Twelve stepping on the margins: a neo-pagan case study in overcoming adversity

Substance abuse is a pervasive threat to the well-being of individuals, families and the public sector. One of the most well-known and widely available options for substance abuse assistance in the United States are Twelve Step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and "sister" organization Al-Anon. Twelve Step programs promote themselves as "spiritual but not religious." However, there is an implied monotheistic Christian connotation in the literature and in group meetings. This aspect can be challenging for Twelve Step seekers who do not share a Christian world-view. As a result, hybrid groups are often created, such as Pagans in Recovery, a group of Neo-Pagans who are in Twelve Step recovery programs. Neo-Pagans are a minority group of nature religions that are demographically, economically and culturally similar to the majority Euro-American population in the US. Conversely, in terms of spiritual belief and practice they differ greatly. This study investigates how Neo-Pagans conceptualize and practice the tools and ideology taught by Twelve Step programs, with a specialized focus on AA and Al-Anon. Through participant observation and semi-structured interviews this study is a multidisciplinary undertaking laid within the framework of anthropological knowledge and theory.