SOS
Step With Our Suggestions on Recovery from Addiction and Alcoholism
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Step One: Admitted we were powerless over alcohol...that our lives had
become unmanageable.
The main principle of Step One is that people
experiencing alcoholism and addiction can not manage their lives because they
can not control their excessive drug and/or alcohol use. Because of alcohol and drug abuse,
everything in their lives has spiraled out of control. As AA and NA members
said in meetings "It drained my spirit and raped my soul." Because of addiction, they have lost
everything that makes them healthy, safe, happy, loving, and loved. That their lives have become unmanageable is
manifested in the reality that they have lost loved ones, jobs, freedom,
health, and nearly their lives. Step
One may take a long time to accomplish.
One AA and NA meeting participants admitted, "It took me 34 years
of use to admit I was an addict."
AAand NA meeting participants talked remorsefully
about hurting their loved ones, how their addiction destroyed relationships and
lives. As one said, “The people I hurt the most were the people I loved the
most.” They recognized that lives have
been turned upside-down because of their addiction. They hurt their loved ones physically, mentally, and psychologically. Parents forfeited custody of children. Sons and daughters broke from the loving
arms of parents and fell into the embraces of drugs and alcohol.
|
I sold my kids' winter clothing right before it
got cold. I was trying to figure how
to get the washer out of the house. |
|
My mother did everything she could to keep me from
drinking and drugging, and I wanted to take her life for it. |
|
Eventually, I took the money from my kid's piggy
bank to buy crack. |
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Based on unprecedented research by Dr. Gene Mason,
himself recovering from addictions, SOS turns quotes from AA/NA meetings into a
tool to help recovering people, co-dependents, and treatment
professionals. From suicidal thoughts
to elations of family reunions; from humorous recounting of regrettable acts
while intoxicated to somber accountings of personal losses, these quotes depict
the heroic struggles of recovering people.
“He's a black man.
I'm a white man. Big deal. We're both drunks and addicts. We're the best of friends.”
“The first time I spoke I said, "My name is Jim
and I'm an alcoholic. I hate being
here." Two people patted me on the
back and said, "It was great to hear from you."’
“I planned my meetings around the TV Guide, and I
wondered why I couldn't get the program.”
"This brings life to the Twelve
Step Program for anyone who wants to experience its power--Great 'bloopers'
section; in fact I loved the humor all the way through!"
John Konselman, Unleashed Potentials,
www.unleashedpotentials.com
About the Author
Dr. Gene Mason is the author of several books and
numerous articles on law and society.
He has been a teacher, a college administrator, a politician, a
fundraiser and a businessman. He is in
charge of Workforce and Entrepreneurial Development at the St. Francis House
Moving Ahead Program in Boston, MA. He
has spent 20 years recovering from his addictions.
Dr. John Wong received his education at Harvard
University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the author of numerous studies on education, employment
training, and homelessness. He is a
Senior Project Director at the Education Development Center, a international
non-profit think tank headquartered in Newton, MA. He specializes in education and training for severely
disadvantaged populations.