St. James Parish HOPE Addictions Ministry Links Page

The Hope Ministry provides spiritual support and information for adults and children who are dealing with addictions or compulsive behaviors -- either their own, or those of family members or friends. The ministry also sponsors educational programs, workshops, and materials to enlighten and inform all parishioners and assist them in raising their awareness of the disease of addiction.

A link to resources for evaluation, referrals, treatment options, and topic-specific support groups for various addictions and problems is included immediately below. Links relating to topics covered in past HOPE Bulletin Announcements are listed below that, and recent bulletin topics are at the bottom of this page.

Although Hope Ministry members are not professional counselors, we are always available to provide spiritual support plus additional help in locating appropriate resources for your particular concerns. For a confidential conversation, contact any of the members listed here, or send an E-mail to stjhope@hotmail.com

Dawn (DiDonato) Sabo -- 883-5385
Pete Antoniewicz -- 466-7719
Moore or Theresa Hank -- 883-8721

SPRING BREAK AND BINGE DRINKING
No one is claiming that a Spring semester break is a bad idea. But many sources do counsel college students and their parents to be aware of Spring Break issues that can turn a fun time into a nightmare. Learn what the Center For Disease Control, and a healthcare insurer, and an on-line magazine have to say about Spring Break Safety. You can also learn some statistics about Binge Drinking compiled by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

If you’re a parent looking for a way to talk to your child about Spring Break and Binge Drinking, compare these resources from a mental health Web site, a site for parents of college students, and from advertisers trying to reach the college student audience. You can also download PDF brochures from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism regarding college drinking in general and Spring Break drinking specifically. (For that second PDF brochure, scroll down to the third choice under "Fact Sheets.")

And even if your child does not engage in such risky drinking behavior, they might be able to save the life of a friend or a fellow student by knowing the signs of alcohol poisoning and how to react to them. (Be sure to click through to all nine topic links at the top of the article on that Mayo Clinic site to learn about the many facets of alcohol poisoning.)

12-STEP RECOVERY PROGRAMS -- STEP 3
(These programs and steps can apply to either addicts or their loved ones).
The 12 Steps, originally associated with Alcoholics Anonymous, have now been adapted to a variety of self-help programs ranging from drug addiction, to overeating, to the codependency of individuals trying to control erratic behaviors in their loved ones -- whether caused by drugs, alcohol, or emotional problems. Remember, any time you are dealing with 12-Step programs or writings about them, the principles are the same. So whether the specific writings mention alcohol, drugs, or other substances or behaviors, you can simply substitute the particular issue you are dealing with at the time.

Step 3 says, (we) "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him." Here are some Scripture readings relating to that step and to putting our trust in God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 -- Trust God instead of trusting our own instincts and insecurities.
Matthew 11:28-30 -- Have faith that Jesus will provide rest for our souls.
Ephesians 2:8-9 -- We are saved by the grace of our faith in God, not by our own efforts.
Psalm 91:1-4 -- Refuge is provided to one who trusts in the Lord.

You can learn more about Step 3 (our step topic for March) in particular, or learn about all of the 12 steps in the context of the overall program, at http://www.12step.org

ADDICTION AS A DISEASE
To learn more about the reasons why addiction is legitimately classified as a disease, visit the following links:
The Science of Addiction (PDF File)
The Neurobiology of Drug Addiction (Part 2 of 4 Parts)
FAQs on addiction
Brain function, behavioral issues, treatment, therapy
Definitions, basic biology, issues of use, treatment options