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The Best Christian Program

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A true Christian program is one that addresses the whole person; body, soul, and spirit.  At New Life Spirit Recovery after completion of detox we focus on emotion healing, spiritual growth and maturity, and relationship with God, self, and others.

Since we are currently facing an opioid/opiate epidemic crisis in the United States, I’ll use heroin and Oxycontin as examples.  Let me start by saying that all detox facilities, and approaches are not created equal.  Any addict will tell you it’s all about the meds in detox.  A typical medical opiate detox will use medications to alleviate the symptoms associated with opiate withdrawal.  The most widely used medication for this type of detox is Suboxone. This medication will prevent the addict from experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms because of the way it works on receptors affected by opiate abuse.  That’s the simple explanation. Here is where we come to a fork in the road.  Some believe maintaining the addict on Suboxone is effective because it prevents cravings.  Others believe it’s best to use Suboxone as a short-term detox medication. The problem with maintaining a patient on Suboxone is that all that’s happened is the patient goes from being addicted to Heroin to having a Suboxone dependence which has similar withdrawal factors.

We believe the best course of action for an opiate detox is to use Suboxone as it was intended, as a short-term titrate protocol to get the patient through the initial detox symptoms.  Once the detox protocol is complete Suboxone is discontinued.  Now we enter the post-acute withdrawal phase. This is time when the addict is both physically and emotionally sensitive. It’s critical the client begin phase two of treatment, which is when counseling, groups and classes begin.

Once the detox phase of treatment is complete, it’s time to go to work in the area of soul.  This can be a dangerous place if additional treatment is not implemented right away.  At this point in the recovery process, the soul is emotionally sensitive and the body is physically sensitive. If the treatment process is discontinued at this stage the client will most likely begin to seek comfort by returning to old habits. If the true comforter, Jesus, is not introduced into the equation, the addict will eventually gravitate back to what they used in the past to help deal with life’s challenges.

The soul is comprised of at least three parts that we are aware of; the mind, emotion, and our God given- free will. The mind is where our thoughts live, our emotions are an expression of our feelings, and our free-will is evidenced in our behaviors by the choices we make. All three parts were designed to function in sync and are driven by our belief systems. Without a doubt, what we choose to believe will eventually affect the way we think, feel, and act.

At New Life Spirit Recovery, we approach addiction and chemical dependency as symptoms, not the problem.  They are manifestations of something much deeper going on than what can be physically seen.  The manifestation is not the problem but becomes part of the problem when the roots are left undealt with.  Our Biblically-based counseling process is designed to deal with the rooted issues underlying substance abuse. Using Biblically-based principles we guide our clients through a process of exploring what they believe to be true about God, themselves, the world they live in, and how to function in relationships in a healthy way.  In treatment, clients also revisit and properly process through the events in their life that were painful, negative, and traumatic. These are the things that were done to them by others, and the things they did to themselves and others.  With the Bible as the authority, we explore, with the client which of their beliefs are rooted in God’s Word, and which are flaming arrows, lies (fiery darts) shot straight from the pits of hell.  With the counselor as the guide and Jesus Christ in the center as the true comforter, the client goes on a journey of self-discovery and soul-searching, dispelling the lies and replacing them with the truth of God’s Word.

The third component of treatment at New Life Spirit Recovery includes not just the counseling process but also intensive Christ-centered curriculum, Bible studies, workshops, and church services. The curriculum is closely linked to the therapeutic process as this is where the clients learn the principles that are applied in the counseling room. Through a variety of classes and workshops the client learns about God’s perspective on subjects like anger, forgiveness, denial, strongholds, and codependency.  Coming into a relationship with Christ in an intimate way where He becomes the True Counselor and Comforter is the goal. Confessing sin to Christ results is instant forgiveness, but the effects of sinful behavior still need to be dealt with, and that requires a healing process. James 5:16 makes it clear that we need each other for prayer and soul “healing”.  Through the process the client begins to experience the true freedom, peace and joy that only comes from Jesus.

 

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The “Opioid Epidemic” is becoming an all too familiar term

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All drugs in the opioid class have similar effects to heroin. Other opioids include opium, morphine, oxycodone, OxyContin, hydrocodone, fentanyl, codeine and carfentanil. The effects of these drugs include pain relief, cough suppression, a false sense of well-being, drowsiness, constipation, difficulty concentrating, slowed breathing, and apathy. Like heroin, all these drugs can lead to physical and psychological dependence, as well as fatal overdoses.

What are opioids and what are their differences?

  • Heroin – Heroin is made from the opium poppy and the process of producing it incorporates various chemicals and involves many steps. It is snorted, smoked or injected. Typically, many that became addicted to heroin started with prescription medication, opioids such as OxyContin or Percocet. Then at some point, the prescription medication either became too expensive or unavailable.  Since heroin is typically cheaper and readily available on the street, it becomes the next best option. When an addict is dope sick, in desperation, they will do things they never dreamed of doing just to get well.
  • Fentanyl – Fentanyl is a second-generation synthetic-class opioid, highly addictive and 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine. Fentanyl was initially intended to manage chronic pain in patients with serious health conditions such as cancer, or after an invasive surgical procedure. It is categorized as a prescription pain reliever sold in an injectable form, a lozenge or lollipop, or as an extended-release patch. It is also manufactured illegally and sold on the black market. This drug surfaced on the streets of New York in the early 1970’s and bore the label “China white”. Today, Fentanyl is cheaply made and commonly substituted for heroin or added to it to increase its effects.  This is very dangerous and often leads to fatal overdoses.
  • Carfentanil – Carfentanil is structurally equivalent to fentanyl but much more powerful, literally 100 times more powerful. It has a similar chemical makeup but differs in some ways. This substance was initially licensed to sedate large animals such as elephants and can be up to 4000 times more powerful than heroin.  Prior to 2017, it was considered a non-controlled substance in China and easily purchased through the mail.  Similar in appearance to table salt, just 1 mg added to a half gram of heroin is powerful enough to kill 25,000 people.

