How to Safely do a 12-Step Call
A 12-step call is the act of an individual who is working the steps or has worked them, talking to a struggling addict and helping them start the road to recovery.
When does a 12-step call occur?
This very often occurs when a person struggling calls a helpline or calls the headquarters of an official 12-step program and asks for help. At times, these are personal affairs and involve an addict calling a friend or relative in a 12-step program.
Other times, this looks more like an intervention. Sometimes individuals are reticent about receiving the help they deserve and need a nudge in the direction of recovery. In some cases, a friend or family member of an addict reaches out and asks for help in the name of the suffering individual.
The traditions of AA and other 12-step organizations stress the importance of addicts coming independently to the conclusion that they need help and that 12-step programs operate through the principle of attraction rather than promotion. Still, sometimes it can be useful to reach out to those in need, as long as it is not done in a heavy-handed or forceful manner.
The moment where a person reaches out for help can be a pivotal moment in their lives. Therefore, the individual taking the call shoulders a heavy responsibility and a sacred duty to guide them in the right direction.
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