Faith and Community-Based Approaches to Addiction/Treatment
Live Chat With Reverend Eric Ovid Donaldson

Churches, synagogues, temples, and other houses of worship can and should play a critical role in ensuring substance abuse problems among their members and in the surrounding community are adequately confronted.

(Due to unforseen circumstances, Father Clements was unable to join us for this chat. However, Rev. Eric Ovid Donaldson, executive director of One Church-One Addict, was his substitute. Rev. Donaldson has dedicated his life and his talents to the prevention of and recovery from many of America's social ills. Rev. Donaldson is currently enrolled in the Previously Ordained Clergy Program of the Universal Foundation for Better Living, Inc.)

Views and opinions expressed by non-CSAT staff members in the Web chats and Web casts should not be interpreted as official CSAT policy, but as the views and opinions of the individuals participating in these events.

Live Chat With Rev. Donaldson, Executive Director, One Church-One Addict

Moderator: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Father Clements is unable to join us for this chat. However, Rev. Eric Ovid Donaldson, executive director of One Church-One Addict, will be his substitute. Rev. Donaldson has dedicated his life and his talents to the prevention and recovery from many of America's social ills. Rev. Donaldson is currently enrolled in the Previously Ordained Clergy Program of the Universal Foundation for Better Living, Inc.

Moderator: Welcome Rev. Eric Donaldson

Rev. Donaldson: Good evening. My name is Reverend Eric Ovid Donaldson. I am the executive director of One Church-One Addict (OCOA) Incorporated, based in Washington, D.C. Father Clements unfortunately couldn't join us tonight as he is doing what Father does best, helping people. He sends his regards and well wishes to everyone this evening as well as his apologies and he is thankful for the interest that has been generated on these matters.

Trish Merrill: Is this chat regarding faith-based efforts?

Rev. Donaldson: Yes

Trish Merrill: I am sorry to hear that Father Clements cannot be with us. Thanks for substituting. Perhaps it does take Father Clements and Father Clements clones to make this happen.

Moderator: Every community meeting I attend, someone says, "We need to get the churches involved." Every church I attend says, "We need to impact the community." But when we (in human services) invite churches to the table for collaborative planning, funding, and/or delivery of services, they don't come. Does it take a Father Clements clone to make this happen?

Rev. Donaldson: That's what Father Clements does, help people to take the stand that he has taken with this issue so that the community-the entire community-gets involved with substance abuse issues.

Moderator: Every effort and any effort put forth to rid our community of the evil derided from drug abuse is a blessing. I laud Father Clements for his efforts in this area. I'm a member of the Mt. Olive MBC and we have a "Drug Ministry Program" on the Westside.

Rev. Donaldson: Thank you

Moderator: Where does our parish begin to address this issue head on? I know of a parishioner who is a functioning marijuana addict with children. I personally confronted her about it; her excuse is she uses it for multiple sclerosis (MS). My research on this use of marijuana is inconclusive. However, children come first as does marriage. There are other legal drugs effective for MS. Here in Oregon marijuana is tolerated. In my view, I think our pastor could address this and if you have any suggestions, I would appreciate it.

Rev. Donaldson: The parish can begin by helping those who ask for it. There are many people in the church suffering in silence. There is a need for churches to address this issue on Sunday mornings so that those who are suffering in silence feel that the church is a safe place to talk about their issues without being judged or shamed. At One Church-One Addict we hold what we call recovery revivals. Recovery revivals are celebrations of sobriety where choirs sing, preachers preach, and testimonies are given allowing the congregation and the community to have a better understanding and awareness of the issues.

Quite often, it is at these revivals that people feel comfortable discussing their personal problems, their family problems, and seeking help. Our efforts are designed to remove the stigma associated with addictions. Our motto is "Love the addict, hate the addiction."

Moderator: What do the people do after the revival?

Rev. Donaldson: It's a perfect time to arrange or have scheduled meetings, trainings, and forums that incorporate the community at large, for example, clinicians, practitioners, community leaders, politicians, etc. One Church-One Addict helps in this mobilization process.

Moderator: Inspiring words. Thank you Rev Donaldson, on to our next question.

Prevent: Does One Church-One Addict work with other community groups?

Rev. Donaldson: We will work with anyone who wants to contribute to the health and well-being of communities.

