Addiction is a family disease. Find support for you and your loved ones to break free from the shackles that prevent us from living in the full freedom to which Christ has called us.
St. Augustine famously said that, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” At one point or another, all of us find ourselves trying to fill that void or that restlessness with things other than God. The result can be unhealthy attachments and addictions that prevent from fully opening ourselves to His grace and peace. Addiction is a complicated condition with roots in brain conditioning, environmental stressors, and mental health. Find help by way of the following resources.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline
SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP, is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.
Hazelton Betty Ford Foundation
The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation website provides evidence-based resources for family members caring for loved ones that are struggling with addiction. The foundation emphasizes the importance of self-care in this process.
Voice for the Children
The mission of the National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA) is to eliminate the adverse impact of alcohol and drug use on children and families. They envision a world in which no child who struggles because of family addiction will be left unsupported.
Catholic in Recovery
Catholic in Recovery meetings overlap 12-step spirituality with the sacramental life of the Catholic Church. A nationwide ministry founded in San Diego, they are open to all seeking freedom from addiction, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments. Click here for their current meeting schedule.
Exodus 90
Exodus 90 is a ninety-day spiritual exercise for men based on three pillars: prayer, asceticism, and fraternity. All three of these pillars are essential aspects of the Christian life. Although not solely a program for those who struggle with addiction, this program requires abstaining from alcohol, media, and other negative influences.
Crisis Text Line
Faced with an immediate crisis? Call 911 or use the Crisis Text Line, a free, confidential, 24/7 text line for anyone in crisis: Text 4HOPE to 741741.
Al-Anon Family Groups
Al‑Anon members come to understand problem drinking as a family illness that affects everyone in the family. By listening to Al‑Anon members speak at Al‑Anon meetings, you can hear how they came to understand their own role in this family illness. This insight put them in a better position to play a positive role in the family’s future. Click here to find a meeting near you.
Alcoholics Anonymous & Narcotics Anonymous
AA & NA offer recovery from the effects of addiction through a working twelve-step program, including regular attendance at group meetings. The group atmosphere provides help from peers and offers an ongoing support network for addicts who wish to pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle. To find groups near you, click https://www.aa.org/find-aa or https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/
Prayer Resources from the Diocese of Erie: Order for the Blessing of a Person Suffering from Addiction or from Substance Abuse:
Prayer Resources from the Diocese of Erie: Ritual Prayer for the Sick, may be appropriate for those suffering from addiction
Address of Pope Francis to conference participants on “Drugs and Addictions: An Obstacle to Integral Human Development”:
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