Preston, a recovering drug addict, said,

“I was raised in the LDS Church, but at the age of 14 I started using drugs and alcohol. The decision to use turned into a 17-year addiction problem. Then, when I was 31 years old, I located an ARP (LDS Alcohol Recovery Program) group in my area. The ARP meeting has helped me to stay clean for the past four years. It is a wonderful program!  It provides an avenue for addicts to become clean and to get involved in the Church again.”

The Addiction Recovery Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to bless the lives of thousands of individuals and families affected by the tragic consequences of addiction.  The program offers recovery meetings designed to help individuals and families successfully live in recovery from addiction by drawing on the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

LDS Addicton Recovery Support Groups

From Portland to Parowan, Melbourne to Monterrey, and Dublin to Delaware, addiction recovery meetings can now be found around the world. To identify the times and locations of meetings closest to you, click  here on “Addiction Recovery Support Groups.”

Some key features of the Addiction Recovery Program are outlined below:

- Recovery meetings are held in Church buildings and typically last 60 to 90 minutes.

- Recovery meetings operate under the direction of local priesthood leaders with orientation, training, and support from LDS Family Services.

- Recovery meetings are based on gospel principles which help participants make and keep sacred covenants.

- The original Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous have been adapted into a framework of the doctrines, principles, and beliefs of the Church and are outlined in the workbook:  A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing.  This Guide is used in every meeting.

- Experienced program leaders create a safe environment in each recovery meeting where participants encourage one another by sharing experiences of faith and hope.

- Recovery meetings are free, anonymous and confidential.           No referral is needed.

- Recovery meetings address any kind of addiction that can include the use of substances such as tobacco, alcohol, coffee, tea, and drugs (both prescription and illegal), and behaviors such as gambling, codependency, viewing pornography, inappropriate sexual behavior, and compulsive eating.

- Most meetings are termed “General Addiction Recovery Groups” but addiction specific groups are also offered in some locations.  They include: “Pornography Addiction Recovery Groups (for Men)”, “Pornography Addiction Recovery Groups (for Women)”, and “Unhealthy Eating Patterns Recovery Groups.”

- “Family Support Groups” and “Pornography Addiction Support Groups (for Spouses)” are also offered in some locations.

Recovery and Healing Manual Available

A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing manual can be:

1) Purchased through Church Distribution (Item #36764)

2) Downloaded for free in PDF format at  PDF Version - Guide To Recovery and Healing. It is available in multiple languages.

3) Downloaded for free in audio version at Audio Version – A Guide To Recovery and Healing.

Your Spiritual Reality

Elder Bruce C. Hafen once noted:

“I ask you to take every possible step, every day, to align your physical and emotional life with the spiritual reality of who you really are.  Even if you can open only a tiny space for God’s influence in your life now, open it up, all that you can.  Say ‘yes’ to Him, over and over, and He will help you make ever more room for Him in your heart.  Then your confidence will grow—not only in Him, but in yourself. ” (From an address given at the Evergreen International annual conference on September 19, 2009.)

The Addiction Recovery Program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will direct you in taking those steps that will help you align your life with the Spirit in such a way that truly living in recovery every day will become your own miracle and your own reality!

Gospel Principle

The Church has an addiction recovery program that has been adapted from the original Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous into a framework of the doctrines and beliefs of the Church.  These 12 steps are found in A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing, which is available to priesthood leaders and other members.

Additional Resources

Lia McClanahan, “Addiction Recovery: Healing One Step at a Time,” Ensign, Jun. 2009.

James E. Faust, “The Power to Change,” Ensign, Nov. 2007.

By J. Douglas LeCheminant, LCSW. Counseling Program Manager For LDS Family Services.

Fifteen year old Emily said to herself.

Emily’s Dad was Stake President, her mother and siblings were all active LDS.  They went to Church together, prayed together, read scriptures together, and had family home evenings.  Her parents loved her!   She loved them.  She was never abused.