Moderator: Message submitted earlier from Gary: How am I going to pick up my methadone at the church? In fact, how are they going to prescribe it?

Rev. Donaldson: Any treatment program that is licensed can provide methadone, even churches. There are several faith-based programs that do currently. One that comes to mind right now is based in Tennessee. Another alternative to churches providing treatment services is for churches to enhance the treatment centers within their communities that already do this. Rather than reinvent the wheel, why not improve the tread?

Moderator: Helpful answers. On to the next question. Please continue to submit questions and we will do our best to answer them.

Faith-based substance abuse dependence treatment programs should be held to the same standards, regulations, and licensure requirements as other non-faith based programs. Is there a provision in the initiative for this?

Rev. Donaldson: It is my understanding that the licensed and certified centers must pass certain requirements in order to be certified and licensed. My understanding of the initiative is that faith-based treatment facilities must have comparable standards.

Trish Merrill: Does One Church-One Addict use a team approach similar to the one Faith Partners uses?

Rev. Donaldson: Yes we do use team approaches. The One Church-One Addict approach is a spiritual derivitive of One Church-One Child, Father Clements' initial program.

In the One Church-One Child program, Father Clements would go from church to church asking the congregates to identify one family that would be willing to adopt a child. In the One Church-One Addict program we ask the congregates to identify a team of committed volunteers that are willing to be trained and are willing to adopt one recovering addict. With the One Church-One Child program it never stopped at one family-it only started there. With One Church-One Addict program, our hope is it doesn't stop with the team-it expands into the community and into other issues surrounding the addition issue.

Moderator: Thank you, the next question is about 12-step approaches.

Jean: How does the One Church-One Addict approach differ from the twelve step approaches?

Rev. Donaldson: Good question. One Church-One Addict supports 12-step programs and their efforts. Like the 12-step program, we do no proselytize. But having the spiritual support of the volunteers can make all the difference in the world when an urge hits and the only one available to talk with are the people you were addicted with. One Church-One Addict concentrates on the spirituality and love that surrounds the addicts and the issues, but not religiousity.

Moderator: We have had several questions on family.

Mtmbdl: What is the involvement of the family as a support in recovery?
Diaz Mckenzie: How are families served in this model?

Rev. Donaldson: Providing resources, but not money. Supporting spiritually the recovery community's journey with sobriety. Supplementing the people, places, and circumstances that may trigger abuse with other activities which bring about well-being. Quite often, the people our volunteers work with become volunteers themselves. This is a good thing. There are several ways to address this issue, neither one better than the other.

Moderator: The family is truly important, thanks for the answer.
Freddie: What can parish members do to encourage those who need help to seek it? For instance, there is an older couple at my church, they are very nice, but it is clearly evident that the husband has a drinking problem. What is the neutral way to address this issue?

Rev. Donaldson: Some people use an intervention approach, while others help those who are ready for the help offered. If for example, an alcoholic is not ready, then perhaps the family is and help can be provided there.

Moderator: Thank you, on to the next question.

Sheila: Does One Church-One Addict directly address any issues about HIV/AIDS?

Rev. Donaldson: Our mission statement states a healthy mind in a healthy body. We don't stop at just the addiction, for most often as a result of the addiction comes many health problems. One Church-One Addict has partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and their 100% access 0% Disparity campaign to address health issues such as HIV and Hepatitis C. We have also partnered with CSAT for awareness of issues surrounding diabetes. DHHS and CSAT have provided One Church-One Addict with wonderful assistance on these and other matters.

Moderator: Thank you for that response, and thanks for everyone's patience as we will try to get to all of your questions.

VictoriaF: Does One Church-One Addict get involved in the area of advocacy on behalf of the recovering community? If so, to what capacity?

Rev. Donaldson: We recently submitted a proposal to CSAT to establish recovery community organizations in four sites: Chicago, IL; Baltimore, MD; Tampa, FL; and Port Arthur, TX. We hope that through our efforts, we can establish a model that can be easily replicated throughout the country and perhaps beyond. Currently, we have teams of volunteers that involve themselves in local advocacy throughout the country.

VictoriaF: Is it possible to receive a listing of those advocates in my State? How may I obtain that listing?

Rev. Donaldson: Feel free to contact the national office at 202-789-4333 and we will be happy to assist in every way we possibly can.

