WELCOME TO
Equipping the Faith Based Community
as a Component of the Continuity of
Care to Embrace the Disease
Management Approach to Recovery
Developer/Trainer
Pam Morgan, BS/CACD-M
Co-Facilitator
Karrie McCrary, MSW/MAFE
OBJECTIVES
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To introduce the faith based community to a
comparative look at addiction as a disease as well
as addiction from a biblical perspective

To enhance the participant’s ability to understand
and address the often puzzling dilemma of
addiction in the church.
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To enlighten participants of the various drugs
being used in the church and the community at
large; the startling statistics, the effects and the
addictive nature.
Objectives (cont.)
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To assist the participants in understanding the
addict and realizing their role in the addict’s life.
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To familiarize the participants with addictive
behavior and the process of recovering from a
lifestyle of addiction, the necessary shift in the
role of love ones as the addict recovers and the
need for community support and an atmosphere
conducive to remaining drug free.
MODULE I
Introduction
Goal: To provide the participant with understanding of
addiction from a Clinical and a Biblical
perspective, distinguishing between myths, faulty
beliefs and truths about addiction.

Defining Addiction
Addiction in the church today
Addiction as a Disease
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Myths or Truth?
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Defining Addiction
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A diseased or sick relationship with a mood or mind
altering substance or behavior rendering one
powerless to make healthy choices and produces
harmful consequences
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An obsession, compulsion, or excessive
psychological dependence, to such things as: drugs,
alcohol, video games, crime, money, work,
overeating and other eating disorders, gambling,
computers, nicotine, pornography, etc.
Biblically Defining Addiction
Addiction: PERVERTED Worship
...For a man is a slave to whatever controls him.
II Peter 2:19
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Perverted Worship:
– Excessive devotion to the extent of jeopardizing
family, job, finances and economic security,
relationships, etc.
– When a person seeks relief from painful realities
by altering their mood and experiencing instant
gratification, they become addicted to whatever
route they find to temporarily relieve them. They
in turn become devoted to this source of relief and
give up everything for that feeling to reoccur,
worshipping the source of their relief.
Can Church be Addictive for the
Recovering Addict?
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Euphoric High in Religion
Church on Sunday/Drugs on Monday
Blind leading the Blind
Biblical History of Addiction
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Old Testament
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New Testament
The Role of today’s Church
concerning Addiction
•
•
Coming out of Denial
Acknowledging the presence of
addiction
Addiction as a Disease
CLINICALLY SPEAKING
1956 Formal recognition by AMA
Describable, Predictable, Progressive, Primary,
Permanent, Terminal if left untreated
3 MAJOR ASPECTS
PHYSICAL – COMPULSION
Limbic Reward System / Dopamine release
Hardwiring of the Brain
MENTAL – Obsession
SPIRITUAL – Dependence
MODULE II
Startling Realities

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To enlighten participants of the various drugs
and other addictions being used in the church
and the community at large; the startling
statistics, the side effects and the addictive
nature.
Statistics
Effects: Physical, Mental and Spiritual
Prescription drugs abuse – An uprising trend
–
Street drugs; opiates, inhalants, methamphetamines,
hallucinogens, club drugs

Drug Abuse and the Church:
Are the Blind leading the Blind?
1.
2.
3.
1 in 8 adults in America suffering from
chemical dependency
17 million alcoholics; 25% teens
47% of all Americans are effected by
substance abuse; especially alcohol
Various Drugs / Statistics
Youth

National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA)
–
–
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9.3 percent of 12th-graders reported using Vicodin without a
prescription in the past year
5.0 percent (of 8th – 12th graders) reported using OxyContinmaking these medications among the most commonly
abused prescription drugs by adolescents.
The abuse of certain prescription drugs-opioids,
central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and
stimulants- can alter the brain's activity and lead to
addiction.
Various drugs / Statistics


The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN),
monitors medications and illicit drugs reported in
emergency departments (EDs) across the Nation
Two of the most frequently reported prescription
medications in drug abuse-related cases are
–
–
–
benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam,
and lorazepam) 100,784 drug abuse cases in 2002
opioid pain relievers (e.g., oxycodone, hydrocodone,
morphine, methadone, and combinations that include these
drugs). 119,000
Taken due to Drug addiction and desired psychoactive
effects
Older Adults

Persons 65 years of age and above comprise only
13 percent of the population,
yet account for approximately one-third of all
medications prescribed in the U.S


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More likely to be prescribed long-term and multiple
prescriptions, which could lead to unintentional
misuse.
The elderly also are at risk for prescription drug
abuse, in which they intentionally take medications
that are not medically necessary.
OTC medicines and dietary supplements.
MODULE III
Addressing Issues / Viable Solutions
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Strongholds
Recovery vs. Deliverance
Maintaining Recovery or Deliverance
Q&A
STRONGHOLDS

The garbage rats are attracted to, where they feed
and hide. A stronghold is a spiritual fortress (wall) of
thought created by various acts inflicted upon a
person over the years where strong influences may
enter in , hide and be protected.
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Rejection, Embarrassment, Falsely Accused,
Abandonment, Betrayal, Insulted,
Abused (physically, mentally, spiritual, sexually,
verbal)
Disappointed
Recovery vs. Deliverance:
What’s the difference?
Why Some Deliverance (Process) vs.
Instantaneous total deliverance
What’s expected? Facts About Feelings
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They can come in combinations
They don’t just disappear
They can lead to relapse
Others don’t “make you” feel a certain way
Feelings can be sneaky
Feelings follow change
Maintaining Deliverance / Recovery
7 Steps in Temptation-Triggers & Urges
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Tempted –thought of evil
Drawn away by strong imagination
Lust –overwhelmingly strong desire
Enticed: weakened will
Yielding (when lust is full grown)
Sin: actual act committed
Results / Consequences
An ENEMY To the Recovery Process:
SICK PRIDE- HUMILITY VS. PRIDE
Pride: arrogance/ conceit; inordinate
(unreasonable or unwarranted)self-regard;
thinking more highly of oneself than
warranted
 Comes before shame
 Always goes before a fall
 Having knowledge of the will of God but
disregarding it because you think you know
best for your self or you think that in spite of
knowing that a thing is wrong, you can beat
the odds and make it work out for you.
Early Warning Signs

1. H.A.L.T -
STRATEGIES FOR HANDLING STRESS
GET HONEST, GET HUMBLE, GET HELP

2. Thoughts (unreasonable or
unhealthy)

3. Behaviors (which are not conducive
to ongoing recovery)
Maintaining Deliverance / Recovery
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Breathing into a brown bag
Reading personal journal
Calling someone who has substantial years
free and has agreed to be a support person
for you.
Going to Church Support Groups or NA/AA
meetings and sharing feelings
Maintaining Deliverance / Recovery
Experiencing Feelings such as loneliness, shame,
resentment, sadness, anxiety, rage, etc.
A. THIS TOO SHALL PASS
B. NAME THE FEELING
C. IDENTIFY THE EVENT OR SITUATION
D. LIST PERSONAL BELIEFS OR
THOUGHTS ABOUT IT
E. RESPOND WITH POSITIVE ACTION
(IN SPITE OF FEELINGS)