When I lived in a facility for the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse I was given specific instructions on what action to take on step one. I share that process and how it works for me in today's episode.

Step One of Alcoholics Anonymous - How to do the action for the greatest chance of successful change.

Read The Big Book of AA. Read "The Doctor's Opinion, chapt. 1 Bill's Story, chapt. 2 There is a Solution and chapt. 3 More About Alcoholism.

Also Read Step One in the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, aka The 12 x 12.

Write your personal story of drug and alcohol usage (or problem behavior) and the unmanageability in your life, beginning from the first time you used. **Write in story form not in point form.

After a few pages let a sponsor look it over or self evaluate it to see that it contains thoughts and feeling of the times being accounted. Look for in sights you may not have thought of before.

Include the following information in the details of your story:

Your powerlessness over mood altering/mind altering substances, this may include:

Kinds, amounts and frequency; also the escalation of use.

Loss of memory and blackouts while intoxicated.

destructive behavior.

Accidents caused and dangerous situations produced.

Preoccupation; the obsession of the mind as described in the text from the reading.

Attempts to control alcohol and/or drugs.

The unmanageability in your life, even when chemicals were not in use, which may include:

Physical or medical condition.

Emotions and feelings regarding life.

Social and family life.

Spiritual life.

Occupational.

And finally I'll suggest reading some of the stories in the back of the Big Book as further examples of how to tell your story of what it was like and what happened.