VictoriaF: Thank you.

Moderator: Thank you, next question.

Mtmbdl: How does a church adopt an addict and make them feel like part of the church and not an experiment or different? How are they integrated into the church as their support group?

Rev. Donaldson: Often anonymity takes care of this. Sometimes an addict wants the church to know because the issue never was the addiction so much as it was the belongingness. In fact, it is One Church-One Addict's understanding that addiction is more than a disease. It is also a spiritual disease. To further that, as I mentioned earlier, One Church-One Addict's Motto is "Love the Addict, Hate the Addiction."

Rev. Donaldson: When we go to faith communities, we address the stigma associated with addicts and addiction. Addicts, like many people, can tell when there is an unloving or non-caring atmosphere. And we make that known in our dialogue with faith communities. In my training sessions I often tell the faith community volunteers that this is not only an opportunity for healing for an addict, but healing for the hate and anger and bitterness we have held for so long.

Mtmbld: Thank You.

Nkpomeroy: Is there a Web site for the One Church-One Addict organization?

Rev. Donaldson: Yes. http://www.onechurch-oneaddict.org/

Moderator: We will check it out, thanks.

Freddie: I'm curious to know if there is any cross-cultural attempts for a faith-based treatment center-i.e., member from a Catholic Church and members of a Muslim mass. Our Jewish members of the local community temple, ECT?

Rev. Donaldson: Personally, I hope so. I hope all faiths can get past their dogmatic differences to address this most serious issue that is ravaging our communities. When One Church-One Addict refers to faith communities, we not only mean churches, but Synagogues, mosques, and other institutions of spirituality. When we hold our conferences they are multicultural, inter-denominational, and inter-faith. Our goal at our conferences is to establish a plan of action that involves all aspects and entities of a community. With the help of CSAT, One Church-One Addict is sponsoring four conferences this year. Information about those conferences will be posted on our Web site soon. If you are interested, you may also make that known when you contact our national office. We would love to place you on our mailing list.

Moderator: This is something to move towards, thank you for that answer. Next we will hear from someone in Tennessee.

Rrtmac: You mentioned a faith-based methadone program in Tennessee. I am a patient advocate there and cannot think of which program you are referring to. Would you mind revealing the name?

Rev. Donaldson: It is in Memphis, TN, and it's Reverend Dr. Kenneth Robinson. I believe he is with the AME church.

Mtmbdl: Is the church serving as an outside support system or is the addict's family sometimes involved and receive training also? My daughter is an addict in recovery. I believe she is in recovery due to her renewed faith in God which she found in treatment and her family was her support. It required re-educating all of us, and years of learning and changing . How is the family trained?

Rev. Donaldson: First of all, alleluia! I'm so happy for your daughter's recovery. I'm sure you're well aware of the issues that face the entire family when one person becomes addicted. Our training discusses this issue rather extensively. I have found the church to be a wonderful vehicle by which services can be referred to and rendered. Professionals can hold forums, providers can supply information, and souls can experience growth.

Mtmbdl: Amen.

Rev. Donaldson: There are so many resources that we find it best to help faith communities find out what is available within their regions and assist them in designing activities that they feel comfortable establishing and implementing within their church. One Church-One Addict does not dictate. We consult and advise and, most of all, empower.

Moderator: Thank you, our chat is coming to an end, a final statement from Rev. Donaldson.

Rev. Donaldson: Wow! I hate to tell you this, but our hour is up. I am so encouraged by the response of this chat. I know that there are many other questions we were unable to address, some of them concerning Father Clements personally. I would like to take those questions to Father Clements so that he may respond, then post them on the Recovery Month Web site.

Mtmbdl: Thank you and I look forward to learning more through the Web site and getting churches in my area involved, especially in helping youth in addiction. Thank you so much.

Rev. Donaldson: Whatever you do from here, please use your compassion to involve others in this battle for sobriety. Imagine this....if one recovering addict who affects at least six people within their immediate circle is helped by one church, then over 300,000 addicts and well over one million people that have been affected will find the help they need. There are over 300,000 churches within the United States. With God, all things are possible. Thank you and good night.

Moderator: You can find information on our Web site for faith-based communities: Substance Abuse Resource Guide: Faith Communities at http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/MS457/

Moderator: Take care everyone and thank you.