Emily told me how she started drinking. She had one beer at her best friend’s party.  Most of the other teens at the party were LDS.  All encouraging her to try one beer – promising her it wouldn’t kill her.

They were right.  She didn’t die.  In fact it kind of made her feel good!

Satan is a Roaring Lion

In 1 Peter 5:8 Peter warns,

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a

roaring lion

walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

We have all seen in the movies a lion hanging out near a water hole and along comes a lone zebra.  The next thing you see is a lion jumping out of nowhere and in a matter of seconds the lion sinks his teeth into the prey.  It is all over for that zebra.

Like the zebra, Emily was unaware of the danger of addiction and how quickly Satan’s “plague” would consume her.  Emily reached the last stages of addiction within months.  (The same process can take years for an adult.)  Teens are very susceptible to quickly  be bound by “his [Satan’s] strong cord …” (2 Ne. 26:22).   Their naivete, immaturity, underdeveloped brain, lack of coping skills, and other youthful traits thrust them quickly to middle and late seasons of addiction (Spring Season, Summer Season, and Fall Season).   Literally within weeks tolerance developed and Emily was up to drinking a six-pack of beer with hardly feeling drunk!

The Safest Road to Hell is the Gradual One

C. S. Lewis, a Christian author, gave us a keen insight into devilish tactics. In a fictional letter, the master devil, Screwtape, instructs the apprentice devil Wormwood, who is in training to become a more experienced follower of Satan:

“You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. …It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. … Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”(“The Screwtape Letters,” (1961), pg.56.)

Who has not heard or felt the temptations of Satan?  His voice typically sounds so reasonable and his message so easy to justify.

Satan, the hungry lion, is checking everything out.  He is watching us.  He is looking for vulnerability, weakness.  He is looking for his next prey to bring down.

Satan and his angels never take a vacation – not a month, not a week, not a day, not an hour, not even a nanosecond.

The Roaring Lion, is Not Sleeping Tonight

Not all youth progress as quickly as Emily.  Within a year she was using heroin, cocaine, marijuana and loved Ecstasy.  She had stopped going to high school and thought she might be pregnant.

By the time I saw her, she was considering suicide.

“Satan has had great success with this gullible generation.  As a consequence, literally hosts of people have been victimized by him and his angels“  James E. Faust, “‘The Great Imitator’,” Ensign, Nov. 1987.

A “Little Sin”

What’s

… one movie with a little sex,
… one comedian with a couple of crude jokes,
… one song with a few bad lyrics,
… missing one family home evening,
… missing one morning family prayer,

…… going to hurt?

It’s the “LITTLE sins” that cause more people to lose their exaltation in the celestial kingdom than all of the other sins combined – like the little sin of “indifference.” (Sterling W. Sill, “The Three I’s,” New Era, Aug. 1979.)

Gospel Principle:

Satan is like a hungry roaring lion.  He and his followers stalk the countryside waiting for you and me to let our guard down.  This “lion” never sleeps.  The only protection lies in the spirit of discernment through the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This gift comes by personal revelation and prayer.

Additional Information:

Using Prayer to fight the Lion.
Elder Bednar talks about prayer in a brief video.

James E. Faust, “‘The Great Imitator’,” Ensign, Nov. 1987.

John pled.

My middle-aged client  just lost another job after struggling for years with alcohol.  I could sense the despair in his heart and smell the alcohol on his breath as he slouched in my office chair.  I had been his therapist for over a year.  Together, we had worked hard.

At that moment I came to realize I could not help him.  I had used every psychological strategy I learned in graduate school.  His addiction was stronger than both of us.

During the Spring and Summer Seasons of addiction individuals can usually overcome their bad habit by willpower and traditional counseling.  They can stop for a good reason – a good reason like going on a mission, like staying married, like keeping a job, and like not going to jail.  However, by the time the addiction progresses into the Fall Season Satan has lead the user  “by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cord …” (2 Ne. 26:22) and “just” stopping for a good reason doesn’t work anymore.

