There was a time when 12-step addiction treatment was the only game in town. This faith-based road to recovery, originally invented in the 1930s, came to dominate our national discourse and provide a much-needed framework for many addicts to find their way back to sobriety. What many decades of data have shown us, however, is that 12-step programs aren't necessarily for everyone.

The truth about addiction is that it's often inextricably tied to the same emotions, thoughts and associations that govern everything we do. That means, understanding can be a path to control, and the best way to get there may be through something as old-fashioned as private psychotherapy. Thankfully, you don't necessarily need to choose—a growing number of residential drug addiction programs now combine the best of group therapy with individual care.

One of the great benefits to working with eclectic programs such as these is that they often involve other approaches, as well. Whether you favor holistic healing techniques such as meditation and massage or simply want to enjoy a porous border with the outside world, most forward-looking residential programs allow you to govern your own pace of recovery. It's not unusual to find addicts one room apart undergoing vastly different therapies depending on their needs.

Do yourself a favor and look into 12-step programs that involve a higher standard of individual care as well. Often with a little research and some basic questions, you can get all your concerns addressed and be ready to go right away.