If you suspect that someone you love or care about is using, abusing or addicted to opioids, there’s no time to waste. Please don’t wait until it’s too late.  When in doubt, be sure to check it out.

It is very important to understand that these synthetic substances do not necessarily show up in your typical store bought (over-the-counter) test kit.  They should be obtained and administered by a professional for certain accuracy.

We can help!  Call 866.543.3361 today or visit us at www.newlifespiritrecovery.com for supportive resources and treatment options, including a free intervention book. We are leaders in Christ centered, clinically based addiction treatment for men and women since 2005.  If we can’t help, we will find someone who can.

www.newlifespiritrecovery.com

#HopeDealer #FindRecovery #OpioidCrisis  #OpioidEpidemic  #FindHope #AddictionHelp #FindFreedom

 

 

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How Do I find a Good Christian Treatment Center?

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Christian Treatment Center

Finding a good treatment center is really about deciding what your criteria will be and then developing a screening process designed to weed out the places that don’t fit your criteria.  Here are some of our recommendations.

Before you begin your search, pray.  Invite the Holy Spirit into the process.  Let Him guide you as you navigate your way through the many options available.  Some of the searches we recommend are, Christian Rehabs, Christian Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Christ-centered Rehabs, and Christian Addiction Treatment Programs.  Think of the words you use in your search as your initial screening.  Now it’s time to start making some phone calls.

We believe programs that assess and address emotional, spiritual, physical, and psychological (when needed) needs are the most effective.  Leaving out any one of those components leaves the door open for relapse. Developing a screening process that addresses all of these components will thin out the options.

Assessing a program in how they deal with the physical is really about determining the methods used to detoxify the body.  Will a doctor be doing an assessment?  Will there be medication involved?  Think of detox as a period of time when the addict is in a controlled environment, has been assessed by a doctor, and is put on a protocol of medications (when necessary) to help them through the physical withdrawal symptoms associated with pain medications, heroin, alcohol, and other substances.  (For more information please see our article When is Detox Necessary?)  We believe that medications should end with detox. “Will my son/daughter be leaving detox on medication?” By asking these questions you will come to see that all detox facilities are not created equal.  What you want to know is, what condition is your loved going to be in when their detox is complete.

Emotional healing is something that takes place in the counseling room.  We believe the most effective process is one where all principles are filtered through the Word of God.  You might ask something like this, “What is the goal of your counseling process?”

Where groups and classes are concerned you can ask for a program schedule and determine if those classes are Biblically-based or whether they are secular in nature.

Although a Christian treatment program is considered faith-based, not all faith-based programs are Christian.  In the current climate we find ourselves living in, the term ‘faith-based’ can mean many different things.  The idea is to discern whether the faith-based program you have called shares your beliefs.  You can ask, “How much of program is Biblically-based?”

The counselor is also a significant part of the process and there are major differences between counselors and the counseling modalities they utilize in the counseling room.  It is either man’s theories that are practiced or a Biblical principles and they are literally worlds apart.  There is either a secular worldly counselor utilizing worldly modalities, a counselor that is a Christian but utilizes worldly modalities, or a Christian counselor utilizing a Biblical world view (Biblical principles).

We encourage you to research and learn!  Please call us if we can assist you with a Christian drug rehab at 866.543.3361 or visit www.newlifespiritrecovery.com

New Life Spirit Recovery is Christ-centered Christian program that deals with the whole person utilizing Biblical principles.  All of our teachers and counselors are spirit filled Christians, clinically trained state certified professionals the counsel with Biblical principles. 

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How do I help my Christian daughter who is addicted to drugs?

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When someone you love is caught in the spiral of addiction, finding help can be difficult. Modern medicine changes almost daily, and thus the information you receive also changes. As Christians, understanding science helps to an extent, after all we are created by God and He is in charge of science. But to think that addiction is simply an organic brain issue is simply false. There are many reasons why a person ends up in the pathway of addiction. Properly understood, it is a involves the mind (separate from the brain), emotions, trauma, spiritual life and also physical realities of addiction.  While not everyone needs to go to a rehab that involves time away from daily life, learning your options right now is vital. You can clear the highway of confusing information by working through your own research.

If you are at a place of needing to do an intervention through a Christ-centered approach,

Here are some important things to understand

You want to love your daughter and hate the addiction. How do you do this? By recognizing that she isn’t her addiction. Her addiction is the enemy that is stealing her life.

You want to feed solutions to your daughter that will kill the addiction, but bring life to her. This happens when you stop anything you are doing that will bring comfort to her ability to continue to use. This can vary, but it may be overly bailing her out or allowing her irresponsible behavior.

You can establish an actual intervention on your daughter. Read the book Breaking Point as a free reference guide to how this is established. A christian addicted to drugs has better alternative because she has the Spirit of God active and ready. It’s vital that you keep praying for wisdom and understanding.

You can allow the pain of her choices to lead her to solutions.

You can research options and programs when and if she’s ready for change, providing incentives to get help, and consequences for not getting help.

