In recovery programs, sponsors redirect focus back to the specific addiction being treated.

Evidence

Later that day, I called my sponsor in the overeaters anonymous program, Alan, a nice older Jewish schmatta salesman. I confided in him. “I broke my celibacy and ironically the last time I had sex fell on Cinco de Mayo five years ago.” Alan, my wise sponsor, responded with, “Well I guess you have sex every five years whether you need it or not, but I’m more interested in what you ate for lunch today.” — Dolores DeLuce, Blow Jobs, 233

Categorization

• SEED: The sponsor redirecting from sex back to food is a nice didactic beat on how 12-step discipline resists substitution compulsions — usable in writing about recovery mechanics.