Recovery from Substance Misuse: Pastoral Care, Treatment, and Counselling

Although rates of substance abuse vary across Europe, millions of lives are ruined in the grip of various substances. In the UK, up to half of young people have tried an illegal drug by the age of 16 and some post-conflict states struggle with their own unique legacies of drugs and alcohol. In this talk we explore the nature and harmful effects of the leading substances of abuse and ask what we can learn from some of the common approaches to recovery. We reflect on personal testimony of recovery and the place of biblical teaching on repentance, idolatry, grace, and community in supporting those caught up in addictive behaviours.