The Tucson SA Fellowship approved the enclosed statement for local use with newcomers. In fact, we have printed it on the back of our Step 1 Guide, which we give to newcomers along with the SA brochure. We thought you might like to report this development and/or print the entire statement in the ESSAY.

Welcome to the fellowship of Sexaholics Anonymous, and to the opportunity to build a new life in sobriety and recovery. As soon as you can, we urge you to make a commitment to do the following things:

1. Set priorities.
Make sobriety and recovery the very highest priorities in your life. Without these, every other aspect of your life will progressively deteriorate.

2. Attend meetings.
a) Regularly — at least once every week, more often as needed to stay sober and make progress on the Steps.
b) Punctually — on time, but if you cannot avoid coming late, that’s much better than not coming at all.

3. Get a sponsor.
a) At your first meeting, exchange phone numbers with at least one member and call before the next meeting.
b) At each of your early meetings, listen for members you could relate to best.
c) Within a month or so, select a sponsor who seems to have what you want: Sobriety — usually at least a continuous year. Recovery — usually progressing well into Steps 9, 10, 11.

4. Read the White Book.
a) Through page 76 as soon as possible.
b) Each “Step” section as you prepare to work each Step.
(Editor adds: c) “Overcoming Lust and Temptation” at page 158.)

5. Work the Steps.
With the help of your sponsor, the White Book, and the Step guide, work each Step in order, and present them to the group at meetings, as advised by your sponsor.

6. Make phone calls.
If you are having difficulty with temptations, emotions, or just life, call your fellows. Or, call to just stay in touch.

General Information

1. Our Problem — we all suffer from the same two-part problem:
a) obsession — thinking about sex too much of the time.
b) compulsion — behavior we have tried to stop, but cannot.

2. Our Solution — sobriety and recovery through the Fellowship and the Twelve Steps.

3. Sobriety Definition — the SA sobriety definition is:
a) no sex with self — no masturbation.
b) no sex with anyone else but your own spouse.
(Of course, we also want to avoid persons, places, things and activities that may well lead us to act out.)

4. Withdrawal symptoms — our initial struggle with temptations, emotions, and life gradually reduces as we participate in the Fellowship, stay sober and work the Steps.

5. Cautions — we offer two important cautions:
a) look for similarities, not differences, between your story and others.
b) don’t try to make amends before you get to Step 9.

6. Fair chance — to give yourself a fair chance in SA, plan to attend meetings for at least six weeks, try to stay sober, and decide to present your First Step at a group meeting.