The scripture 3 Nephi 27:11 teaches three seasons of addiction “. . . verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season (Spring Season) and by and by the end cometh (Summer Season), and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return (Fall Season).”  (See articles Spring Season and Summer Season.)

“The Fire From Whence There Is No Return”

In Satan’s rebellion against God, he “sought to destroy the agency of man” (Moses 4:3).  Satan has the “power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you” (2 Ne. 2:29);  And “he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance”  (2 Ne. 28:19–22).

Elder Russell M. Nelson instructs us about the power of Satan:

“Addiction surrenders later freedom to choose.  Through chemical means, one can literally become disconnected from his or her own will!” “Addiction or Freedom,” New Era, Sep. 1989.

Elder Boyd K. Packer adds:

“Addiction has the capacity to disconnect the human will and nullify moral agency. It can rob one of the power to decide” “Revelation in a Changing World,” Ensign, Nov. 1989.

“Satan Made Me Do It”

“Some people roar with laughter as a television comic remarks, ‘The devil made me do it.’  Well, maybe he did!  He will always try” David B. Haight, Power of Evil, Ensign, Jul. 1973.

Addiction a “Disease”

The Fall Season of addiction is considered “disease-like” because “moral agency has been nullified.”  In a similar way, a person with Swine Flu, Diabetes or Cancer cannot simply “willpower” their ailment away, many believe neither can an addict in the later stages of addiction.

One does not casually or accidentally break the “flaxen cords” of addiction.  Just going through the motions of repentance will not work.  Although family interventions like counseling, threatening, and loving can be helpful in earlier Seasons they are NOT as effective during the Fall Season!

The Spirit Becomes Addicted

Recovery from addiction is partly a spiritual program. It took me years to learn every individual successfully overcoming a Fall Season addiction, did so as a result of a miracle.  The key factor in addiction is the withdrawal of the Lord’s Spirit and the increased presence of Satan. Therefore, a key factor in recovery is the spirit healing. (See The Addicted Spirit.)

God-A Power Greater Than Ourselves

Over the years I have visited 12-Step meetings to learn more about recovery.  While attending such meetings I’ve seen members of all religions including Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, and even agnostics successfully overcome powerful addictions by following the 12-Steps.

What did all these recovering addicts have in common?

They  “Came to believe that a Power greater than themselves could restore them to sanity.” And “Made a decision to turn their will and their lives over to the care of God…” (Step 2 and 3 of Alcoholics Anonymous).

I discovered the “power of God” was what I was missing to successfully help John overcome his alcohol addiction.  (As a member of the Church and graduate from BYU, I should have known.)

LDS 12-Step  Recovery Program

The spiritual power of 12-Step recovery programs were so effective even the LDS Family Services adapted the Alcoholics Anonymous’ program and now sponsor their own LDS 12-Step Addiction Recovery Programs .

However, the miracle isn’t the 12-Steps.  The steps are simply one path for one who is addicted “to regain willpower.”  The real miracle is brought about by faith in the Savior.

“… no matter what the source of difficulty and no matter how you begin to obtain relief—through a qualified professional therapist, doctor, priesthood leader, friend, concerned parent, or loved one—no matter how you begin, those solutions will never provide a complete answer. The final healing comes through faith in Jesus Christ …”  Richard G. Scott, “To Be Healed,” Ensign, May 1994.

Gospel Principle:

During the addiction process – the seed of disobedience is planted in the Spring Season; then sprouts into dishonesty in the Summer Season; which in turns blossoms into captivity in the Fall Season - “and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell” (2 Ne. 28:21).  Both Recovery - proven psychological/medical techniques and Repentance - spiritually based healing are required for permanent changing a Fall Season addiction.

Additonal Resources

“When a Loved One Struggles with Addiction,” Ensign, Jan. 2005.  Read “Third Stage of Addiction”.

Father Martin explains the importance of God in overcoming an addiction. YouTube Video (3 minutes) STEP 3 of AA

  During the Summer Season of Addiction substance abusers become experts in hiding and lying about their use.  Even when obvious signs of substance abuse are discovered, the user tends to passionately lie!

