Addiction.
These days, we prefer to talk about addictive behavior, or maybe an addictive personality. There are literally tons of books, research papers and doctoral thesis exploring what causes addiction and what might reverse or at least control compulsive behavior, especially when it is destructive to ourselves and/or others.
Is addiction due to nature or nurture? Is it hereditary? Is it a disease? Is it a matter of lack of self control?
Yes.
As those of you who have read this column before know, I speak on this subject from personal experience. I can tell you it is neither simple nor easy to deal with. I’ve read plenty of those books, researched many of those theses of causes.
I definitely have an addictive personality. I’m a recovering alcoholic. I’m an active work-aholic. I’m a people pleaser. I’m a “can’t say no” guy.
What I am trying to say is that I can, and do, sympathize with those who struggle. It is why I strongly support efforts to help others, including the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center.
Did you know that there is a place in Long Beach where men can go to work on overcoming the addiction that has put them on the street, destroyed their careers, damaged their families or just plain scared them to death? Did you know that this place includes free room and board, can help with job training and provides 24/7 support?
That’s the Long Beach Salvation Army ARC (Adult Rehabilitation Center). The Army has a facility that can house up to 100 men, and the resources to help them overcome whatever the addiction might be – alcohol, street drugs, opioids, etc.
Yes, it is a faith-based model of recovery. God is the power greater than ourselves that we turn to for help to change. I can and do testify that it works.
This Friday, May 15, the Long Beach ARC is hosting its annual Breakfast of Hope. The event invites community leaders to find out about the program. And thanks to the Port of Long Beach for being faithful supporters of this and other ARC programs.
We (full disclosure, I am a member of the advisory board there) have been hosting the breakfast for the last four years. On this fifth year, we’ve upped the ante a bit with an address from Father Leo Booth, a renowned author and inspirational speaker with long experience in the recovery environment, particularly in the 12-Step approach pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous.
My apologies for the late notice about the breakfast. There still may be room if you read this before Friday morning – go to www.longbeacharc.salvationarmy.org to see.
But even if you don’t get to the breakfast or read this after it takes place, I want to let you know about the recovery program at the ARC. I want you to know how you can use it to help yourself, a family member or a friend who is struggling with addiction.
And I want you to know how you can help to keep this program going and doing its good work.
First the program. The primary approach is a six-month stay with limited contact to the outside world that includes counseling, peer support, work therapy and faith education. The ARC in Long Beach only houses men, but the Salvation Army has nearby centers for women as well.
It isn’t easy. There is a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drug and alcohol use, and there are expectations when it comes to working – both working at a job and working the program.
There is a Phase II program for those interested in a transitional living approach to long-term recovery. Long Beach offers both, and has higher than average success rates.
But this isn’t about numbers. This is about helping an individual get his life back on track.
In my mind, every single person who makes it is a miracle. And that makes it all worthwhile.
There are a number of ways you can help. Did you know that the proceeds from the Salvation Army Thrift Stores are dedicated to supporting the Adult Rehabilitation Centers in the area? Now you do.
So donations to the stores are supporting recovery. Shopping at the stores is supporting recovery.
Monetary donations support recovery. Volunteering time supports recovery.
You get the idea. Without your support, this recovery miracle cannot continue.
I believe there is a good type of addiction. It is the addiction to helping others. I argue often that there’s a plague of this addiction in Long Beach.
Here’s another place where you can get the gratification of helping. Check it out.
There is hope.