General Information
Addiction is a word that we hear all to often. We hear it on the news, in the workplace, in our communities, and in our homes. You may hear it mentioned at church when someone is asking for prayer for a loved one or in the doctor’s office when they are discussing pain management. You may have selected this struggle for more information because you or someone you love may have an addiction. If that is a concern for you then please allow us to help by giving you some information and some resources. You have already taken a great first step simply by inquiring and increasing your awareness.
You are not alone. Not even close. As of 2022, an estimated 39 million people are currently struggling with some form of addiction in the United States. Worldwide that number is roughly 2% of the world population. These numbers are only the ones that we know about! There are so many more that live in fear and shame and never decide to get help.
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive pleasure seeking behavior despite adverse consequences. More simply put, people find themselves wanting to do things that seem to bring pleasure but ultimately bring harm to themselves physically and emotionally. This harm is done over and over and the person may feel that they have no control and are unable to stop regardless of what it is doing to their body or the legal trouble it may cause them. Of course, the first thing that everyone thinks of when they hear the word addiction is drugs and/or alcohol. But addiction doesn’t stop there. People can become addicted to eating, working out, pornography, or gambling. Addiction truly can become any behavior, good or bad, that a person does compulsively and to the detriment of their well-being.
It wasn’t until relatively recently that addiction became viewed as a mental health disorder. In the 1952, the first edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) identified Addiction (with subcategories of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction) as a part of the Sociopathic Personality Disturbance. Addiction became a medical concern and was finally treated as such. It is considered a brain disorder because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control. It involves complex interactions among the brain, genetics, the environment, and individual life experiences. In many cases, those who struggle with any form of addiction also struggle with a mental health disorder. Drugs and alcohol are often used to self medicate in order to relieve the symptoms they often cope with from a mental health concern.
But there is hope...
Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Recovery is possible. Have you heard that before? If not allow us to be the first to give you that good news! People recover from their addiction everyday. As a matter of fact, there are currently 20 million people in the United States in recovery. That is a whole lot of people that may share your story and who know how you struggle. That is a lot of potential support and encouragement. With that many people in recovery – there has to be a great deal of resources, right? ABSOLUTELY!! There are resources everywhere churches, community centers, hospitals, schools, and many more. The remainder of this page will provide some of those resources. The list will include treatment centers, sober living/transitional housing, and recovery programs for the Southern Ohio area. It will also provide a couple of links to national websites that can lead you to resources in your area.
You should be so proud of yourself. We are!! You have made a decision and it’s not an easy one. If at any time you would like to speak with someone or would like for us to pray for you, please submit a prayer request or send a comment from the Rx 4 Wholeness Community and we will be glad to follow up and assist you. Remember you are not alone. We have you! God has you!
Philippians 4:13 - “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.”