You can speak honestly, in love about your concerns without judging or sounding religious

You can remind her that God loves her no matter what, and has a plan and purpose for her life.

If you decide you want a Christ centered drug rehabilitation or need to speak someone to guide you through this, please call New Life Spirit Recovery Treatment at 866.543.3361.

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The Opiate Crisis

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The opioid epidemic is being called the worst public health crisis in American history. When it comes to taking opioids, the United States leads the world in opiate addiction. For every one million Americans, almost 50,000 doses of opioids are taken every day.

If you need help recovering from opiates, contact us today!

The opioid crisis is directly related to the massive increase of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in the United States beginning in the late 1990s and continuing with an alarming increase into 2018. Opioids are a diverse class of painkillers, which include oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and a very strong painkiller, fentanyl, which is a synthesized version of opioids. The potency and availability of these substances have made them popular both as formal medical treatments and as recreational drugs.

Opiates are often prescribed to cancer patients for pain relief and to patients recovering from surgery. But take too many and you have a problem, which has proven to be the case in the U.S. But why? Let’s take a closer look.

Read our series on Opioid Addiction

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Doctors Prescribe Lots of It

Often times doctors prescribe opiates as pain management solution. Some doctors also feel a great pressure of giving the patient the pain relievers because the doctor knows that if the patient doesn’t receive the pain killers from him/her, the patient will go to another doctor and get what they want…hence potentially losing a patient.

Professor Judith Feinberg from the West Virginia University School of Medicine says, “Most insurance, especially for poor people, won’t pay for anything but a pill. Say you have a patient that’s 45 years old. They have lower back pain, you examine them, they have a muscle spasm. Really the best thing is physical therapy, but no one will pay for that. So doctors get very ready to pull out the prescription pad. Even if the insurance covers physical therapy, you probably need prior authorization (from the insurer) – which is a lot of time and paperwork.”

 

 

Kick Back from Pharmaceutical Companies

Professor Keith Humphreys from Stanford University notes that in the US, it is common for drug companies to court doctors, in an effort to promote their products. “When you’re a doctor in the US, these salespeople come in from the industry. They are invariably smooth, friendly, attractive, sharply dressed, adorable, they’re giving out gifts to everybody. They host dinners, they sponsor conferences, they sponsor junkets. That is going to affect prescribing.”

In 2016, a study looked at the link between doctors, the free meals they received from drug companies, and the medication they prescribed. The study found receiving free meals was “associated with an increased rate of prescribing the promoted brand-name medication”. Pharmaceutical companies say their reps are merely sharing information with doctors. But Professor Humphreys says there is a “corrupting” influence.

Poor Training

Until very recently, doctors were under the misconception about just how addictive various drugs actually are. Doctors received virtually very little, if no training in pain management and what training they did get often came from the nursing staff that the doctors worked with. Fortunately, this is beginning to change in the training of doctors.

 

Ignorant Assumptions

In 1980, Dr Hershel Jick wrote to the New England Journal of Medicine stating that “despite widespread use of narcotic drugs in hospitals, the development of addiction is rare in medical patients with no history of addiction”. Dr. Jick’s article had a big impact on the mindset of prescribed narcotics. Fortunately, this mindset has been proven to be erroneous.

A Culture of “Instant Cure”

We live in a “magic pill” culture. Lose weight…take a pill. Depressed…take a pill. Anxious…take a pill. Can’t sleep…take a pill. Have some pain…take a pill. Our culture has been lulled in believing that medicine can cure most of what ails us. A 51year-old finishes running a marathon and now he’s sore. He wasn’t sore when he ran the marathon at 30! So, he goes to the doctor believing his doctor will try to “fix” him and prescribe some muscle relaxants or pain killers.

Many other countries deal with pain in much healthier ways. A comparison study between the U.S. and Japan in how pain is dealt with showed that Japanese doctors treated acute pain with opioids 47% of the time…compared to 97% of the time in the U.S. There is a much greater willingness to prescribe pain killers in the U.S. than there is in most other countries.

 

The Christian and Opiates

A large percentage of the Church population, knowingly or unknowingly, are addicted to prescription opiates and have slid into their addiction simply because “My doctor prescribed them to me”. This is not to imply that your doctor is doing anything intentionally evil, but he may be prescribing them to you for the same or similar reasons mentioned above. After all, doctors put their pants on one leg at a time just like you!

Even though the doctor may want to prescribe opiates to you, the final say is still yours as to what you allow or don’t allow into your body. When it comes to mind altering drugs or any substance, we are called as Christians to remain sober in our mind (1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 5:18; 1 Cor. 6:19). Otherwise, as our reasoning abilities are dulled and inhibitions are lowered, we leave ourselves open to all kinds of deception…some very subtle…others not so subtle and usually unhealthy behavior isn’t far behind. Read about what Jesus would do about addiction.

 

Some Practical Suggestions

We are not ignorant that there may be times in your life when you need to undergo some difficult and painful surgery and the doctor is going to want to prescribe you opiates to get you through the post-surgery pain. Below are some steps that you can take to help avoid and/or lessen the possibility of becoming addicted to any opiates that your doctor may prescribe to you in the event of a surgery.

  1. Talk with your doctor before the surgery and express to him/her your concerns about taking any addictive pain medication. Inquire as to whether or not there is an alternative non-addictive pain killer he can put you on. If so, request it.

