Rediscovering the Twelve Steps

Abstract Gamblers Anonymous (GA) seems to have undergone noteworthy changes over the last ten to twenty years in both Canada and the US. A recent qualitative, ethnographic study involving interviews (15 male, 8 female) with GA members and observations of 42 GA meetings across the Toronto area has found that GA has become more focused on the 12 Steps and that members are now encouraged to discuss emotions and life issues. The number of women may now be as high as 20 percent in the Toronto area. Previous studies have said that GA has for the most part ignored the 12 Steps, as well as emotional issues, in favor of a recovery culture that focuses almost exclusively on abstinence from gambling and practical matters such as debt. GA has also been described as an almost exclusively male domain. Another study, currently underway and involving interviews with members from different North American regions, is confirming the findings presented here [Approaches to Recovery in Gamblers Anonymous-funded by the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre].