Why 13 Steps?

In the warmly welcoming world of Alcoholics Anonymous, the program to recovery is, famously, the 12 Steps.  Such an ideal metaphor for the uphill struggle one must make from the contaminated soil of toxic intoxication to the higher ground of sobriety's marble pillared temple.  It is a rationally sequenced, emotionally challenging roller coaster ride in which a person who needs to STOP drinking, ideally forever, can gain the strength and integrity to see sobriety through.  These steps, I think, deal perfectly with the beginning stages of recovery- the lightning shock of sudden change, the recurring irritability induced by a drink's non-availability, the pinching agony of physical withdrawal and emotional stepping away, to the middle stages of confident acceptance and the creeping normalcy of sobriety, to the final stages of what is called a "spiritual awakening," in which a certifiably long-time sober person is empowered to help fellow drunks begin the process of giving up alcohol.

This is all well and good, and necessary.  No solid data exists to prove this program works for even most drunks in the long run, but it is one of the only games in town, and that reason alone makes it worth supporting.  Literally, AA's Steps are a global phenomenon.  I have seen meetings all over the world- in ramshackle Mexican churches, post-modernist German meeting halls, thorn-ridden Honduran fields, colorful Irish classrooms.  In some cases, these meetings are loudly proclaimed like a glittering billboard; in other instances, they are subtly announced through word of mouth.  This program has the authoritative weight of time on its side, and is granted legitimacy, above all, by the sheer fact of the numbers of people participating.  According to the AA website, in 2015, 2,089,698 people attended 117, 748 groups worldwide.  In the United States alone, 1.3 million individuals attended AA meetings this past year.
 
As I said, the 12 Step program is an inclusive, effective springboard to a major life change.  However, I believe that those of us in the recovery community, which of course includes loved ones and friends impacted by alcohol in a severe way, need a 13th Step to ensure that, beyond spreading the dozen stairs of sobriety to others in need of a foundation, one is truly ready to live the rest of her or his days without the devilish wink of an unplanned drink.  To that end, I propose a 13th Step:

13. Through continued spiritual renewal and the loving support of a sobriety-friendly community, a person in recovery will continue to find new and creative ways to prevent her/his self from succumbing to the temptation to drink.

The bigger battle that we alcoholics fight, one which cannot be underestimated from moment to moment, is against the "little picture" drinking scenarios- those countless and, at times, unavoidable situations where alcoholic beverage consumption is obvious and widespread, apparently acceptable and probably encouraged.  In these times, our choice comes down to- should I even participate in this event?  What great moments will I be missing out on if I don't?  We cannot, and should not, preach to loved ones and friends about the hydra's head of boozy evil if those people are genuinely social drinkers (as the majority of women and men who drink alcohol are).  But there are times when we need their support in a more meaningful way, short of the drastic expectation that they simply not drink, which is unrealistic and unfair.  

The 13th Step must be a reminder that, down the hopeful road of the rest of a sober drinker's life, it is okay to maintain fresh thinking about how to steer clear of a liquid elixir that, if consumed again, will put us right back on to the road of ruinous decay.