Spring Season
  The Spring Season of addiction is characterized by joy and pleasure as illustrated by the following scriptures.  ” … to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season,” Hebrews 11:25 and ” … they have joy in their works for a season … ,” 3 Nephi 27:11.  (See Spring Season of Addiction blog.)

Seasons
  The above scriptures describe sin using the word “season”.  In fact if we continue reading 3 Nephi 27:11 we learn the “joy” season ends “… verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season (Spring Season) and by and by the end cometh (Summer Season) …”  The concept of the Lord taking away the “happiness in sin”  is also taught in Mormon 2:13.

  Elder Russell M. Nelson also describes the addiction process as different seasons or stages: 

“From an initial experiment thought to be trivial, a vicious cycle may follow.  From trial comes habit. From habit comes dependence.  From dependence comes addiction. Its grasp is so gradual.  Enslaving shackles of habit are too small to be sensed until they are too strong to be broken,” (“Addiction or Freedom,” New Era, Sept. 1989).

 Summer Season
  Like others in the Summer Season of addiction, Tom began to experience negative consequences- such as being confronted by his father.  Examples of other problems experienced during this season include: increased guilt and shame; lack of money; school and work failure; and relationship conflict with parents, spouse, and old friends.  Nevertheless, despite these occasional problems the substance of choice continues to generate the joy and pleasure.  The user becomes convinced their drug of choice is effective and dependable.

  Tolerance and dishonesty are common characteristics that occur in the Summer Season of addiction.

Tolerance
  Tolerance means it takes more of the same substance to get the same level of pleasure or joy experienced during the Spring Season of addiction. 

  For example, initially a “few tokes of a joint” (hits of a marijuana cigarette) result in an individual experiencing a certain level of joy.  With ongoing use the number of “tokes or joints” needed to get that same level of joy increases.
A lot can be learned by discovering how much of the substance an individual’s body and spirit has learned to handle.  I recall one 95 pound Mia-Maid who when asked about how much alcohol she could handle replied “9 beers and still walk and talk.”  In another case a member of the Elder’s quorum presidency abusing pain pills claimed he could handle “7 Percoets at a time”.

  I knew immediately the tolerance of these two individuals had increased and they have moved into a more problematic season of addiction.  Tolerance is powerful.  People can develop a tolerance to amounts of substances that would otherwise be lethal.

  Tolerance also exists with pornography as noted by the LDS Church First Presidency in the pamphlet For the Strength of Youth. We read:

“Pornography is especially dangerous and addictive.  Curious exploration of pornography can become a controlling habit leading to coarser material and to sexual transgression…” (LDS Church, 1990, pg. 11).

Dishonesty
  The use of substances in the Spring Season of addiction results primarily with disobedience and not significant negative consequences. Nevertheless, the seed of disobedience planted in the Spring always grows into some form of dishonesty.

  The inside joke among substance abuse counselors is:  “How can you tell if an addict is lying?”  The response, “His lips move.”  The fact is “Teens [and adults] in substance-abuse trouble invariably tax their parents’ [and spouses'] patience to the very limit. They [the substance abusers] are almost always deceptive, secretive, manipulative, and belligerent.” (“When a Teenager Uses Drugs or Alcohol: How to Cope …,” Sue Bergin, Ensign, Mar. 1988).

The First Question to Ask
  It’s been my experience Latter-day Saints dealing with a loved-one’s substance abuse are often ignorant. They lack understanding of the addiction process and when and how to effectively intervene.  Clinically we understand the addiction process quite well now days.  For example, we realize the intervention of choice varies depending upon which season of addiction the user is experiencing.  Interventions effective during the Spring Season of addiction often are not effective for those in the Fall Season of addiction.

  One of the first things parents and a spouse must do when confronted with an individual’s drug, alcohol, or pornography use is to ask themselves:  Which season of addiction is he or she in? Are they in a later season requiring outside professional treatment or in the earlier season and an intervention involving the family and church leaders would suffice?

