Ask ten people what the 12 steps are and you will get ten answers, several of them suspicious. So, plainly: the 12-step approach is a structured path through recovery, developed within Alcoholics Anonymous and since used by Narcotics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, and similar fellowships worldwide. It works through honest self-examination, repairing harm done, support between people in recovery, and attention to the psychological, emotional, and spiritual sides of addiction.

At Safe Places, 12-step work is woven into addiction treatment rather than offered instead of it. Clients in our rehabilitation and specialised treatment programmes work the steps alongside individual and group psychotherapy and psycho-education, and peer meetings in the 12-step style continue after residential treatment ends.

The question everyone asks

Do you have to be religious? No. The steps speak of a higher power, and for many Ugandan clients that language sits comfortably within their faith. For others it doesn’t, and the work proceeds anyway: what the steps require is honesty about the limits of going it alone, not membership of any religion. Spiritual support at Safe Places is available when a client wants it and never imposed. Plenty of people work the steps while holding the spiritual language loosely.

Why steps at all

Addiction thrives in isolation and vagueness; the steps counter both. They give a person in recovery a sequence, so “getting better” stops being a fog and becomes a next thing to do. And they are worked among peers, which places you in a room with people who cannot be fooled by the stories you tell yourself, because they have told the same ones.

Where the steps live in our care

Inside the residential rehabilitation programme, as one strand of the treatment plan. In our peer meeting — Tuesday evenings at our Kyambogo centre, 5:00 pm, a single peer-led meeting in the 12-step tradition, free to attend. And in aftercare, where continuing step work is one of the ways people keep recovery structured after discharge.

To ask about the programme, call +256 770 700944 or email info@safeplacesuganda.com.