 

  1. Before you take ANY medications from the nurse or doctor before or after the surgery, be sure to inquire as to what it is you are taking. If it is not in agreement with your prior meeting with your doctor refuse it and request what the doctor said he was going to give you.

 

  1. If there are no alternatives for your pain other than opiates, then request from your doctor that he prescribe only a 4-5 day prescription with no refills when they are gone. Give the prescription to a family member to administer to you who will keep them in a secret and safe place. Take the pain killers only on a sever “as needed” basis. When the pills are gone, you are done!

 

  1. For hospice patients, while there may be other reasons the patient may have for not to take opiates, addiction should not be the concern.

 

Opiate addiction is one the most common substances we at New Life Spirit Recovery find our clients coming in to find freedom from. If you find yourself in the midst of an opiate addiction that has caught you up in a bondage that you can’t seem to get out of by yourself, New Life Spirit Recovery is here to help you! Give us a call today! We will help you walk out of that bondage and into a the life that your God intended for you to live…one of freedom, hope and joy!

 

For additional information on opioids, read our series on Opiate Addiction:
Part 1: Understanding Opioid Addiction
Part 2: How to define an Opioid Addiction
Part 3: Christian Drug Treatment for Painkiller Addiction

 

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False Adrenaline: Meth’s Fatal Lure

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Addiction and Emotional Isolation

Addiction, in most cases, is less about pleasure-seeking and more about a person’s need to escape and dissociate from the pain of emotional isolation. We are made with a craving at the core of our being for intimate, dependable and empathetic relationships. This craving has been placed into us by our Creator to cause us to seek out the fulfillment of that relationship need with Him and others.

Typically, our first relationship connection experience is with other human beings before it is with God and we quickly learn through traumatic experience that others cannot be trusted to reliably meet our need for intimate connection. This in turn hinders or even prevents authentic connect with our Heavenly Father because we interpret our connection with God through the filter of our human experiences. So, the conclusion is made that if I get vulnerable with people, I’ll get hurt…and if that’s true in all of my human relationships, that’s probably going to be true in a relationship with God.

Download our free guide “Breaking Point – A Christian Guide to Addiction Intervention”

People Often Turn to Meth for Unmet Emotional Needs

So, we learn to fear emotional vulnerability and intimacy and we distance ourselves from other people and God…pushing away the very solution to our core need that we innately crave. With both God and people now at “safe” distance, we find ourselves turning to addictive substances and/or behaviors as a way to “not feel” our unmet emotional intimacy needs.

One of the most common substances that people turn to to relieve these unmet emotional needs for intimacy is Methamphetamine…also known as Meth, Speed, Crank, Tweek, Uppers, Chalk, Christina, Tina, Go fast, Cookies, Cotton Candy, Dunk, Gak, Go-Go Juice, No Doze, White Cross, Pookie, Rocket Fuel, Scooby Snax, Wash, Trash, or Garbage.

 

brain waves and the addiction cycle

Why Meth?

Despite the inherent dangers, meth is alluring to many people, especially those who are trapped in their emotional pain. Meth is a stimulant that profoundly affects the brain. It causes the body to release 10 times its normal level of dopamine, the brain’s pleasure chemical. It also prompts a rush of norepinephrine, or adrenaline. For those who are feeling down in the dumps, meth can make someone feel like Superman – like they can do anything. Meth can produce a high that lasts hours or even days. Users have an increase in energy. Meth use also increases sex drive and enhance body movement and mood. Meth is often preferred over other stimulants, such as cocaine, because it is much easier obtain and very cheap.

When meth hits the bloodstream, it creates an artificial pleasure sensation by sending pleasure impulses to the brain. Dopamine is the body’s ultimate “feel good” chemical. With sex, dopamine levels jump to about 200 and cocaine use causes them to reach 350. Several studies, however, report that meth use spikes these levels to 1,250 units. Even from the first time someone uses meth, the high is significant, and the brain registers that experience as a “hard-coded” memory. From that moment on, the brain tries to recapture those same positive feelings that were experienced with the first use, which is often impossible. Your brain adapts to meth use almost immediately, which means that more and more of the drug is required each time to “chase” that initial high. This chase leads to severe meth addiction, which has some startling and horrifying effects on your body and mind.

Eventually the brain shuts down the production of dopamine because it is getting more than enough from the meth. The user then cannot experience any pleasure on their own. They must use meth in higher and higher amounts in order to feel happy. Over time, meth use will cause decreased levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter similar to dopamine. This may lead to Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. Effects of meth abuse over time can be quite serious and some are even irreversible such as “Meth Mouth” (extreme tooth decay), seizures, impaired memory, psychosis and violent behavior, hallucinations, heart damage, kidney failure, STDs, coma and death.

How to Overcome the Need for Adreneline

Of course, the question we eventually have to ask ourselves is, “Is the short-term adrenaline rush that’s helping me avoid my hurt and pain worth the long term affects?” After all, when the “rush” has run its course…the problems, hurts and pains are still there beckoning for my attention.

 

 

The good news is that God sees us in our emotional isolation, self-made vices and addictions, and He not only engages us but He loves us and provides the way out.  While most counseling and treatment focuses on behavior modification and creating new patterns that produce different results, we know from God’s Word that the only way to a new life is to turn away from the old life.  The good news of the Bible is that God has the power and authority to give you a new heart: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26). 

