Table of Contents
Summary
- Step 8 of the 12-Step Program is a critical phase focused on accountability, where individuals identify the people they’ve harmed due to addiction and become willing to make amends, fostering emotional healing and deeper self-awareness.
- Using a printable step 8 AA worksheet can help organize and categorize the list of individuals harmed, allowing for a structured, thoughtful approach to making amends that reduces overwhelm and encourages follow-through.
- Support from counselors, sponsors, or sober peers is highly recommended during Step 8, as navigating painful memories and emotions can be challenging, and outside guidance helps provide clarity, accountability, and encouragement throughout the process.
Step 8 of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Many people recovering from addiction work the 12-Step Program to facilitate healing, growth, and lasting change in their lives. The 12-Step Program is a popular recovery program in America, and most people work through the 12 steps alongside a group of sober peers or with the help of addiction treatment professionals. If you’re about to start working Step 8 of the 12-Step Program, we’re here to help.
In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at Step 8. We’ll offer a brief explanation of its purpose and provide helpful tips and worksheets to help you get started with it. If you’re ready to dive in deep, keep reading.
What are the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?
Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Step 5: Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Step 6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Step 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Step 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Step 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Step 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.
Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Why Is Step 8 Of the 12-Step Program Important?
Step 8 of the 12-Step Program marks the beginning of the amends process by encouraging individuals in recovery to take responsibility for their past actions. It involves creating a detailed list of people harmed due to addiction and becoming willing to make amends. This step is essential because it helps individuals reflect on the damage caused, promotes accountability, and prepares them for meaningful reconciliation in Step 9.
Rather than skipping straight to apologizing, making a list ensures that each harm is thoughtfully considered, which leads to more sincere and effective amends. In situations where direct amends aren’t feasible, indirect actions like volunteering or charitable acts can still contribute to healing. Additionally, acknowledging complex emotions like resentment can help the individual gain emotional clarity and self-forgiveness.
Ultimately, Step 8 helps foster personal growth and emotional relief, even if others don’t respond as hoped. The goal is to demonstrate genuine effort to make things right and move forward with integrity.
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How Should I Work Step 8 of the 12-Step Program?
If you’ve already worked steps one through seven, it’s time to get to work on step 8. For those working through the 12-Step Program for the first time, it’s a good idea to seek help and support from a counselor, addiction treatment professional, or AA sponsor. These individuals will provide assistance and guidance as you start making your list. Here are a few additional tips that might help you work step 8 of the 12-Step Program:
- Acknowledge negative emotions but don’t let them hold you back from completing Step 8. While you’re working Step 8, you’ll face some unpleasant memories about things you did or said. This can be discouraging and may conjure feelings of sadness, self-pity, anger, or frustration. To work through these emotions, make sure you recognize and validate them but don’t allow them to take over and keep you from making progress in recovery. No one is perfect, but by making a list of people you’ve harmed, you can feel good knowing you’re taking steps toward changing your life and behaviors for the better.
- Categorize your list. Once you have a general list of people you’d like to make amends to, you should also categorize it based on:
- Those you can make amends to now.
- Those you should make amends to later.
- Those you need to make partial amends with to prevent any further harm.
- Those you won’t be able to make direct amends with for various reasons.
Once you break your list down into these categories, you can decide how to handle each one without it feeling so overwhelming.
- Get help. As mentioned above, you should seek help to work Step 8. Whether you’re completing an outpatient rehab program or you’re attending 12-Step meetings independently, rely on others to help. You can get with your sponsor, therapist, or even a supportive sober friend to help. Their support will make the process easier and may provide you with more clarity than trying to do it on your own.
Printable AA Step 8 Worksheets
In addition to the tips above, you can use printable Step eight worksheets below to help you work through your list-making. Here are a few online resources that may help. You can also request AA worksheets from your addiction treatment provider, counselor, or AA sponsor.
Relevant Step 8 Data & Statistics
- According to a 2022 study published in Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 73% of individuals who completed Step 8 reported improved emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships after making their amends list.
- A survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 65% of people who thoroughly completed Step 8 felt it was a turning point in their recovery journey, helping them better understand the impact of their addiction on others.
- In a longitudinal AA study, those who actively engaged in Steps 8 and 9 had a 40% higher likelihood of maintaining sobriety at the 12-month mark compared to those who skipped or rushed through these steps.
Who Can Help Me Work the 8th Step of the 12-Step Program?
At Briarwood Detox Center, we help people start their new life in sobriety with safe and effective drug and alcohol detox programs. Our detox centers in Austin and Houston also provide one-on-one clinical support and access to 12-Step resources like H&I meetings.
During H&I meetings, you’ll hear from other sober people who have made the same journey you are. You’ll also have the chance to connect with sober peers and meet potential sponsors who can help and support you through the recovery process.
After you’ve completed your detox program, the Briarwood staff can help guide you into the next phase of your addiction treatment. Depending on your individual treatment needs, we might recommend completing a residential rehab program, online rehab program, outpatient rehab, or enrolling in a sober living program.
When you’re ready to make a change, contact the compassionate team at Briarwood Detox Center. We work with many insurance providers to make sure detox is as affordable and convenient as possible. Please call (512) 262-4426 or contact us online to learn more about our individualized drug and alcohol detox programs.
Substance Abuse Trends in Houston, Texas
While these Houston statistics are concerning, there is hope for recovery through proper treatment and continuing care. After completing detox, many people in Houston choose an intensive outpatient program (IOP) to maintain momentum in sobriety. Nova Recovery Center’s intensive outpatient program in Houston provides structured therapy sessions, relapse prevention education, and peer support several times a week—all while you live at home. Participating in an IOP lets you rebuild your daily routine and practice sober living skills with professional guidance, without the need for a full residential stay. It’s a flexible option that keeps you connected with Houston’s recovery community and helps sustain long-term recovery beyond detox.