Close to Home A Recovery Brief WNC Recovery Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church
Prayer for Victims of Addiction O blessed Lord, you ministered to all who came to you: Look with compassion upon all who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy; remove from them the fears that beset them; strengthen them in the work of their recovery; and to those who care for them, give patient understanding and persevering love. Amen. BCP Prayer pg - 831
Who are We? Recovery Ministries is an independent, nationwide network of Episcopal laity and clergy, dioceses and parishes, schools, agencies, and other institutions - all with a common commitment to address the effects of addiction, in all its forms, in relation to the church's mission. Recovery Ministries network serves as a voice of conscience to Episcopalians throughout the world, building awareness of pastoral and spiritual ministry to those addicted. The original concept for Recovery Ministries mission dates from the landmark 1979 General Convention resolution on alcohol. Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church is an organization with a mission to those who, through addiction, have lost their health and freedom. Our ministry seeks to: Help the addicted and those who love them connect with spiritual resources and find lasting recovery. Witness to Christ s unfailing mercy by welcoming unchurched members of Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-Step programs into an Episcopal faith community. Raise the awareness of bishops, and other clergy and leaders, about the disease of addiction and the redemption and grace found in recovery. Strengthen recovering Episcopalians in the work of their recovery and help proclaim the Gospel in the world and carry their recovery into the Church.
Addiction is a Brain Disease A small percentage of people will become both physically and mentally obsessed with the use of a particular substance for it s effect and can not stop. These people have crossed over from simply being addicted to having the disease of addiction. This disease is not contagious like other diseases but shows the same characteristics as any other disease including diabetes, cancer or the common cold. What Do People Become Addicted To Substance Use Disorder Depressants - barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and alcohol. tranquilizers Stimulants Amphetamines, Methamphetamine, MDMA (Ecstasy), Cocaine, Crack-cocaine, Caffeine, Nicotine Hallucinogens - LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide), Psilocybin, Peyote, PCP, Opioids Codeine, Morphine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Tramadol, Methadone, Buprenorphine, Heroin, Fentanyl, What about pot? Marijuana falls into the category of "cannabis". Drugs in this category have different effects such as stimulant and depressant. Process Addictions Cutting, Exercise, Gambling, Internet, Overeating, Sports, Sex, Pornography, Shopping, Video Games, Work
The Addictive Cycle By: Charles N. Roper, PhD "Merry-Go-Round of Denial" 1. Negative Consequences Associated with Use leads to: 2. One's Intention to Control Use, which leads to: 3. Failure to Control One's Use, which leads to: 4. Denial and Other Defenses, which leads to: 1. Continued Use Despite Negative Consequences, which leads to: 2. One's Intention to Control Use, which leads to: 3. Failure to Control One's Use, which leads to: 4. Denial and Other Defenses, which leads to: 1. Continued Use Despite Negative Consequences, which leads to: 2. One's Intention to Control Use, which leads to: 3. Failure to Control One's Use, which leads to: 4. Denial and Other Defenses, which leads to: Negative Consequences... and without recovery, it goes on and on and on and...
