Secular Organizations For Sobriety (SOS), also known as Save Our Selves, is a non-profit network of addiction recovery groups.
It was launched after James Christopher published an article entitled “Sobriety Without Superstition” in Free Inquiry in 1985. The need for a secular organization for recovery being apparent from the response he received, the first SOS meeting was conducted in North Hollywood, California, in November 1986. Today, meetings are conducted in many countries and in every state in the United States.
These are the SOS guidelines for sobriety:
- To break the cycle of denial and achieve sobriety, we first acknowledge that we are alcoholics or addicts.
- We reaffirm this daily and accept without reservation the fact that as clean and sober individuals, we cannot 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 sobriety.
(First published in James Christopher’s How to Stay Sober: Recovery without Religion)
Today, SOS claims to be the world’s largest non-12-Step addiction recovery program. You can visit its website here: SOS.
