The new year has ushered in something new in addiction recovery. The new part is a book, “Rise. Recover. Thrive.,” by Scott Strode. The subtitle reveals Scott’s backstory: “How I Got Strong, Got Sober, and Built a Movement of Hope.” The other thing new is the publisher, Stand Together Press. Near as I can tell, this is the first book they’ve published. They have a backstory, too.

Scott Strode is in recovery. Born in 1973 into a dysfunctional family, Scott followed a path of alcoholism and drug addiction until he made a commitment in 1997 to stay sober by any means necessary. He started with a bicycle, and continued onto mountain biking, mountain climbing, and triathlon competitions.

In 2006, Scott founded The Phoenix, which has grown into a nationwide network of people in recovery who are also mostly fitness enthusiasts. According to the website:

The Phoenix is a national sober active community that provides free fitness classes and social events for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders and those impacted by addiction.

The combination of physical fitness plus supportive community is a prescription for recovery from substance use disorders. A great many behavioral and substance use disorders originate in responses to stress. Exercise is not only a safer way to burn off that stress, it is also a great substitute for substance use in a moment of weakness.

Going out for a walk or run, going for a bike ride, participating in outdoor activity — all can take the place of time previously spent eating, drinking, partying, gaming or gambling. Exercise classes have been shown to have a greater impact on building children’s resilience to later substance use than any propaganda campaign.

Exercising regularly builds health and confidence, both of which contribute to the ability to withstand urges and ignore cues. People getting sober often struggle to find activities apart from a circle of friends who also struggle with substance use disorders. That’s where The Phoenix helps connect people who are trying to get sober, meet new friends, and get some exercise. 

It works. Members of The Phoenix have a self-reported relapse rate of only 17% after three months of sobriety. That is far better than self-reported rates for most treatment programs. The organization will celebrate its 20th year in 2026. The Phoenix is a volunteer effort that involves some 3,200 people who have organized more than 100,000 events through the platform.

Perhaps it is that spirit of volunteerism and self-improvement that attracted Stand Together Press to publish Scott Strode’s new book? Stand Together is a network of organizations funded by Charles Koch and like-minded libertarian supporters. The Phoenix has the sort of bottom up, tough love approach that Charles Koch, one of the world’s richest human beings, advocates.

Here we have a new book by a new publisher heralding a shift in addiction recovery toward a combination of medication-assisted therapy combined with personal responsibility. This approach is heralded, also, with the publication of A New Approach to Addiction and Choice, by Dr. Reinout W. Wiers, which reveals that most “addicts” recover without any medication or therapy.

And that brings us to a new definition of what it means to be in recovery. For most, it has always meant abstinence. You either smoke or you don’t; there is a very small percentage of people who smoke tobacco in moderation. However, the great majority of everyday drinkers of alcohol are not considered “alcoholics,” because they do not suffer from alcohol use disorder.

Therefore, “recovery” really means restricting substance use or compulsive behavior to workable levels. As long as you can keep a lid on it, you’re in recovery. And a great way to keep a lid on it is to install The Phoenix app, find a local sober event, and check it out. It could be the beginning of a beautiful new relationship.

Written by Steve O’Keefe. First published February 6, 2025.

Sources:

“In this addiction recovery community, members rarely talk about addiction,” Stand Together, retrieved January 31, 2025.

Image Copyright: peopleimages12.