Secular 12 Step Addiction Recovery

JULY 20, 2025

3pm-5pm

UCCS Downtown

102 S. Tejon Street

Traditional 12 Step recovery programs are deeply rooted in evangelical language and faith-based concepts, often alienating non-religious individuals.

This presentation explores how the core principles of 12 Step recovery can be disentangled from religious ideology, making them accessible to humanists, atheists, and secular thinkers. Drawing From 12 Secular Steps: An Addiction Recovery Guide, the talk will emphasize the biological basis of addiction, its progression, and the neurobiological mechanisms of recovery. By reframing key concepts in secular terms, we can offer a more inclusive and scientifically grounded path to overcoming addiction.

Bill  holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and teaches biology and addiction-related topics in undergraduate courses at Colorado State University, Pueblo. In 2018, he self-published 12 Secular Steps: An Addiction Recovery Guide, a book that removes faith-based elements from traditional 12 Step recovery while preserving its practical framework. With over twenty years of sobriety through programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, he brings both scientific expertise and personal experience to the discussion of recovery. He is a strong advocate for secular, evidence-based approaches to addiction recovery.

Door Prizes!     Snacks!    No Alcohol!