When Doug Mathews nearly lost his life to alcohol addiction, he found a new purpose: helping others find their way back. Now, he leads a support network called Recovery SOS
Doug Mathews’ recovery journey started in March 2016, the day after he almost took his own life.
His alcohol addiction left him feeling stuck in a place of darkness. When his wife, Janet, intervened and prevented the tragedy, he decided he would finally ask for help.
Now, nine years later, he’s made it his personal mission to help others reclaim their life through sobriety.
If you happen to pass by Mathews on the streets in Collingwood, he’ll probably be wearing one of his favourite shirts — a black T-shirt with the words ‘SOBER EH’ pasted in the centre of a red maple leaf.
It’s his way of recovering out loud.
Mathews’ recovery also includes hosting his podcast, Canadian Sober Eh?, which was recently picked up by Rogers TV. The podcast was created to combat negative stereotypes that are associated with addiction and recovery.
While the response to his podcast and t-shirt has been strong, Mathews still felt the community needed something more.
He looked at the recovery groups he was attending and realized they weren’t exactly what he needed them to be. He wondered if there could be a tight-knit community where members could express themselves authentically, without restrictions or strict guidelines.
And so, Recovery SOS was born.
The Saturday night support group meets every week from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., at New Life Church on Tracey Lane in Collingwood.
“At SOS, we allow you to talk about whatever you want,” says Mathews.
The group isn’t only for alcoholics. Mathews explains that the doors are open to all: “We have alcoholics, drug addicts, gamblers, sex addicts, video game addicts, and those struggling with codependency or eating disorders.”
One of the group members, Francine Duchene, feels like Recovery SOS has changed her life.
Duchene first met Mathews in another fellowship group in Collingwood.
“Doug is very vocal about who he is and what he does. He would invite people to join him on Saturday nights for his recovery meetings, and with nothing else to do on a Saturday, I ended up going,” she says.
Other recovery programs have allowed Duchene to talk about her fear, judgment and resentment, but what they lacked was a direct human connection.
She felt as though her emotional needs weren’t being met.
“In Recovery SOS, we feed off each other. I might be expressing something and all of a sudden, other people are feeling the same way. It covers so much more than what a one-hour program can cover,” she says.
One of the number one questions Mathews asks at these Saturday night meetings is: “How’s your overall recovery going and how was your week?”
This was life-changing for Duchene.
“Now I can’t wait for my Saturday meetings,” she says.
“We are a family. We check up on each other, and we look out for each other,” she adds.
Next Feb., the group will be celebrating its four-year anniversary. Currently, there’s a true membership of around 20 people, but many more come and go regularly.
The group also holds more than just its Saturday night meetings. This Oct., they hosted a county hoedown, and this holiday season, they had a Christmas potluck. Mathews plans to continue hosting these types of events to make their community “bigger,” and “stronger.”
“I believe that SOS is the new way to live. It’s not just a meeting, it’s an experience,” he says.
In an attempt to keep his group members supported, Mathews has decided to make personalized SOS hockey jerseys.
Not only is it a way for members to showcase their progress, but it’s also a way to stay connected and united with the recovery community.
The jerseys have SOS sewn on the front with names and favourite numbers placed on the back. They also feature the colour purple, which is one of the shades associated with mental health awareness.
Mathews is hopeful the jerseys will make an impact in the Collingwood community: “We hope they raise awareness and kind of say, ‘Hey we’re here to support you, we’re here to help you!’”
“We want to show people we are here out of love, not out of hate. We want the town of Collingwood to know we’re here,” he adds.
And in many ways, he wants people to shed their preconceived notions about those who struggle with addiction.
“You know, we’re not just drunks under a bridge with a brown paper bag. We’re humans, and we’re here to help,” he says.
To learn more about Recovery SOS, you can visit their Facebook Page.