GOSPEL PRINCIPLE: The “Summer Season” of addiction continues to result in joy or pleasure.  Negative consequences and tolerance begin.  The “seed” of disobedience sprouts into dishonesty.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

James R. Goodrich, “Alcohol Addiction: Hope for Understanding and Recovery,” Ensign, Jul. 1981.

“Lesson 39: Drug Abuse,” Young Women Manual 1, (2002).

A surprising number of individuals and organizations believe the most effective way to teach abstinence from drugs, alcohol, pornography or other “sinful” behavior is by teaching the negative consequences.  Emphasis is placed on birth defects, brain damage, jail time, divorce, or mental hospitals.  At times the unexpected result of using such strategies is the promotion of a “lie.”  For example, once I was speaking on addiction at a fireside attended by youth and parents.  I asked, “What happens if you were to drink one teaspoon of Budweiser?” A boy about 10 years old, with all sincerity responded, “You’ll die!” He really believed he would die if he drank one teaspoon of Budweiser!

This child’s false belief  will likely:  first, lead him to question the credibility of those who taught him (parents and church leaders), and second, increase his “curiosity” about what the truth might be.  Paradoxically, both are more like “risk factors” – likely influence him to use the substance, than “protective factors” – influence him not to use the substance.

Unfortunately,  the first season of addiction is rarely accompanied by negative consequences.

One of my first assignments as a licensed mental health professional was to provide therapy for teens who had received a legal offense related to possession or use of alcohol or marijuana.  My initial impression, “A piece of cake….Certainly once kids learned about the negative consequences of substance use they would quit.”

Scare tactics just didn’t work.  These kids had never been locked-up, hospitalized or even had a hang over!  As far as I could tell they never experienced any significant negative consequence for using the substance!  Sure, their parents had yelled at them and their bishop had talked to them, and that was about it.  I also noticed these kids typically did okay in school, usually had both parents in the home, weren’t victims of abuse, went to Church on Sunday, and often had leadership roles in their school and Church organizations.

Alcohol, marijuana, and pornography use is prevalent.  Take for example alcohol.  In 2008,  72% – almost ¾ – of all U.S. high school seniors reported having ever used alcohol and 55% – over half – having been drunk! (Monitoring the Future. A continuing study of American Youth).  There is some truth to the saying “Everyone is doing it,” - including student body officers, athletes, and members of seminary council.

Although effects of alcohol, drugs and pornography vary widely from person to person the initial experience of  joy or pleasure seems universal.

Kids know: I remember asking one LDS  girl what happens when she smokes pot.  She replied, “I laugh so hard my side hurts.” Other common side effects reported included: “I act silly.  It makes me feel good.  I have fun ,”  and sometimes I would hear, “Nothing, I fall asleep.”

Science knows: Small amounts of alcohol causes,  among other symptoms, the following: “vivaciousness, feeling of warmth, and inappropriate laughter.” (eMedicineHealth.com)  The following are some typical responses to marijuana: “euphoria, relaxation, subjective feelings of well-being or grandiosity, perceptual changes (including visual distortions),  and increased appetite (the munchies).” (eMedicine.Medscape.com)

Church leaders know: Boyd K. Packer said “… They turn to drugs and find for a moment the escape they seek.  At last their spirits soar. They reach beyond themselves, erase all limitations and taste for a moment, as they suppose, that which they have been seeking …” (The Other Side of the Ship, Conference Report, October 1969, Afternoon Meeting, pg. 36.) Spencer W. Kimball wrote “Whoever said that sin was not fun? Whoever claimed that Lucifer was not handsome, persuasive, easy, friendly? Sin is attractive and desirable.“ (Faith Precedes the Miracle, Deseret Book, 1972, pg. 229.)

Scriptures know: We learn about the passing “pleasures” associated with sin like alcohol, drug and pornography use “…to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” (Hebrews 11: 25) Also 3 Nephi 27:11 teaches if your life “is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season. . .” (See Mormon 2:13)

Alcohol, drugs and pornography are effective and dependable.  They literally change the way one feels.  When ingested each causes a chemical/hormonal reaction in the physical body.