God does not see us in our self-induced sadness, depression, habitual sin, brokenness and addiction and just leave us there.  HE PROVIDES A WAY OUT.  He does not just modify the behavior…He fundamentally and profoundly transforms the heart. He does this by entering into the depths of our core need for intimate, dependable and empathetic relationship and reveals His heart’s love, forgiveness and grace to us. His love brings the inner healing that no human being can provide and the freedom and peace to our souls that goes beyond human expression and understanding. He proves Himself trustworthy in His love for us and we begin to experience “being loved”…maybe for the first time in our lives.

The adrenaline “rush” that comes from our surrender hearts to God’s love is like none that meth can provide…because it lasts and never stops! It empowers us to be strong in the midst of trials and tribulations! Instead of running into the arms of meth as our false comforter, we run into the arms of the True Comforter, Jesus Christ! It is He who becomes our strength to overcome and empowers us to walk in continued love, healing, peace and joy! Jesus is the TRUE “Adrenaline Rush” that leads to LIFE! Read more about the 4 things Jesus would do about addiction

At New Life Spirit Recovery, we want to help you overcome your addiction and help you realize the depth of God’s love for you! We would love to partner with you to become an overcomer and help you walk into your future free from your addiction and experiencing the greatest and truest adrenaline rush in all creation…God’s love!

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Is Marijuana Addictive?

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It goes without saying that lots of people use marijuana.  In 2009, marijuana was the primary drug of abuse for 61 percent of persons under 15, and marijuana was the primary drug of abuse for roughly 18 percent of people aged 12 or older who entered drug abuse treatment programs. Marijuana use can lead to the development of problem use, known as a marijuana use disorder, which takes the form of addiction in severe cases. Recent data suggest that 30 percent of those who use marijuana may have some degree of marijuana use disorder. People who begin using marijuana before the age of 18 are four to seven times more likely to develop a marijuana use disorder than adults.

Download our free guide “Breaking Point – A Christian Guide to Addiction Intervention”

Is Marijuana Addictive?

Yes, but not in the way some might mean. The question about whether or not marijuana is addictive comes in various forms. Will I experience physical withdrawal symptoms if I suddenly stop marijuana? Is there anything to the idea that I might be psychologically dependent on a drug?  Could I quit if I wanted to?

Symptoms of Marijuana

Some people and groups that are in favor of medical marijuana or a broader legalization or it for recreational purposes argue that because marijuana does not have dramatic withdrawal symptoms like alcohol or heroin, therefore, it is not addictive. But there are two errors to this thinking. One is that the marijuana of today is more than two times stronger than it was twenty years ago (some studies show much stronger than that), and withdrawing from that is quite a different matter. The other is that it is simply not true: There ARE withdrawal symptoms when a chronic user stops using marijuana. Those symptoms can be irritability, insomnia, anxiety, nightmares, anger, fluctuating feelings; headaches, depression, loss of appetite and a craving to continue the drug.

These symptoms can be stronger or weaker for the person withdrawing, depending on how much marijuana he was smoking, how long, and his own unique physical and mental constitution.

Even though the physiological effects of marijuana withdrawal are generally mild, it is not correct to conclude that marijuana is not addictive, because being addicted to something is more than simply being physically dependent on a drug and experiencing physiological effects if the drug is stopped suddenly. “Addiction” refers to behaviors that are compulsive, partially out of control or worse, and often escalating in severity and intensity.

Criteria of Addiction

Marijuana use disorder becomes addiction when the person cannot stop using the drug even though it interferes with many aspects of his or her life. Estimates of the number of people addicted to marijuana are controversial, in part because studies of substance use often use dependence as a proxy for addiction even though it is possible to be dependent without being addicted. Those studies suggest that 9 percent of people who use marijuana will become dependent on it, rising to about 17 percent in those who start using in their teens.

In 2015, about 4.0 million people in the United States met the diagnostic criteria for a marijuana use disorder; 138,000 voluntarily sought treatment for their marijuana use.

Risk Factors

What are the odds of becoming addicted to marijuana? Studies have shown that of all the people who use marijuana, about on in eleven will become addicted. When a young person begins smoking marijuana in his or her teens, there is a one in six chance of the teen becoming addicted.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than 360,000 people were admitted into treatment in 2010 for addiction, with marijuana as the primary drug of choice. Twenty-eight percent of those admissions or 103,000 people were between twelve and seventeen years old. (This figure applies only to publicly-funded facilities so the actual number is much higher.) Forty-three percent were under 21.

Because of greatly increased potency, mental distress, panic attacks and other problems have also increased. In 2011, there were nearly half a million visits to ERs related to problems with marijuana use. Common symptoms were severe nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, anxiety, panic attacks and paranoia.

A Biblical Stand

With the advent of marijuana becoming legalized in more states in the US for “recreational” use, these statistics will only become worse as people will perceive the Government’s authoritative “permission” towards marijuana as a “condoning” of its use. However, we are reminded in the Bible that while we have the freedom to do all things…not all things are profitable (1 Cor. 10:23). In other words, just because I can do it legally…will it benefit me in the end? The question God is wanting us to answer is…”Will I place my trust in marijuana to relieve my physical, emotional, spiritual pain and stresses…or in Him who knows me inside and out and who seeks and desires to give me His Peace that surpasses human understanding?”

At New Life Spirit Recovery, we stand on the Truth of God’s authoritative Word, which calls all people to love Him and walk in trust and dependence upon God for all our needs. Whenever we turn to anything that takes us out of a clear and sober mind (1 Peter 1:13) we step out of our God desired holiness and we open ourselves up to all kinds of temptations, evil influences and painful behaviors. It also is a statement of our faith level with God when we turn to something created by God or created by man to bring the comfort into our lives that only God Himself can and wants to provide. Whenever we do this with anything or anyone other than God…we dethrone God from our hearts and anoint our Idol as our new god.

