Now Reading
We’re All Addicted to Something — Here’s Ian Morgan Cron’s Advice on How to Break Free

We’re All Addicted to Something — Here’s Ian Morgan Cron’s Advice on How to Break Free

When you hear the word “addiction,” you probably picture an empty bottle of vodka or a needle on the floor. Maybe you think about those intense anti-drug ads from the 2000s or the celebrity rehab stories splashed across the news.

But addiction is so much more than alcohol or drugs—it’s that compulsive need to soothe discomfort, no matter the cost. Whether it’s bingeing TikTok, numbing out with Netflix, overcommitting at work or chasing approval on Instagram, addiction is everywhere.

As Brené Brown puts it, “We live in the most addicted cohort in human history.” And she’s not wrong. Even if your “fix” is just a couple of hours of online shopping or another slice of cake, the pull is real. It’s that constant search for a quick hit of dopamine to quiet the noise, distract from the ache or fill the emptiness.

But what if there’s a way to break free? Ian Morgan Cron, author of The Fix: How the 12 Steps Offer a Surprising Path of Transformation for the Well-Adjusted, the Down and Out, and Everyone in Between, believes there is. Cron knows firsthand the power of the 12-step program—used by millions to recover from addiction—and he’s convinced it’s a tool that could help anyone live a deeper, freer, more spiritually connected life.

“The 12 steps aren’t just for alcoholics or drug addicts,” Cron says. “Everybody pretty much wrestles with addictive patterns in their life. The steps are designed for living, and they can enrich and deepen your walk with God if you give them a try.”

If you think you’re off the hook because you don’t have an empty wine bottle collection stashed under your sink, think again.

“An addiction is an unhealthy compulsive relationship with a person, a behavior, or a substance that has mood-altering effects and negative consequences,” Cron explains.

That covers a lot of ground—everything from workaholism and technology addiction to people-pleasing and perfectionism.

And while alcohol and drugs tend to steal the spotlight for their visibility and severity, Cron points out that more subtle addictions can be just as damaging, if not more so.

“Loneliness is a breeding ground for addictions,” he says. “That’s why for many of us who are in 12-step programs, communities are so important to our healing. It’s like if you get sick alone, you get well together.”

According to Cron, our culture is addicted to quick fixes—dopamine hits from scrolling TikTok, the instant comfort of Netflix binges, the hollow high of online outrage. It’s the classic human dilemma: external solutions for internal problems. Or, as Cron puts it, “Going to the hardware store to buy bread.” The result? The thing you turn to for relief—whether it’s food, gaming or validation on Instagram—becomes a bigger problem than the ache it was trying to solve in the first place.

The genius of the 12 steps lies in their simplicity. They’re not about self-help or trying harder. They’re about surrender.

“Most Christians I know are unintentionally practicing a program of reformation,” Cron says. “They’re trying to fix themselves through willpower.”

The 12 steps offer something different: a path to transformation that starts by admitting powerlessness and relying on a higher power. And here’s where it gets interesting—Cron insists the steps are, at their core, a gospel framework. Steps 1–3 focus on mending your relationship with God. Steps 4–7 help you confront yourself. Steps 8–9 push you to repair relationships with others. And Steps 10–12? They’re about building a lifestyle that supports ongoing spiritual health.

“There’s nothing in the 12 steps that a Christian could look at and go, ‘That’s dangerous,’” Cron says. “It’s just the gospel in 12 steps.”

Here’s the kicker: Cron believes everyone is addicted to something. You might not realize it, but denial is the hallmark of addiction.

“Your addiction is the only disease that will tell you that you don’t have a disease,” he says.

How can you tell if you’re caught in an addictive loop? Cron suggests looking for patterns. Are you constantly promising yourself to quit a behavior—starting tomorrow? Do you feel shame over something you can’t stop doing? Have you put blockers on your computer or enlisted an accountability buddy to help you quit? If so, Cron suggests it might be time to get honest with yourself.

The good news? The same program that’s helped millions recover from alcohol and drugs could also help you break free from whatever’s keeping you stuck.

“The 12 steps are designed to facilitate a spiritual awakening,” Cron says. “They help you realize you don’t need that external fix anymore.”

For Cron, the 12 steps aren’t about abstinence; they’re about freedom.

“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, your need for an addictive relationship becomes unnecessary,” he explains.

That’s the real fix—not willpower, not self-reform, but transformation through grace.

As Cron puts it, “You don’t have to be in the basement of your church at a 12-step meeting to benefit from these principles. What’s happening downstairs should be made available to everyone upstairs.”

So, what’s your fix? Maybe it’s caffeine or Instagram or the relentless need for approval. Whatever it is, Cron’s message is clear: You don’t have to stay stuck. The 12 steps are a gift—one that’s waiting to transform your life, no matter where you’re starting from.

© 2023 RELEVANT Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Scroll To Top

You’re reading our ad-supported experience

For our premium ad-free experience, including exclusive podcasts, issues and more, subscribe to

Plans start as low as $2.50/mo