What Is the Role of the Church

to those Who Struggle with Substance Abuse?

The time has come where we can no longer pretend that substance abuse is not an
issue in our congregations. On any given Sunday morning there are people in our churches
who are dealing with substance abuse, either their own or that of a family member. Some
are too ashamed to admit that there is a problem with substance abuse. In essence, nobody
wants to talk about it. I have been told by family members that they have often felt helpless
and hopeless because of the stigma and shame associated with addiction. A mother once
told me that she did not want anyone to know that her son was using drugs because she was
afraid that people would view her as a “bad” mother. I can identify with that mother, because
unbeknown to me, when my youngest son was fourteen years old he became involved with
alcohol and other drugs. It took years before my family was able to recover from the torment
that the disease caused to the family. Initially, I too was ashamed; it was only after I began
to understand the disease, through education, that I was able to reach out to the religious
community for spiritual healing.

What is the role of clergy and other spiritual leaders/caregivers to individuals and
families whose lives have been altered by this dreaded disease? I believe that the church can
play a major role in helping to educate and provide opportunities for spiritual healing to families
and individuals who are in need of support.

Pastors and other caregivers must first become informed about addiction and substance
abuse, finding out everything there is to know about the disease. There is no need to reinvent
the wheel because there are groups and agencies that are willing to develop partnerships with
churches. For example, a number of churches have partnered with groups to formed substance
abuse networks, organizations and other support groups. Because Substance abuse impacts the
entire family, educational opportunities should be designed to meet the needs of the abuser as
well as parents, grandparents, siblings and others involved so they can understand the disease.
Special care should be taken to encourage open and honest dialogue among teenagers and
youth pastors. Most of all, we must do as Jesus taught — have compassion and love for all God’s
people! God Bless.

Submitted by: Rev. Theresa Waters, Elder in the United Methodist North Georgia Conference