We desire is to help our clients to learn and personally experience the heart of love that God has for them and how the One and True Living God can replace their dependency on marijuana, alcohol or any other substance with His all-powerful Love! When God’s love invades our hearts, peace prevails… freedom and joy reigns! After all…isn’t that what we’re all wanting? If you’ve tried everything else to kick your addiction…why not give God a chance at it this time?

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Holiday “Cheer” Getting You Down?

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Let’s get honest. Not everyone experiences holiday cheer. Sometimes our life situation is difficult, and as much as we crave the peace of Christmas, instead there is stress and tension. Adding more pressure and commitments to our schedule has a way of deepening anxiety. That’s why it is vital we enter the holiday season with a perspective and a plan.

Download our free guide “Breaking Point – A Christian Guide to Addiction Intervention”

 Perspective

More often than not we bring into the holidays a list of expectations that we place on ourselves and others. It may be what we buy, what we cook, how we decorate, how we socialize, how we give of ourselves. Even more challenging, we may be trying to love our family when we have failed them. Just the same, we may have an expectation on how we want others around to treat and interact with us.

Then, reality kicks in. We are disappointed that we can’t be the perfect spouse or parent, or that everything we wanted to accomplish didn’t happen. Or, we can give our all only to have those we care about disappoint us with a lack of reciprocation.

When our focus is on faulty expectations, we forget the heart of Christmas and what we are celebrating. But when we choose to gain the perspective of Jesus we have immediate hope. That’s because Christmas is about a moment in history when Jesus entered the dirty and seemingly hopeless human experience.  He expected nothing from the people He came to save. He brought no glamor or outward accolades – just a humble expression of God’s deep and great love.

Our challenges are real, and they need to be validated. However, the promise of Christmas swallows every broken place in our heart and life, and usually we discount its power. God dropping down to our level, to meet us at our point of need is what Christmas means.

Whatever you face – addiction, depression, relationship failure, etc., Jesus birth represents the place where God’s love is accessible and enough.

Plan

No matter how much you try to gain proper perspective, there is a reality you may be unable to escape. For some of us, Christmas may stir up loss, grief and other hurts of the heart. When this occurs, it’s easy to tuck it away and neglect it. But in truth, it’s better to allow God to expose those areas He wants to help us through. After all, He came to give us the resources to overcome, not to drown in our pain and suffering.

So many addicts relapse during holidays because of the pressure and the inability to process pain. Whether you are facing addiction or other hurts of the heart, it’s vital you form a plan that will aid in how you cope. This includes:

  • Find a human support system. If you don’t have someone you trust in your life or church, you may need to find a local counselor or support group.
  • Acknowledge the painful emotions that rise up and try to give them a voice. Sometimes you’ll find that emotions are in fact taunting you with lies. They hold no truth. Other times, emotions indicate an area of our life needs deeper work. Don’t deny these feelings – listen to what they say and ask God to help you process them.
  • Find a safe place. Planning for difficult moments may include a safe place you go and specific people you call when you are in distress. Think of this as your personal “911” team and emergency room. Hopefully you don’t need it, but if you do, you have it in place.

 

Don’t let your holidays be dictated by the pressures around you. Press into the power and truth of Jesus and allow Him to guide you in His perfect love.

Resources & Events

Ready to enter into the new year with a fresh perspective? Join our upcoming workshops – they will challenge you to embrace the perspective of God’s plan and purposes for your life.

Breaking Point
4 Weeks Beginning January 18th

if you are on the difficult side of someone’s bad choices, Breaking Point is for you. It will help you gain perspective on what they are doing and how you make healthy choices. This is a four-week class led by a professionally certified counselor.

(This is our sister ministry. Following this link will direct you to another website. Please bookmark New Life Spirit Recovery)

Introduction to Codependence
15 Weeks Beginning February 15th

Don’t let the label intimidate you. Codependence is a way we learn to cope.  When we learn its presence, we can find relief and hope in God’s plan for our life relationally, spiritually and emotionally.

(This is our sister ministry. Following this link will direct you to another website. Please bookmark New Life Spirit Recovery)

Outpatient Counseling (non-addiction)

(This is our sister ministry. Following this link will direct you to another website. Please bookmark New Life Spirit Recovery)

Sometime a support group isn’t enough. We have wonderful counselors who can provide a guided personalized healing process that will include a treatment plan and specific steps to aid you in overcoming issues of the heart. They will also help you form healthy relationships with other people in your life.

Drug & Alcohol Treatment

New Life Spirit Recovery offer certified professional treatment for those struggling with an addiction. This can be done through outpatient or intensive treatment with housing. Why wait until after the holidays to get help? Join our small group format where you will find safety, fellowship and an in depth healing process that deals with the body, soul and spirit.

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“I Am An Alcoholic”

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“Hi, my name is         and I am an alcoholic”…and so goes the introductions as they progress around the A.A. meeting room. Finally, it is your turn to introduce yourself and there is something within you that is resisting having to say those words…”I am an alcoholic.” But in keeping with the expectations of everyone in the room, you open your mouth and proclaim, ”Hi, my name is      and I am an alcoholic.”

The origin of this way of introducing one’s self at an A.A. Meeting is uncertain and was not originally practiced, even in the meetings led by Bill W. and Dr. Bob. If you search the A.A. Grapevine archives online, the earliest reference of member identification is: September 1944, Vol. 1 No. 4, entitled “Points of View”. Originally, being mandated to identify ourselves as an “Alcoholic” was never intended.