VictoriaF: Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about your mission.

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The following represent Fr. Clements responses to some questions that did not get answered due to time constraints.

Q.
Do you think The President's focus will be effective in small and rural faith communities? Also, if initiated, what will be done to gain the trust of the recipients, who have lost trust in having "the church" get" into their business"?

A. First of all with the rural areas we have a very serious problem in these small towns and villages because, in the large urban centers there's so much competition among the drug dealers until they fan out now into the rural areas. I was talking to the Governor of Maine, Governor King and he was telling me, that, Substance abuse is the major problem in his state and you know Maine is certainly not an urban state. The confidence that people have in churches I think is still very, very high. I don't feel that there is a lot of distrust and even those that are distrustful of churches are that way because, there has been no reaching out to them. I think it's a matter of us getting the message through to them, getting a church to link up with them, getting them involved with the church, that's really what it's all about.

Q.
My girlfriend is 50 years old and comes from a very alcoholic family. She basically took care of 1 sister and 2 brothers and her parents for quite some time. The brothers are alcoholic and the sister seems ok. My girlfriend seems like a casual drinker and says she has never had a problem with alcohol. However on more than one occasion I detected alcohol on her breath, but did not say anything about it because it was very faint. Yesterday I detected a strong odor of Beer and just quickly said, "oh you had a Bud Lite" And she replied no she didn't. Now I am more than certain it was beer I detected and I am wondering if she is hiding something or really didn't have any beer. How should I handle this?

A. I think that you have to recognize that in all likelihood she is an alcoholic. The overwhelming percentage of people who are alcoholics are those whose parents- one or more, or both-were alcoholics and they grew up in that kind of environment. So, what I would tell you is that she is probably simply trying to brush-over the reality that she is an alcoholic. In so far as what you can do, frankly very, very little other than trying to persuade her to get professional treatment and for that matter the entire family should need professional treatment. Sometimes all you can do is simply lay out guidelines for people and then let God do the rest because, there's no way you are going to be able to really push her into treatment. Even if you tried it wouldn't be effective because one has to go on one's own volition.

Q.
As someone who has worked in the drug and Alcohol field for almost 20 years - I clearly see that as available treatment options decrease-crime increases. There are well - intended programs that court - order treatment instead of incarceration, but the problem of whom will fund this treatment makes then ineffective. Incarceration on the other hand is wholely funded by the government - does anyone else see a problem with this picture? Or is it just me? Is the message we would RATHER incarcerate-even though it is more expensive than treatment?

A. No, really the message is one of appealing to the electors, to the voters. Voters are much more incline to give tax money for incarceration than they are for treatment and that's because they are so short sighted. They don't realize that unless we do get treatment then there is going to be more and more people going into incarceration. We have a massive job of educating the general public. It has to be said over and over and over again that, addiction is a disease and you don't treat a disease by putting people in jail. You treat the disease by putting them in the hospital, you let them get treatment so that they can be cured. Until we get away from this thing of punishing people for taking drugs we are going to continue to stay in this same cycle.

Q.
If the church(es) in the area aren't active, why will this chat about strategies make any difference? Wouldn't it be more prudential to discuss what would/should motivate them to action?

A. Well what motivates the churches to action of course is what happens when the collection plate goes around. If they are not being active well then what we need to do is let them know through their funds. The people who sit in those pews are the ones who pay for the electricity and gas and for the salaries and for the secretaries, and the janitors, and people who work in the churches. Pastors and all of these people who are connected with them get their checks from the people in the pews. So what we have to do is let the people know over and over again, let their constituents know if their church is not going to be active then of course the only thing to do is close it down. As radical as that might sound it's still very, very real because, there are people hurting out here. Many of their own members are hurting and the members' families are hurting because of alcohol or drugs. What we have to do is let them know that if they do not want to function then we will just simply shut their water off.

Q.
Sometimes the congregation is ready to establish a substance abuse ministry, but the pastor is not. Would you share strategies for helping pastors to recognize the importance of the church's involvement?

