MAP
MAP: A Tool for Accountability and Sobriety
While MAP was originally designed as an aftercare tool for men graduating from Lifeline-Connect, it has also proven effective as a sobriety resource for clients seeking non-residential treatment. Many view accountability as something like: “If you feel the impulse to drink, give me a call.” In over 20 years of addiction ministry, I’ve only received two such calls—and one of them was from someone sitting in a liquor store parking lot over 1,000 miles away.
The truth is, accountability needs to happen upstream—before we’re caught in the currents of destructive behavior. Imagine floating in the Niagara River, knowing you don’t want to go over the falls. To avoid disaster, you must swim to safety well before reaching the edge. The sooner you act, the better your chances of avoiding destruction. If you wait until you’re just ten feet from the falls, the current will likely be too strong to overcome, no matter how much effort you put in.
Similarly, when addiction has been part of your life, the impulse to give in to cravings can overpower your resolve once you’ve drifted too far downstream. Even if you haven’t yet "gone over the falls," the window for effective action has closed. That’s why it’s crucial to have accountability in place to help you make wise decisions while there’s still time to change course.