Secular Organizations for Sobriety

Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS), also known as Save Our Selves,[1] is a non-profit network of autonomous addiction recovery groups.

The program stresses the need to place the highest priority on sobriety and uses mutual support to assist members in achieving this goal.

SOS represents an alternative to the spiritually based addiction recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

He had originally sought help in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), but was uncomfortable with the emphasis on God and spirituality and he began looking for direction in the writings of secular humanists.

He received hundreds of letters in response and decided to organize secular, self-help, alcoholism recovery group meetings.

[3] 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.

The survey results showed SOS attracted members with secular attitudes; 70% had no current religious affiliation and 70% were self-described atheists or agnostics, while another 22% described themselves as spiritual but non-churchgoers.