Addiction Effects: Primary Family Primary individual Lying to family Stealing from family Physical effects Family Denial Church Family Primary individual Loss of spirituality Guilt about right / wrong Arguing with God Church Family Denial 6 degrees of addiction 6 degrees of addiction 47 People 47 People North Carolina Substance Abuse Statistics https://bit.ly/2i1qqlp Above is a link to the North Carolina Public Health Statistics and Strategy Data
Alcohol Addiction in North Carolina - 2009-2013 According to the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (SAMHSA) in 2011, approximately 45% of all admissions to substance abuse treatment facilities were for alcoholism. North Carolina s Alcohol Fact sheet for 2013 reflected that 28% of alcohol-related accidents were fatal crashes or 324 crashes. An additional 5,306 alcohol-related crashes were non-fatal crashes and 5,172 were alcohol related property damage only crashes. In 2012, there were 93 deaths related to alcohol. (NC Division of Public Health, 2013) Each year between 2009-2012, 406,000 individuals aged 12 and older, were dependent on or abused alcohol. (NSDUH 2009-2013). Commonly Abused Drugs in North Carolina The North Carolina Injury and Violence Prevention 2009-2012 stated that opioids, prescription drugs, and OTC drugs accounted for 68% of the drugs that led to unintentional poisoning deaths. Cocaine, heroin and/or methamphetamine and other narcotics are associated with 60% of all deaths. In a single day count in 2013, 40,575 individuals in North Carolina were enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program. That was an increase of 28,997 people from 2009. 91.2% of all those using illicit drugs DID NOT receive substance abuse treatment between 2009-2013. Marijuana leads the state s most abused drug. Cocaine Admissions for cocaine abuse can be divided into two groups, those that smoke cocaine and those that ingest cocaine by other means (snorting, injecting, etc). In 2010, 5,463 people were admitted to drug treatment for smoking cocaine, and an additional
2,157 individuals entered treatment for ingesting cocaine through other means than smoking. Of all the illicit drugs, cocaine was the most prevalent substance in unintentional poisoning deaths. Heroin North Carolina, like the rest of the country, has seen an increase in heroin use and heroin deaths in just a few years. 38 people died of heroin overdose in 2010 compared with 183 in 2013. Other Drugs In North Carolina, Ecstasy (MDMA) has increased in popularity. Ecstasy is especially popular among high school and college-aged individuals (15-25 years of age). Other popular club drugs in North Carolina include GHB, LSD, PCP, and ketamine. A combination of these and other drugs accounted for 9,584 people who went to drug addiction treatment. Prescription Drugs Prescription drug abuse is widespread through North Carolina and is continuing to increase. The Office of National Control Drug Policy (ONCDP) claims that the widespread prescription drug abuse in North Carolina is due to the ease by which prescription drugs in North Carolina are obtained. 7,097 people received treatment for opiate addiction other than heroin in 2010. Methamphetamine Methamphetamine in North Carolina remains readily available. It is primarily available in crystalline form, often called crystal meth. Crystal meth in North Carolina is especially abundant in large metropolitan centers of the state, but it is becoming increasingly available in rural areas as well. In addition, there were 846 people admitted in 2010 for amphetamine addiction treatment.
Addictive Behaviors and How To Spot Reliable symptoms of addictive disease become more evident. Reliable symptoms include those listed under the DSM IV definition of addiction and others, expressed as follows: Continued use despite negative consequences; Loss of control, as in more use than planned (broken limits); Unpredictability, as in use despite plan not to use (broken promises); Compulsivity/preoccupation in thinking; Denial; Use of defenses to maintain denial; Build up of (or "break" in) tolerance; Remorse & guilt about use or behavior when using; Memory loss, mental confusion, irrational thinking; Family history of addictive behavior; Withdrawal discomfort (physical, mental, emotional, and/or psychological). Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.
How does Al-Anon work? How Can I Help My Problem Drinker Quit Drinking? There is no magic formula that enables you to help someone stop or cut back on his or her drinking. Alcoholism is a complex problem, with many related issues. But Al Anon can help you learn how to cope with the challenges of someone else s drinking. It may be that you could help matters by changing some of your own behaviors that make things worse. It may be possible for you to find a healthier way to respond to these challenges. Again, there are no easy answers. But Al Anon meetings offer the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others who have faced similar problems. While simple problems may have simple solutions, the solution to complex problems is more difficult to explain. Al Anon simplifies a complex problem by suggesting a One Day at a Time approach, which takes things one step at a time. At every Al Anon meeting, you can hear people explain how Al Anon worked for them. That may be the best place to start to learn about Al Anon One Day at a Time.
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. Some research shows that when problem drinkers enter a recovery program, their chances for success are improved when they are supported by family members who are in a family recovery program such as Al Anon. Alcoholic Spouse / Partner Alcoholic Child Alcoholic Parent Alcoholic Sibling Grandchild in an Alcoholic Home Alcoholic Friend Al-Anon has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics and by giving Understanding and Encouragement to the alcoholic.
When someone asks for help Things not Helpful to Say: Just Pray It will be OK Talk to my secretary - she is in AA Things to Say: There is Help Addiction is a Medical Disease You are Not Alone Things You Can Do: Go To a Meeting Call a 12 Step Hotline for Help Asheville: 828-254-8539 Boone: 828-264-0208
https://wncrecovery.org/moc
For more information contact: The Rev. Dn Priscilla Wodehouse, Chair PDWodehouse@icloud.com 828-743-5759 Western North Carolina Recovery www.wncrecovery.org Copyright 2018 Western North Carolina Recovery