An
Overview Of SOS
A self-empowerment approach
to recovery
What is SOS?
SOS takes a self-empowerment approach to recovery and maintains that
sobriety is a separate issue from all else. SOS addresses sobriety
(abstinence) as “Priority One, no matter what!”
SOS credits the individual for achieving and maintaining his or her
own sobriety.
SOS respects recovery in any form, regardless of the path by which it
is achieved. It is not opposed to or in competition with any other
recovery programs.
SOS supports healthy skepticism and encourages the use of the
scientific method to understand alcoholism.
SOS Groups
SOS is a nonprofit network of autonomous, nonprofessional
local
groups in the USA and
many
European countries dedicated solely to helping individuals
achieve and maintain sobriety. There are groups meeting in many cities
throughout the US and other countries. For information about a group in
your area, or if you would like to start a group, contact:
SOS
Clearinghouse
(Save Our Selves)
4773 Hollywood Blvd,
Hollywood, CA 90027 USA
Tel : (323) 666-4295
SOS@CFIWest.org
"General Principles of SOS
All those who sincerely seek sobriety are welcome as members in any
SOS Group.
SOS is not a spin-off of any religious or secular group. There is no
hidden agenda, as SOS is concerned with achieving and maintaining
sobriety (abstinence).
SOS seeks only to promote sobriety amongst those who suffer from
addictions. As a group, SOS has no opinion on outside matters and does
not wish to become entangled in outside controversy.
Although sobriety is an individual responsibility, life does not have
to be faced alone. The support of other alcoholics and addicts is a
vital adjunct to recovery. In SOS, members share experiences, insights,
information, strength, and encouragement in friendly, honest, anonymous,
and supportive group meetings.
To avoid unnecessary entanglements, each SOS group is self-supporting
through contributions from its members and refuses outside support.
Sobriety is the number one priority in a recovering person’s life.
As such, he or she must abstain from all drugs or alcohol.
Honest, clear, and direct communication of feelings, thoughts, and
knowledge aids in recovery and in choosing nondestructive, nondelusional,
and rational approaches to living sober and rewarding lives.
As knowledge of addiction might cause a person harm or embarrassment
in the outside world, SOS guards the anonymity of its membership and the
contents of its discussions from those not within the group.
SOS encourages the scientific study of addiction in all its aspects.
SOS does not limit its outlook to one area of knowledge or theory of
addiction.
Suggested Guidelines for Sobriety
(These guidelines appear in
How
To Stay Sober)
To break the cycle of denial and achieve sobriety, we first
acknowledge that we are alcoholics or addicts.
We reaffirm this truth daily and accept without reservation the fact
that, as clean and sober individuals, we can not and do not drink or
use, no matter what.
Since drinking or using is not an option for us, we take whatever
steps are necessary to continue our Sobriety Priority lifelong.
A quality of life—“the good life”—can be achieved. However,
life is also filled with uncertainties. Therefore, we do not drink or
use regardless of feelings, circumstances, or conflicts.
We share in confidence with each other our thoughts and feelings as
sober, clean individuals.
Sobriety is our Priority, and we are each responsible for our lives
and our sobriety.
The Network
The autonomous SOS groups are linked through
the
Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse is a center for the
dissemination of information for individuals who may be looking for a
secular program of recovery. SOS lends assistance in the formulation of
new groups. The operational costs for the Clearinghouse are covered
partially by subscriptions to the
SOS
International Newsletter, but mostly by the groups themselves
donating a portion of the contributions they receive by “passing the
hat” at local meetings, and by individual contributions to the
Clearinghouse.
The History of SOS
The SOS movement began with an article in the Summer 1985 issue of
Free
Inquiry magazine, the leading humanist journal in the
country.
James Christopher, the son of an alcoholic and a sober alcoholic
himself, wrote “Sobriety without Superstition,” an account of the
path he took to sobriety.
Christopher felt that there must be others who wanted to achieve and
maintain sobriety through personal responsibility and self-reliance.
As a result of the tremendous response to the article from addicted
individuals who wanted to maintain sobriety as a separate issue from all
else, Jim Christopher founded the Secular Organizations for Sobriety
Save Our Selves.
Today there are SOS groups meeting nationally, as well as in other
countries. SOS has gained recognition from rehabilitation professionals
and the nation’s court systems. In November of 1987, the California
courts recognized SOS as an alternative to AA in sentencing offenders to
mandatory participation in a rehabilitation program. Also, the Veterans
Administration has adopted a policy which prohibits mandatory
participation in programs of a religious nature.
The SOS National Clearinghouse publishes a quarterly newsletter that
is filled with items of interest to all recovering persons, to
professionals, and to the families and friends of addicted persons.
The SOS International Newsletter serves as an information source for
group conveners and as a forum for SOS members. Subscriptions: $18 per
year.
Special
International Conference Edition is Free
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