About the Nicotine Anonymous 12-Step Recovery Program
Nicotine Anonymous is a world-renowned 12-Step recovery program that helps nicotine addicts quit smoking and chewing tobacco. Nicotine Anonymous is independent from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), but the organization bases its teachings on the AA text, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (these can be found in the Big Book of AA).
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The 12 Steps of Nicotine Anonymous
The 12 Steps of Nicotine Anonymous are nearly identical to those of Alcoholics Anonymous, but NA is specifically geared toward those people with a smoking addiction. The first step of the program is for addicts to admit they are powerless to quit smoking on their own. The second step follows closely by requiring an addict to enlist the help of a higher power to overcome the addiction. The third step is when the participant must decide to turn over their will to God or whatever they believe their higher power to be.
The fourth step is when participants take a moral inventory of their lives and decisions they have made. In the fifth step, they must confess to God and others the things they have done wrong as related to their addiction. The sixth step requires them to turn control of their personal flaws over to God.
The seventh step is to beseech God to remove personal shortcomings and defects of character. In the eighth step, the addict makes a list of everyone their addictive behavior has harmed. The ninth step, often considered the most difficult, requires the addict to apologize to everyone on the list as long as doing so would not cause the victim further harm.
The 10th step is a continuation of the personal inventory taken in the fourth step. The 11th step involves the active seeking of God’s will for the individual’s life through solitary meditation, prayer and any other spiritual discipline the individual chooses. The 12th and final step is to apply the previous 11 steps to helping new members overcome their own addictions.
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Effects of Nicotine Addiction & Smoking
Nicotine addiction is a serious problem, and consumption of nicotine products often leads to serious and even life-threatening medical problems. The CDC estimates that 19 percent of all American adults smoke and that 80 to 90 percent of all lung cancer cases are due to smoking.
Aside from lung cancer, the use of nicotine causes many unpleasant side effects, including:
- Respiratory issues
- Chronic cough
- Stained teeth
- Premature aging
- Burning throat (chewing tobacco)
“Nicotine addiction is a serious problem, and consumption of nicotine products often leads to serious and even life-threatening medical problems.”The longer you smoke, the greater your risk of developing serious complications from smoking and tobacco use becomes. If you or a loved one has a smoking problem, it is never too late to quit. While long-term smoking often causes irreparable damage, the sooner you quit the better you will feel. It is difficult to quit smoking alone, and many addicts find they need professional help to launch a successful recovery. We are ready to talk and help you take that first step toward a smoke-free life, so call our 24/7 hotline today at .
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Long-Term Benefits of Quitting Nicotine
Peer support networks like Nicotine Anonymous provide assistance, understanding and knowledge. Many people who first attend a meeting don’t even believe they have a problem, but after speaking with other members and hearing their stories, they often decide to stay and participate in the full 12-Step program. Nicotine Anonymous awards sobriety chips to commemorate the milestones in each member’s journey to sobriety. As a new member, you will receive support from a sponsor who has been free of nicotine addiction for at least one year. This support is essential because the sponsor understands where you are at now as well as many of the reasons you started smoking or chewing tobacco in the first place.
If you want to learn more about nicotine addiction or joining a nicotine support network in your area, call us at . We are standing by to receive your call and help you get started on the road to recovery.
Other 12-Step Support Groups
Some other 12-Step support groups include: