Alcohol and Substance Abuse: A Handbook for Clergy and Congregations

This book is an excellent resource for understanding the entire dynamics of addictions, whether it be alcoholism, sex, food, smoking etc. It has been used in teaching institutions to help those with the addiction and those affected by someone elses addiction. It gives facts about how ministers and priests go into the ministry looking for something to fulfill them as many are already in a "broken" state of being. It helps us understand the far reaching characteristics of the insidious disease and how it takes over all aspects of a person's life. It has helped me understand how I chose the person I married. It also became clear as I remembered how I watched the congregation in the churches, that had so called "recovering" alcoholics(they were not in recovery--they were fooling everyone who chose to believe them)in them and how they divided the congregation as some people enabled the priest to continue to hide his secret until the entire church atosphere was engulfed in this one persons life. Through enabling the alcoholic person more damage was done than if it came out in the open right away, and the person was told that it was expected that he get help or leave. So many lives impacted through secrets and lies instead on openness and honesty. This book has helped my family and friends so much I hope you give it the chance it so richly deserves! Tucson

For clergy, lay people and care givers, this book offers practical, effective procedures and methods proven to be successful in dealing with someone's alcohol or substance abuse problem. And, it provides specific advice for families that are affected by such problems. It provides answers to questions like this: How does a minister respond to a cry for help when the concern is alcohol or drug abuse? With one out of eight adults suffering from chemical dependency and one out of four families distressed by someone's use of chemicals, clergy frequently have to deal with such problems. How does a parishoner or congregation respond to a minister who might be suffering from chemical dependency? Clergy are just as likely to be alcoholic or drug addicted as any person and yet denominational leaders, enlisted by concerned members of the congregation, usually are clueless as to how to help the Minister. Lastly, how does any care giver deal with a client who is suffering alcoholism or drug abuse when he or she has no knowledge about the symptoms or understanding of the steps necessary for recovery? Even though professionals, parishioners and lay people are often called on to deal with a chemically dependent person or those suffering from the fallout, few are trained to respond effectively. Worse, because people have no understanding or training, often they make matters worse. They make the criitical mistake of ignoring the problem and pretending everything is O.K. They enable the sickness to progress and become more destructive to everyone involved. "Alcohol and Substance Abuse: A Handbook for Clergy and Congregations":, explains how clergy, parishoners and lay people can be pastoral problem solvers, not practitioners. In short, it describes exactly what to do when faced with a person who has chemical dependency problem and where to go to get the necessary help. Throughout, the aim of "Alcohol and Substance Abuse: A Handbook for Clergy and Congregations" is to provide spiritual answers to the spiritual questions of dispirited people. This is an how-to handbook with specific descriptions and practical suggestions. And, it features a comprehensive list of organizations and agencies equipped to help. This is an excellent resource book. ASARP (Alcohol and Substance Abuse Recovery Programs) highly recommends it to anyone who must deal with someone's chemical dependency problem.