This article would like to propose that, by introducing ourselves as “Alcoholics”, we actually are proclaiming something in direct contradiction to the very core of our being. This is maybe why so many of us find it difficult within our spirit to utter those self-proclaiming words…”I am an alcoholic”. So let’s systematically unpack what we’re really saying when we say, “I am an Alcoholic”, and consider a better approach that is true, honest and still addresses the reality of our disorder.

  1. We are spiritual beings experiencing humanity.

We are spiritual beings experiencing humanity

We are NOT human beings trying to experience spirituality. All human beings were created and contain the image of our Creator, God. God’s image is not human, it is spirit and eternal…and so are we. Our human bodies and minds simply animate our true spiritual self.

 

  1. Our spirits were disordered by sin.

Our spirits were disordered by sin

As a result of the original rebellious choices made by man in the Garden of Eden, as explained in the book of Genesis and throughout the Bible, man’s perfect spirit was disordered and corrupted forever for all generations. As a result, man’s broken nature now finds it easier to do wrong than to do right. This disordered spirit has kept us in a constant state of rebellion towards God…but even in this state of being, God’s love never waned for us and He still loves us as His precious creation.

 

  1. Our spirits were “born again” in Christ.

Our spirits were born again in Christ

God’s love compelled Him to rescue us from our broken, disordered spirits and separation from Him by sending his perfect Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer the penalty of that separation for us. Through our belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who physically died and rose from the grave, we become what the Bible calls, “born again”. In other words, God takes our disordered and broken eternal identity and makes it new and perfect and fundamentally gives us a new identity in Christ. When God now sees us, He sees His perfect child again!

 

So what does this all have to do with proclaiming, “I am an alcoholic”? Everything…BECAUSE IT ISN’T TRUE! Why?

  1. Because as a “born again” Child of God, through Jesus Christ, God already sees you NOW as you will be in Heaven…PERFECT!
  2. God’s love is not based upon what you have done, what you are doing, or what you are going to do! His love for you is solely based upon WHO YOU ARE…his precious child…PERIOD!
  3. Therefore, WHO I AM…is fundamentally renewed…and God does not attach my behavior to my identity in any way!

So…if I contain the image of God, if God sees me perfect in Christ, if my sins have been forgiven and put as far as the east is to the west, if there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, and if I have been truly “born again” in my spirit…then what I proclaim about myself must reflect what is also true about God’s nature! Therefore, when I use God’s name, “I AM” in a sentence to identify myself…what follows after those two words about myself must also be true about God.

 

For example, when you say, “I am an alcoholic”, we need to ask ourselves as God’s Child, is that true of God? The answer, of course, is “No!”…God is not an alcoholic…so neither am I as His Child who contains His perfect image.

So what should I say? State what is true…”I am a Child of God who struggles with alcohol.” In this statement, you are separating WHO YOU ARE from WHAT YOU DO…just as God does. Your identity is now in how God sees you…not in your behavior. Below are statements of identity restated in a way that is true about God and true about you.

 “I am a liar.” – Is this true of God (“I AM”) ? NO! Then it’s not true of you!

What is true? – “I am a Child of God who struggles with lying.”

 “I am an adulterer” – Is this true of God (“I AM”) ? NO! Then it’s not true of you!

What is true? – “I am a Child of God who committed adultery.”

“I am a thief” – Is this true of God (“I AM”) ? NO! Then it’s not true of you!

What is true? – “I am a Child of God who struggles with stealing.”

“I am a drug addict” – Is this true of God (“I AM”) ? NO! Then it’s not true of you!

What is true? – “I am a Child of God who struggles with drugs.”

The point is this…any time you are expected or are tempted to identify yourself by your behavior, you are most likely proclaiming something that is not true in the eyes of God and is reinforcing in your heart something about yourself that is less than you really are! Be VERY CAREFUL how you speak about yourself as a Christian. You may find yourself proclaiming something that is neither true of your Heavenly Father, or you!

So maybe at your next A.A., N.A., S.A. Meeting, when introductions are being made, you can stand up and proclaim what is true…”Hi, my name is      and I am a Child of God who struggles with    .”

 

At New Life Spirit Recovery, we work hard in helping our clients live in this true identity as they encounter the transformative healing of God’s Holy Spirit and walk in freedom in their newly found identity in Christ. Contact us today.

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7 Things a Man Needs in Treatment

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7 Things A Man Needs For Successful Treatment

Men are created with unique and specific needs. When searching for a Christian drug and alcohol treatment program, understanding the needs of men specifically is vital to the long-term success of the program. What specifically should you look for when searching for a program?

#1. Understand a man’s greatest need is respect.

Understand a man’s greatest need is respect.

A man has been wired to desire and need respect. In fact, respect is the greatest expression of love a man can receive. By his very nature, a man looks to be respected for his competency in his position as an employee, husband and father. He wants to know that at a core level that he has worth – and that the people around him believes in what he is accomplishing. A man feels disrespected when his authority is negated or defied, his decisions are met with criticism or rejection, or when he feels controlled or “mothered” rather than lovingly submitted to. When a man doesn’t feel respected, he feels unloved…and that hurts. So he turns to something that will take the pain of rejection away such as alcohol or drugs. Even if the man has lost the respect of others, his need for it doesn’t disappear and he needs the opportunity by others around him to regain it. At New Life Spirit Recovery, we help our men clients connect with the love of God so they can regain respect for themselves and rebuild respect with others.

