Do you know someone who has an addiction? Let me help you with that one. The answer is “YES!” That’s like asking you if you know someone who has a nose.
The real question is this: What are you doing to help your friend with the addiction? Let’s start with the words of Scripture. “A friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17).
So if you know someone with an addiction (you do) and you want to help them, I offer eight suggestions on how you can do this.
- Educate yourself on addiction.
- Don’t enable your friend.
- Remember that addiction is a disease.
- Set boundaries.
- Encourage them to get help.
- Find them a C.S.A.T.
- Stay positive.
- Let your friend know you aren’t going anywhere.
Recovery Step: Your friend needs you now, more than ever. If you are a real friend, one who loves at all times, you will draw close to your friend because of his addiction, not despite it.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
