ABOUT US

Mission Statement

To provide inspiration for those in the process of recovery. We want to create meaningful relationships with those around us and around the world who are struggling through the day to day fight for sobriety and clean living. We exist to create substantial communication between peers, emphasizing and elevating success by inspiring others through sharing personal experiences.

Origin Story

Control the Zero, based in Spokane, Washington, was started in 2013. It was inspired by a conversation between characters on the hit show House of Cards. It captured the essence of maintaining sobriety so perfectly we decided to dedicate a website entirely to help others cultivate their sobriety in such a way that they can attend a meeting saying "It's been zero days since I last used" only once.

"[T]he most important count I do has nothing to do with work. It's the number of days since April 4, 1999. As of this morning, that's 5,185. The bigger that number gets, the more it frightens me, because I know all it takes is one drink to go back to zero. Most people see fear as a weakness. It can be. Sometimes for my job, I have to put fear in other people. I know that's not right. But if I'm honest, like the fourth step asks us to be, I have to be ruthless, because failure is not an option. The same goes for my sobriety. I have to be ruthless with myself. I have to use my fear. It makes me stronger. Like everyone in this room, I can't control who I am. But I can control the zero." - Doug Stamper.

We can't control much in our lives. One thing we can control is our response and attitude in any given situation. When we share our stories with one another it may not directly control another person but it may help them control themselves. We encourage success stories and stories of struggle. Knowing that there are others who are struggling, knowing that others do know what we are going through, helps ease the urge to pull back, retreat, and relapse. Together we can stand in the fight to control the zero.