One sip of Budweiser does not make you an alcoholic and leave you penniless and homeless, but it is disobedience to God’s commandment.  Viewing one nude scene in an R-rated movie may not make you a rapist and leave you divorced and in prison, but it is enough to distance you from the Spirit.

dr rick
PRINCIPLE: The “spring season” of addiction (sin) usually results in joy or pleasure.  The “seed” of disobedience is planted and the Spirit withdraws.

Links for additional information:

James R. Goodrich, “Alcohol Addiction: Hope for Understanding and Recovery,” Ensign, Jul 1981.  Make sure you review the subheading: “People Drink For A Reason: 1) A person discovers the short-term pleasure of alcohol use.”

An Important Lesson: Helping Students Avoid Drug Abuse. Published by: Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Make sure you review the subheading: “Why do kids abuse prescription drugs? They are seeking psychological or physical pleasure.”

In response to this pornography crisis we now have thousands of addiction interventions including exclusive treatment programs, a variety of internet filter options, numerous books and podcasts.  All of these resources are aimed to help individuals overcome a pornography addiction.

Just this week I was counseling with another couple with a porn problem. Financially, they were very well to do – the biggest house in the neighborhood, all the toys and cars, etc.  They were married in the temple 3 or 4 kids ago and never missed Church on Sunday.  They looked great on the outside.  But, they were about to lose it all, plus each other.  The wife’s first words to me were, “I hate him.  I want a divorce!” The culprit – her husband’s years of Internet pornography viewing. Like many of my clients, by the time I see them, most have already tried numerous interventions. They have been to counseling, read books, been threatened by their spouse, used Internet filters, tried to improve self-discipline, and even visited with their Church leader.  The end result, the healing had not been complete.  They have come away still with a pornography problem!

Over the years, I have learned programs don’t cure! In particular, traditional pornography addiction interventions, alone — rarely permanently change a serious porn addiction.  Certainly programs and interventions help.  They can provide relief.  They can educate about resources and techniques.  But over time, they are not powerful enough to single handedly conquer the individual’s addicted body, mind and spirit.  Elder Boyd K. Packer reminds us how powerful the enemy really is “Addiction has the capacity to disconnect the human will and nullify moral agency.  It can rob one of the power to decide.” (“Revelation in a Changing World,” Ensign, Nov 1989)

There are several reasons why traditional pornography interventions – alone – don’t cure. One of the main reasons is the failure to address the significance of  the “addicted spirit.”

The logic is simple:

First: “The Spirit and the body make up the soul.” (D&C 88:15).  The spirit and body are more like skin and muscle than a glove and a hand.  One can hardly discern the difference between them.

Second: “The spirit is influenced by the body and the body by the spirit…” said President Brigham Young. (Discourses of Brigham Young,sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 69–70)  Generally, any experience the body has the spirit has also, and vice versa.

Third: “Addiction to any substance enslaves not only the physical body but the spirit as well.” (Addiction or Freedom, New Era, September 1989) said Elder Russell M. Nelson.

The conclusion is obvious: The spirit becomes addicted and also needs “treatment.”  I’m talking more than just a few visits with the bishop and compliance to routine counsel such as “read the scriptures, attend church ….” With serious addiction problems a “mighty change of heart” (Alma 5: 12-14) is required in addition to traditional professional interventions. Complete recovery is evidenced by true confession, sincere prayer, and the acceptance of the Savior’s atonement.

The spirit must be healed as part of addiction recovery for an individual to experience permanent change and have “…no more disposition to do evil…” (Mosiah 5:2)

dr. rick
PRINCIPLE: Abstinence from pornography is not recovery. Permanent behavior change requires treatment of the spirit.

Links for additional information:

“Psychologist at BYU’s Education Week speaks on addiction” Mormon Times Deseret News, 2009

“Addiction Recovery: Healing One Step at a Time,” Ensign, Jun 2009