Stepwise Recovery is a collection of modern recovery guides that translate Twelve Step principles into contemporary, accessible language. We create substance-specific guides designed to help people understand their own recovery journey through a lens of the Twelve Steps, bringing this proven framework up to date with modern English and today’s world.
We are an independent publication, not affiliated with any fellowship or 12-step organisation. Our guides complement fellowship literature and meetings—they don’t replace them. Whether you’re working with a sponsor, attending meetings, or exploring recovery on your own, our guides are designed to support your journey.
Stepwise Recovery was created by a dedicated team of people with extensive experience in recovery. Our team includes individuals in long-term recovery themselves, substance misuse professionals with years of frontline experience, clinical advisors, and skilled writers.
In keeping with the traditions of recovery programmes, team members maintain personal anonymity. What matters is the collective expertise, compassion, and insight we bring—drawn from lived experience, professional practice, and a deep commitment to helping others find their path to recovery.
The Six-Lens Framework is a unique tool developed at Stepwise Recovery that examines recovery through six different perspectives, giving you multiple entry points to understand the Twelve Steps and your own recovery:
This framework emerged from years of sponsorship experience and creates multiple pathways for understanding the Steps. People experience recovery differently—the Six-Lens Framework honours that reality and helps you find what resonates with your journey.
No, we are an independent publication and are not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or any other fellowship. However, many members of our team are actively involved in fellowship meetings and work as sponsors.
Our guides are designed to complement fellowship literature and meetings, never replace them. We encourage anyone in recovery to explore 12-step meetings in their area. Meetings offer something our guides cannot: human connection, lived experience shared in real time, and a community of people who understand what you’re going through.
The 1-in-10 Pledge is our commitment to accessibility and equity in recovery. For every 10 guides we distribute, we donate 1 guide free to someone who cannot afford it.
This means guides reach treatment centres, prisons, underfunded services, and individuals who might otherwise miss out on recovery support due to financial barriers. We believe recovery should not be limited by cost. Everyone deserves access to resources that might help them on their journey.
We are launching our first editions in 2026. Our initial releases include:
Cocaine Edition – Recovery for people affected by cocaine use
Ketamine Edition – Recovery for people affected by ketamine use
Family Edition – For families affected by addiction, supporting loved ones
Foundations Edition – Specifically designed for young people aged 14-21
A Children’s Companion guide is also in development, and we are creating guides for additional substances based on user need and demand.
Both digital (ebook) and print editions are planned for each guide. This means you can access guides in the format that works best for you—whether that’s reading on your device, downloading to keep offline, or holding a physical book in your hands.
Our guides preserve the core Twelve Step principles but update the language to modern English, making them accessible to people reading today. Here’s what makes us different:
Contemporary Language – We translate Twelve Step wisdom into language that resonates with people now
Substance-Specific – Each guide includes real examples and experiences relevant to specific substances
Modern Understanding – We integrate insights from neuroscience, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and trauma-informed approaches
Six-Lens Framework – Our unique lens provides deeper, more nuanced understanding of the Steps
Not a Replacement – These guides are companion resources, designed to work alongside fellowship literature, meetings, and other support
Yes. Our guides are designed to support all recovery pathways. Whether you’re working with a sponsor, attending regular meetings, or finding your way independently, the guides can be a helpful companion.
That said, we do encourage exploring fellowship meetings if they are accessible to you. There is something irreplaceable about connection with others in recovery. Meetings offer human connection, lived experience, and community that guides alone cannot provide. But we recognise that meetings are not always possible due to location, timing, childcare, health, or other barriers—and recovery can still happen without them.
The Foundations Edition is specifically designed for young people aged 14-21. Unlike our other guides, which focus on specific substances, the Foundations Edition is cross-substance and introduces core recovery concepts in an accessible, age-appropriate way.
It serves as a bridge product—introducing the Twelve Steps, recovery principles, and the Six-Lens Framework before diving into substance-specific guides. We developed this based on our experience working with young people in substance misuse services, listening to what helps them understand recovery at this important stage of their lives.
We offer free, confidential screening tools designed to help you reflect on your own substance use. These include:
Step One Assessment – A comprehensive tool (10-15 minutes) exploring key recovery concepts
Cocaine Specific Screening – A focused 5-minute screening for cocaine use
Ketamine Specific Screening – Includes physical health indicators specific to ketamine use
Family Impact Assessment – For families affected by someone’s substance use
All tools use traffic-light scoring (Green/Amber/Orange/Red) to give you quick, visual feedback. Important: These are reflection tools only, not medical diagnoses. They’re here to help you think about what’s happening in your life and whether professional support might be helpful.
