EDITORIAL:Continued dialogue will lead to accord

As most alcoholics and addicts know, the fourth step in the 12-step recovery system is this: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

So let’s ask ourselves as a community. Have we done a fearless moral inventory of ourselves when it comes to sober-living homes? From the operators of these facilities to their neighbors to our elected leaders: Can you say you’ve honestly analyzed the issues?

Operators, are you running a tight ship, making sure your clients aren’t tossing cigarette butts on the lawns of your neighbors or generally making a nuisance of themselves?

Neighbors, are you being too persnickety, complaining loudly because you want these types of homes out of your neighborhood no matter how well they’re run? Do you prejudge these alcoholics and addicts as hardened criminals who will menace your children?

Politicians, are you brushing off the complaints of neighbors and shrugging your shoulders, saying there’s nothing you can do because federal and state laws prevent you from having local control?

From the looks of things lately, we’d say most folks are engaging in that fearless moral inventory and should be applauded for it.

Newport Beach leaders recently organized a statewide forum on the rehab homes here, state Sen. Tom Harman has introduced several bills to help get local officials more control of the facilities and had his own town hall meeting, and there’s been vigorous debate on the Pilot’s website and in letters to the editor on the issues facing homes for recovering addicts.

The operators of these rehab homes should not be threatened by additional local control. After all, you’re in the business of helping your clients get back on track, and you should be answerable to your neighbors. Remember, the 10th step is this: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

As anyone who has ever been touched — personally or through the pain of watching a loved one destroy themselves — by the ravages of alcoholism or addiction knows, one of the most effective ways to keep the demons of overindulgence under control is to air it out either in 12-step meetings or through more personal therapy.

The same goes for the issues that go with sober-living homes.

Let’s keep the dialogue going. Eventually we’ll arrive at some sort of compromise. It won’t make everyone completely happy, but it’s a lot better than keeping your feelings or the problems a secret.

As they like to say in AA: Keep coming back. It works if you work it.