicotine addiction. Groups of men and women meet regularly to help support one another in their journey to live a life free from nicotine addiction, and membership is free. The group focuses on using a 12-Step recovery program, which is a spiritual approach to overcoming the addiction and a general approach to living. The principles found in 12-Step programs are outlined in the Big Book, along with the 12 Promises and 12 Traditions. This is an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) text, but the two programs share the same core belief system and principles.

The 12-Step Program of Smokers Anonymous

Each member of Smokers Anonymous is encouraged to practice the 12-steps daily. The steps help the addict acknowledge a higher power who can assist in recovery only if one asks. Individuals who begin to practice the 12 steps say they can feel an attitude shift and begin to see and appreciate the miracles around them. According to Nicotine Anonymous, the 12 steps were adapted from the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program. Those who are new to the support group are encouraged to get a copy of the steps and study them. The steps provide a path to self-discovery and a better quality of life.

What are The 12 Steps?

Nicotine Anonymous encourages its members to take recovery one day at a time. The 12 steps help provide direction during recovery process. These steps include:

1. Admit you are powerless over your addiction, and your life has become unmanageable.
2. Believe that there is a higher power who can help put your life back on track.
3. Make the decision to turn yourself over to God.
4. Take a moral inventory of yourself and acknowledge your good and bad traits.
5. Admit to God, others and yourself that you are not perfect.
6. Ask God to remove the bad traits in your character.
7. Ask God to change you and remove your anxiety, fears, dishonesty and anything else that might be considered a shortcoming.
8. Compose a list of everyone you may have hurt in the past and what you can do to make things right.
9. Go to each person you have hurt and ask for forgiveness.
10. Continue to take personal inventory of yourself every day.
11. Pray and meditate regularly and ask for God’s will in your life.
12. Help teach these same principals to others who are trying to recover from addiction.

Signs & Symptoms of Nicotine Addiction

According to the US Surgeon General, nicotine is one of the most powerfully addictive drugs in common use. Over 13,000 people die every day from tobacco use, and approximately 65,000 deaths occur each year from secondhand smoke. Many health problems have been linked to tobacco use, including heart attacks, cancer and emphysema. Some of the symptoms of nicotine addiction are the inability to quit, going to the store late at night to purchase cigarettes, keeping extra packs to avoid running out of your supply, and continuing to smoke in spite of health risks.

How to Quit Smoking

According to the CDC, nearly 70 percent of all smokers have the desire to quit. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers tips you can follow to assist you in beating your addiction. The first step is to stop buying cigarettes. You can’t smoke them if you don’t buy them in the first place, and recognize that each cigarette you smoke damages your heart, lungs, blood vessels and cells in your body. Write down all the reasons you want to quit and refer to that list when you feel like lighting up. Acknowledge the fact that it will take an effort to stop smoking and stick to it. Get help from your physician or one of the many organizations that offer addiction rehab and treatment, like Nicotine Anonymous.

Other 12-Step Support Groups

Other 12-Step support groups include:

• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)