Addiction is terrifying. Whether you’re suffering from addiction or know someone who is, you know all too well that substance abuse of any kind can send your life and the lives of the people around you into a tailspin. Substance abuse is a serious issue, and there’s help and there’s encouragement along your journey.

Find help for addiction recovery

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), substance abuse is on the rise. Some findings from the report include:

• 40.3 million people, who were 12 years and older, experienced substance abuse disorder.

• “The 2020 data also estimate that 4.9 percent of adults aged 18 or older had serious thoughts of suicide, 1.3 percent made a suicide plan, and 0.5 percent attempted suicide in the past year.”

Help is available for addiction recovery. If you are looking for assistance, SAMHSA’s National Hotline offers information and referrals for mental health and/or substance use disorders, prevention and recovery. You can reach them by calling 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

How to support someone through addiction recovery

Addiction is hard on all parties involved. If you’re looking for ways to support a loved one through addiction recovery, here are some ideas:

• Seek out professional help. The most important step in addiction recovery is finding some professional help. This goes for both the person struggling with addiction and loved ones. A professional can help formulate a plan, offer resources and act as a sounding board when times get tough.

• Remember, it’s a disease. You will experience trying times as you and your loved one navigate addiction recovery. Try to remind yourself that it is a disease and offer as much grace as you can. However, if you feel your situation is not safe — seek help immediately.

• Offer support without enabling. Where’s the line? How do you know if you’re offering support or enabling bad behavior? A good rule of thumb to follow is to support your loved one’s health, dreams, goals and future.

• It’s not all about them; it’s about you, too. It’s so easy to forget about yourself when you’re focused on helping your loved one. But it’s imperative that you take care of yourself, too.

• Look up Bible verses that offer encouragement during addiction recovery. Sharing Bible verses with someone recovering from addiction may offer a sense of peace.

3 Bible verses to encourage those on the road to addiction recovery

Seeking professional help for substance use and addiction is vital for recovery. If you’re already on your road to recovery, you may find these Bible verses helpful and encouraging:

• Psalm 46:5 (ESV) — “God is in the midst of her; shall not be moved; God will help her when the morning dawns.”

• Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) — “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand.”

• Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV) — “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Bible verses can offer great encouragement to those who are walking through addiction recovery. Those same Bible verses can also act as a catalyst to talk about Jesus with someone who is going through addiction recovery.

Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey

At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. And every journey needs a Starting Point.

Starting Point groups are in-person, stress-free and judgment-free groups that meet periodically at Centerpoint Church. Here, you can spend some time getting to know fellow group members, reading and having an open conversation about topics like God, the Scriptures, faith, and Jesus. Completely new to the teachings of Jesus? Returning to church after a long break? Questioning the teachings you were brought up with or just unsure what you believe? Our Starting Point groups are here to help you navigate your faith journey. Get in touch with us to learn when the next Starting Point group is meeting or to join a Starting Point group.