No. Your data is processed 100% client-side, meaning it never leaves your device. We do not store, transmit, or share your assessment data. It’s completely confidential and private.
You don’t need to create an account or log in. There are no cookies tracking you, no analytics following your assessment, and no advertisements based on your responses. This is genuinely private space for you to reflect on your own situation.
Green – Low concern. You may not have significant issues with this substance, though it’s always good to stay aware.
Amber – Some concern. There are signs worth paying attention to. Consider speaking with someone you trust or exploring support resources.
Orange – Significant concern. This suggests it would be beneficial to speak with a healthcare provider, counsellor, or support service.
Red – Seek support. This indicates professional support would be valuable. Help is available.
Remember: These results are a starting point for reflection, not a medical diagnosis. We always recommend speaking with a healthcare provider regardless of your result, as they can give you personalised advice based on your full situation.
Don’t panic. A red result is a signal that professional support would be beneficial, not a sentence. Help is genuinely available, and recovery is possible.
Here’s what you can do right now:
Speak with your GP – They can assess your situation and discuss treatment options
Call Frank – 0300 123 6600 (free, confidential, 24/7)
Attend a fellowship meeting – NA UK: 0300 999 1212
Text SHOUT – 85258 (crisis text line, available 24/7)
These services are designed for exactly this moment. Reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness. People recover every single day.
No. All free resources—including all assessments and screening tools—are available without registration or login. You can use them anonymously and privately whenever you need them.
We have a 2026 launch planned. Join our waitlist to be among the first to know when guides become available and to receive early access offers.
Pricing has not yet been finalised. However, we are committed to keeping guides affordable and accessible. Our 1-in-10 Pledge ensures that cost is never a barrier to recovery—for every 10 guides sold, 1 is donated free.
Not yet. Pre-orders aren’t currently open, but you can join our waitlist to receive notification as soon as pre-ordering becomes available. We’ll email you first with special early-bird offers and access.
We are initially focused on UK audiences and services. However, digital editions will be accessible globally once launched. We’re also exploring international editions based on demand and local needs, but our primary focus is serving the UK recovery community first.
Yes. We are planning bulk ordering with discounts for treatment centres, recovery services, and healthcare providers. If you’re interested in bulk orders for your organisation, please contact us and we’ll discuss professional pricing and volume options.
Yes. We’re developing specialist resources for sponsors, including:
Sponsor Discussion Prompts – Questions to explore with your sponsee
Working the Steps Worksheets – Practical tools for step work
Six-Lens Sponsorship Tools – Using the Six-Lens Framework in sponsorship
Difficult Conversations Guides – How to navigate challenging discussions
These resources are designed to support sponsors in their work—making sponsorship conversations easier and deeper.
Yes. Our guides are designed to work in group settings alongside existing programme structures. Group facilitation materials are in development, giving you tools to lead discussions, group activities, and structured exploration of the guides with others.
We’re always interested in hearing from professionals in the recovery space. There are several ways to get involved:
Join the Advisory Circle – Contribute expertise and guidance as we develop guides
Review Guides in Development – Provide feedback on guides before launch
Partner with Us – Collaborate on research, pilot programmes, or implementation
Please reach out to professional@stepwiserecovery.com with your interest and background. We’d love to hear from you.
We take anonymity very seriously. Here’s how we protect it:
No Accounts Required – Use all resources without logging in
Client-Side Processing – Assessment tools process data on your device only
No Data Storage – We don’t store personal information about you
No Tracking – No cookies or analytics following your activity
Respect for Recovery Traditions – We uphold the principle of anonymity that is foundational to recovery programmes
GDPR Compliant – We comply with UK data protection regulations
Your privacy and anonymity are not negotiable—they’re essential to what we do.
Yes. The website uses SSL encryption to protect any data in transit. Assessment tools have no tracking cookies. We take a privacy-first approach throughout the site.
Our infrastructure is designed with your safety and privacy as the primary concern, not secondary considerations. This is particularly important because you’re exploring recovery—a deeply personal journey that deserves protection.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 999.
If you’re in crisis but safe, help is available right now through these services:
Samaritans – 116 123 (free, 24/7, any crisis)
Frank – 0300 123 6600 (substance-specific advice, 24/7)
NA UK – 0300 999 1212 (peer support, 24/7)
SHOUT – Text 85258 (crisis text line, 24/7)
You don’t have to go through this alone. Please reach out. These services are there for exactly this moment.
Help is available right now. Please reach out to one of these services.
Free, 24/7, no judgement
Free drug advice, 24/7
Peer support, 24/7
Free text support (UK)
