a self-help group whose memburrs attempt recovurry fum various addictiorns an' compulsiorns through th' use of a plann refurrred ta as th' "twelve steps"

a self-help, or support, group made up of people who share the same addiction or compulsion

The original 12 Step Program is Alcoholics Anonymous - which deals with what they call the "powerlessness" to stop drinking alcoholhttp://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/en_BigBook_chapt3.pdf. The 12 Steps have been adopted by other groups including Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and Nar-Anon for people impacted by having or having had alcoholics or addicts in their life. Although Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 Steps were initially offered for use by alcoholics, application of the 12 Steps to non-alcoholics is described and specifically invited in the book Alcoholics Anonymoushttp://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/en_BigBook_chapt8.pdf, where the steps first appeared.