Secular Organizations for Sobriety

SOS Group of Toronto is a social services organization of CFI Canada which launched in June 2007. A 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 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 on what SOS teaches