Different people need different paths
Abstinence, prescribed medication, harm reduction, therapy and mutual aid can belong together. People choose their goals; peers do not prescribe a treatment plan.
Supporting source E01
OUR APPROACH
Personal pathways.
Personal pathways.
Shared principles.
Recovery belongs to the person living it. Our proposal connects that freedom with practical support, trustworthy knowledge, and responsibilities we share.
Recovery is different for everyone. Being sober is one possible path, not the only way to be in recovery. The starting point is wanting your life to be better than it is right now, however that looks for you.
EIGHT CORE PRINCIPLES
What we stand for.
What we stand for.
How we show up.
Principles become meaningful when people can see them in the way a community behaves.
These commitments are part of the founding proposal for member review.
Progress is larger than a single measure
Health, safety, housing, relationships and purpose can matter alongside substance-use goals. A number does not define someone’s worth.
Supporting source E01Evidence and experience have different jobs
Research helps us assess claims. Lived experience helps us understand needs, priorities and barriers. Both can challenge an assumption; neither is a reason to ignore uncertainty.
Mental health belongs in the conversation
Concerns about mood, anxiety, trauma and other difficulties deserve room and access to qualified care. Community members do not diagnose each other.
Supporting source E12Connection becomes practical support
Listen with consent. Help someone find a resource or a next contact. Be honest about capacity. Peer support is not a guarantee of treatment engagement or survival.
Supporting source E03A setback calls for care and reassessment
Respond to immediate safety needs without humiliation. A return to use can involve serious risks; it does not erase previous effort or require starting community standing over.
Supporting source E10Dignity is unconditional
Respect does not depend on abstinence, a diagnosis, a compelling story or useful labor. Nobody should have to perform suffering to be treated as a person.
Safety needs accountable action
Clear boundaries, prepared hosts, accessible reporting, independent review and protection against retaliation turn concern into responsibility.
Supporting source E06
TEN OPTIONAL FOUNDATIONS
A guide.
A guide.
Room to make it yours.
Begin anywhere. Return when useful. Keep your notes private, pass on a question, or use another approach.
You do not have to complete these to belong.
Read the introductory booklet (opens in a new tab)01NoticeWhere could life be different?
Start with something you notice, not a label you have to accept. You decide what matters and what you want to explore.
02Make roomWhat possibility could I explore?
You do not have to feel optimistic on demand. Leave room for one possibility, including accepting support while things still feel uncertain.
03CommitWhat manageable step can I try?
Choose something small enough for your current circumstances. A commitment can be revised; it is not a pledge of perfection.
04ObserveWhat patterns do I notice?
Notice situations, feelings, routines and resources with curiosity. You can keep your observations private.
05Choose to shareWho has earned my trust?
Sharing is optional. Choose the person, timing and level of detail. Participation never requires confession or disclosure.
06Try and learnWhat change fits my circumstances?
Try a practical change and notice what happens. Seek qualified support for medical decisions or risks.
07Repair safelyIs repair welcome, safe and wanted?
Repair requires consent and safety. Nobody must contact someone, reconcile, or revisit an abusive relationship.
08Build routinesWhat works with my real life?
Choose routines that fit your health, access, work and responsibilities. Rest and asking for help can be part of a workable routine.
09ContributeWhat can I offer within my capacity?
A contribution can be listening, checking a resource or offering a skill. Receiving support never creates a debt.
10Review and adaptWhat should I keep, stop or change?
Return to these prompts in any order. Adjust your goals and supports as your needs change. You can also use another approach.
MILESTONES WITHOUT RANK
Small steps.
Small steps.
Real significance.
Recognition can reflect what matters to you. It never needs to become a competition.
Recognition is personal and optional.
No ranks, scoreboards, proof requirements or special privileges. No tokens taken away after a setback. Rest and privacy count; paid work, parenthood and public disclosure are not expectations.
The current proposal also allows a personally meaningful abstinence anniversary alongside other goals. This is an explicit clarification of the original no-clean-time-chip rule and needs member agreement.
Milestone recognition is not a treatment program or a form of clinical contingency management. See the distinction
A PLACE TO BEGINThe next chapter
The next chapter
belongs to all of us.
Bring a question, an idea, or a little of your time. Help build the kind of community you would want to return to.
Help shape the community