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Recovery Programs » Non 12 Step Programs » SOS Sobriety

Secular Organizations for Sobriety

Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) is a nonprofit network of autonomous, nonprofessional local groups dedicated solely to helping individuals achieve and maintain sobriety. There are groups meeting in many cities throughout the world. 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 program. SOS supports healthy skepticism and encourages the use of the scientific method to understand alcoholism.

History of Secular Organizations for Sobriety

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.

How Secular Organizations for Sobriety Works

SOS recognizes genetic and environmental factors contributing to addiction, but allows each member to decide whether or not alcoholism is a disease. SOS holds the view that alcoholics can recover (addictive behaviors can be arrested), but that ultimately it is never cured; relapse is always possible. SOS does not endorse sponsor/sponsee relationships.

The SOS program is based on the Suggested Guidelines for Sobriety, that emphasize the "sobriety priority." In order to change, members must make abstinence their top priority: not drinking despite changing conditions in their lives. SOS suggests members follow a daily, three part, Cycle of Sobriety: acknowledgment of their addiction, acceptance of their addictions and prioritization of maintaining sobriety. Members are also encouraged to develop strategies or aphorisms that strengthen their resolve to maintain sobriety.

These guidelines are suggested by SOS for maintaining 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 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 sobriety.

What Happens at SOS Meetings?

While each SOS meeting is autonomous, SOS does provide a meeting format. The opening reading for meeting conveners summarizes their program. Following the reading of the opening, typically there are announcements, acknowledgment of members sobriety anniversaries and a reading of the Suggested Guidelines. The suggested opening reads as follows.

 "Welcome to SOS. My name is [leader states his or her first name here] and I have been asked to lead tonight's meeting. Secular Organizations for Sobriety (or Save Our Selves) is dedicated to providing a path to sobriety, an alternative to those paths depending upon supernatural or religious beliefs. We respect diversity, welcome healthy skepticism, and encourage rational thinking as well as the expression of feelings. We each take responsibility for our individual sobriety on a daily basis. This is a sobriety meeting. Our focus is on the priority of abstaining from alcohol and other mind-altering drugs. We respect the anonymity of each person in this room. This is a self-help, nonprofessional group. At this meeting, we share our experiences, understandings, thoughts, and feelings."

Find an SOS Group Near You

If you'd like to find an SOS group near you click here, or download SOS Literature. You can also download alternative recovery literature here.
RecoveryHQ.com is not affiliated with Secular Organizations for Sobriety or any of its subsidiaries. This information is provided as a resource for those seeking third-party information.