Tribes of the Recovering Community – Birds of a Feather

~ Jason Schwartz

Orville CThis week’s tribe is Birds of a Feather International:

Birds of a Feather was formed in response to the need for meeting places for pilots and cockpit crewmembers where the subjects of addiction to alcohol or drugs might be discussed with impunity and anonymity.  The cultural bias concerning these subjects has prevented many pilots in the past from seeking advice in this area.   Birds of a Feather intends to address, in an atmosphere of support, the facts–in that the members are alcoholic themselves and have a means whereby productive lives in their chosen profession can be maintained.

Our concern is recovery from alcoholism.  We have no loyalties to any company, government institution, medical facility, union, Employee Assistant Program, treatment center or specific recovery program.  The fear of loss or limitation to our careers because of this misunderstood disease has been a very real concern to all of us and the understanding of those concerns to be found here is priceless.  BOAF has contributed immeasurably to our own recovery and the spirit of passing this philosophy on to others who also might benefit is the reason for Birds of a Feather.

Published by Jason Schwartz

I have been an addiction professional and social worker since 1994. I started blogging in 2005 as the Clinical Director at Dawn Farm. I no longer work at Dawn Farm and am now the Director of Behavioral Medicine at a community hospital, and a lecturer at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Social Work. Views expressed here are my own. Keep in mind that the field, the contexts in which the field operates, and my views have changed over time.