The Twelve Steps

These are the twelve steps, which are suggested as a program of recovery:

1 We admitted we were powerless over cocaine and all other mind-altering substances—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2 Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3 Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4 Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5 Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6 Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7 Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8 Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9 Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10 Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11 Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12 Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

The Twelve Steps are reprinted with permission of Cocaine Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Permission to reprint and adapt the Twelve Steps does not mean that C.A. or A.A. is affiliated with this program. A.A. is a program of recovery from alcoholism. Use of the Steps in connection with programs and activities which are patterned after A.A., but which address other problems, does not imply otherwise.

The Twelve Traditions

The twelve traditions comprise the organizational guidelines under which the autonomous groups of Co-Anon function.

1 Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon Co-Anon unity.
2 For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3 The only requirement for membership is that there is a problem with cocaine or other mind-altering substances in a relative or friend.
4 Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups, or Co-Anon Family Groups or Cocaine Anonymous as a whole.
5 Each group has but one primary purpose—to help the family of addicts or alcoholics. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps of Cocaine Anonymous ourselves, by understanding addiction, and by carrying the message of hope and personal recovery to the family and friends of someone addicted to cocaine or other mind-altering substances.
6 Co-Anon Family Groups ought never endorse, finance or lend our name to any outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose. Although a separate entity, we should always cooperate with Cocaine Anonymous.
7 Every group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8 Co-Anon Family Groups should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9 Co-Anon Family Groups, as such, ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10 The Co-Anon Family Groups have no opinions on outside issues; hence our name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11 Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, television and films. We need to guard with special care the anonymity of all Cocaine Anonymous members.
12 Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

The Co-Anon Family Groups World Service Board shall use its best efforts to ensure that these Twelve Traditions are maintained, for it is regarded by the fellowship of Co-Anon Family Groups as the custodian of these Traditions and accordingly, it shall not identify itself nor, so far as it is within its power to do so, permit others to modify, alter, or amplify these Traditions.

The Twelve Traditions are reprinted with permission of Cocaine Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Permission to reprint and adapt the Twelve Traditions does not mean that A.A. is affiliated with this program. A.A. is a program of recovery from alcoholism. Use of the Traditions in connection with programs and activities which are patterned after A.A., but which address other problems, does not imply otherwise.

• Do you try to monitor someone else’s use of cocaine or other mind-altering substances?
• Have you considered calling the addict’s dealer, the authorities, or an intervention unit?
• Do you use lies to cover up for the addict’s using?
• Do you feel confused about how to handle situations relating cocaine or other mind-altering substances, or the addict’s behavior?
• Do you hope that each time you see or hear of the addict’s use, it will be the last time?
• Does the addict make seemingly honest promises that never materialize?
• Is your main concern how to get someone else to stop using cocaine or other mind-altering substances?
• Do you threaten to leave the addict if the using doesn’t stop?
• Do you feel that if the addict would stop using cocaine or other mind-altering substances, that the problem would go away?
• Do you feel that if the addict really loved you, the addict would stop using cocaine or other mind-altering substances, because you asked them to?
• Do you have money problems as a result of someone else’s use of cocaine or other mind-altering substances?
• Have you lost material possessions to support the addict’s using?
• Do you feel like your problem is unlike anyone else’s?
• Do you feel like your own life is in order and only the addict has a problem?
• Are you afraid to speak up on certain issues, for fear the addict will use more, blame you, or hurt you?
• Do you resent coming to Co-Anon Family Groups meetings because the addict will not attend Cocaine Anonymous meetings?
• Do you want to force the addict to attend Cocaine Anonymous meetings?
• Do you want to know how to deal with your son’s or daughter’s problem with cocaine or other mind-altering substances?
• Do you wait up at night or lose sleep waiting for the addict to come home?

If you answered “Yes” to four or more questions, then Co-Anon Family Groups is for you. Attend as many meetings as possible and use the Co-Anon phone numbers to find out more. You have come to the right place!

Co-Anon Los Angeles

Co-Anon Family Groups World Service Organization
P.O. Box 3664
Gilbert, AZ 85299
T (480) 442-3869

Reprinted with permission of Co-Anon Family Groups Co-Anon and Co-Ateen are supported by members’ voluntary contributions and from the sale of our Conference-Approved Literature.

• Do forgive.
• Do be honest with yourself.
• Do be humble.
• Do take it easy—tension is harmful.
• Do play—find recreation and hobbies.
• Do keep trying whenever you fail.
• Do learn the facts about addiction and alcoholism.
• Do attend Co-Anon meetings often.
• Do pray.
• Don’t be self-righteous.
• Don’t try to dominate, nag, scold and complain.
• Don’t lose your temper.
• Don’t try to push anyone but yourself.
• Don’t keep bringing up the past.
• Don’t keep checking up on your addict/alcoholic.
• Don’t wallow in self-pity.
• Don’t make threats you don’t intend to carry out.
• Don’t be overprotective.
• Don’t be a doormat.