#2. Understand a man’s need to be productive.

Understand a man’s need to be productive.

God has commissioned man to work by the sweat of his brow (Gen. 3:19). So, deep within the soul of man is the need to be productive with his life. When a man isn’t working for a significant amount of time, he will feel unproductive and run the risk of falling into depression and he begins to lose his sense of purpose. The longer a man perceives himself as being “unproductive” or loses his sense of purpose, the deeper depression and hopelessness sets in. This can literally kill a man. When a man retires from the workforce, unless he has a hobby or is involved in meaningful volunteer work, it is not uncommon for the man to become very sick or even die a few years after retirement. This is why one of the reasons for addiction among men is their loss of vocation, identity and purpose. We attempt to help our male clients to discover that God is our identity and purpose giver and that we are not what we do, but rather who we are to God that He loves. Then as God’s identity and value dwells within us, what we produce moving forward in life will have eternal purpose and rewards, not just earthly ones.

#3. Understand a man’s need to feel and communicate.

Understand a man’s need to feel and communicate.

We have been taught from a very young age that, “Big boys don’t cry!”. We grow up learning to bury our feelings. Then we grow up as men suppressing our feelings with the inability to effectively communicate what we feel. The reason we have feelings and emotions is because God has feelings and emotions and we were created in His image. Feelings were never meant to be held in or sedated…they were meant to be expressed. We help our men clients to connect with their feelings and effectively communicate them. If we don’t engage our feelings and learn how to communicate what we feel, those feelings will come out whether we want them to or not…usually in unhealthy and destructive behaviors such as addiction. It isn’t easy for most men to start feeling after years of not feeling and to start effectively communicating these feelings without some assistance…and this is what we help our men clients with at New Life Spirit Recovery. What’s so exciting is that once that treasure chest of emotions is opened, the treasures inside are improved physical, emotional and spiritual healing, less internal stress and thriving relationships.

#4. Understand a man’s need for emotional intimacy

Understand a man’s need for emotional intimacy

From a very young age, men are taught to avoid appearing weak at all costs. Perceived “weakness” includes things like complaining, divulging fears or concerns, and expressing self-doubt or worry. A man’s partner is his safe space to fall. He needs to feel that he can expose the cracks in his armor and know that his partner is there to help him heal. A man needs to make sure that when he first cries in front of his wife or girlfriend, that she won’t be repelled or handle it poorly. If he is pushed away or is unable to be nurtured when he needs it the most, he will no longer trust his loved one with his emotions. He will remove himself somewhat from the relationship, or he will attempt to find another friend who won’t push him away like alcohol or drugs. In this instance, both partners lose…he goes on silently suffering and believing that he is flawed in his imperfection, and she is held at arm’s length emotionally or even physically. Ultimately, it is our intimacy with God that will allow us to stand in our weaknesses, acknowledge and embrace them, and with all humility allow God’s strength and His loving perspective of who we are to Him to get us through all of life’s struggles.

#5. Understand a man’s need for praise and approval.

Understand a man’s need for praise and approval

Men have very tender egos. We need frequent reassurance about ourselves, our career paths, our importance as partners and our attractiveness. A man loves to hear what exactly his partner finds attractive about him just as much as a woman does. A man periodically needs to be told by his partner what she loves so much about him. He likes to hear when he is told how attractive he is when he says something a certain way, when he accomplishes something, or when he does something unexpected or out of his comfort zone. If the client is not married or the client’s spouse in unable or unwilling to give the praise and approval that man desires, we attempt to help them connect with God at such an intimate level that they find contentment in the love, praise and approval of their Heavenly Father.

#6. Understand a man’s need for physical touch.

Understand a man’s need for physical touch.

Men do desire and need frequent non-sexual touch. If a man’s partner comes up behind him and touches his neck and hair in a loving way while he sits absorbed in a task, he experiences a sense of closeness, acceptance and approval. This touch is interpreted as physical love. The message he feels is…“I love you, and I want you to feel happy all the time. Know that I’m always here for you and I care for you deeply.” Gary Smalley a Christian Marriage and Family Counselor says that the average person needs eight significant touches a day in order to feel loved and accepted.

#7. Understand a man’s need for space.

Understand a man’s need for space.

Suffocating a man (either by failing to allow him free time, or with overly jealous behavior, or trying to work his program for him when he comes home from rehab) is the fastest way to stress out or even destroy a relationship. Men need breathing room. We need time for our hobbies, time with our healthy friends, and time to plunk away on our projects to feel fulfilled. God is a God of freedom…not of control. God is freedom because freedom lives in love and God is love. God gives us the freedom to love or to hate, to obey or disobey, to accept or reject…and He gives us this freedom because He loves us. But He does not give anyone (including Himself) the freedom to control anyone. To do so would violate the first gift He gives us…free will. In our Family Program, we meet with the family members of our clients to help them through their hurts and offenses as the result of living with addiction in the home. We also prepare the family members how to receive and relate with the client when he comes back home so that there can be a level of accountability without slipping into a “control” mode.

 

At New Life Spirit Recovery, we believe a man’s true identity is found in Jesus Christ. Learning to embrace the design of a man is a deeply rich and purposeful journey. If you know someone who needs help, please don’t hesitate to get help today! Learn more about the clinical activities we use to take a man out of bondage and into freedom in Christ. Call us at 866.543.3361 or learn more about our treatment program by clicking here.