A. Well I think with Pastors what you simply have to do is just let them know the facts of life. The facts are that at one time we did have a situation where a church could say that so and so's church is affected but not mine, but that day is lone gone. Virtually every family in America has somebody who is affected by substance abuse and the Pastor has to know that it's in the Choir, it's in the Deacon Board, it's in the Mother's Club, it's all over and in virtually all churches. So, sometimes it's just simply a matter of educating the Pastor. Now if the Pastor, of course, just is simply adamant and does not want to get his church involved well then the kind of situation that I had outlined before has to take place but, I have found that most Pastors are very amenable once you make it very clear to them that the problem is very serious in their particular area and in their particular church.

Q.
Teen Challenges and Save The Seed Ministries, substance abuse programs that I deem to be "spiritual boot camps" are examples of programs that President Bush touts. These faith based programs treat alcohol and illicit drug use as a sin, equating it to homosexuality, prostitution, and premarital sex. Substance dependence is a disease. Why would it be acceptable for someone diagnosed with the disease to send them to a facility whose main avenue to cure was through faith in Jesus, when we don't do it for someone with cancer, heart disease, or diabetes?

A. Well, you know the line is so fuzzy between disease and sin. There are so many, many people who are afflicted with this disease who really feel they are committing sin. Their conscience tells them that they are committing sin and so the perception is the reality of those particular people. There are others, of course, who recognize that they have a disease and they don't feel any kind of sense of immorality at all. I think that the President and everyone else who is involved with trying to alleviate this problem have to be very, very careful about statements concerning sin because what's one man's sin is not another man's sin. So, I would say that as far as Save the Seed and Teen Challenges are concerned we have to let them deal with their own constituents the way they want to deal with them. You know this is a free Nation and if that's the way they want to treat people, fine. But, I don't think they are entitled to Public funds if they are insisting that someone has to feel sinful before they can be treated. The misery is there whether you want to say it's sin or not. The misery is there and the misery, the pain has to be taken away and we certainly need treatment to do that and so I would just say, let's not make the lines that much more fuzzy by bringing in immorality into every single issue because many times its not there. There are many people who are afflicted with this disease who do not feel sinful whatsoever.

Q.
Here in Gauteng, South Africa I see the selling and using of drugs openly and fearlessly. Reports to police are to no avail, as an individual what can I do? I do belong to a Nar-Anon group; crack addict boyfriend.

A. Well. As a matter of fact, I was in Gauteng about five months ago that 's where President Nelson Mandela lives. I must admit I did not see signs of open air drug trafficking. I really was not looking that intensely. The police are the ones that are responsible for the public welfare and for the police it's got to be a situation where the public is alerting them and they must be brought to task. After all we're paying their salaries and it's very, very little that the average citizen can do when the police allow open air drug trafficking. I myself was involved in intervention some years ago when there was open air selling of drug paraphernalia and once I brought it to the attention of the authorities, laws were passed and this paraphernalia was confiscated. Prior to that time people just kind of tolerated it. So I think that it has to be brought to the attention of people whose responsibility it is and whose salaries are being paid to actually take care of it.

Q.
How will the faith based substance abuse treatment affect the government agencies that monitor the substance abuser, such as probation departments? What about the substance abuser that does not want faith based treatment?

A. Well, of course, if a substance abuser does not want faith-based treatment then its not going to be effective. It can only be effective when a person is voluntarily doing it and no probation officer should force or attempt to force someone to get faith- based treatment. If they refuse well then of course, they're simply in violation and then they have to be sent back to jail but you can't force them to take faith-based treatment. We have found over and over again that whenever compulsion is brought into the picture it just simple fails.

Q.
Those of us who work in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities (and these are communities that have been especially affected by alcoholism, substance abuse and related issues like HIV/AIDS) are quite concerned that the emphasis on the faith-based initiatives will preclude LGBT people and organizations from participation, and from critically needed services, as many faith-based organizations have expressed opposition to the LGBT "lifestyle" on a so-called moral or religious grounds. How do you suggest we in the LGBT community's work to eradicate this prejudice and collaborate with faith initiative? You may be well aware that there are some faith-based initiatives that welcome and include LGBT folks such as the Episcopalian Diocese in Newark, New Jersey, a leader and pioneer in ordaining gay and lesbian priests, the United Church of Christ, and of course the gay-founded Metropolitan Community Churches, but many do not.

Thanks for considering my query.
Director, Mental Health & Social Services Programs
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of NYC, NY

A. Well, I am so glad that you mentioned the Episcopalian Diocese and the Metropolitan Church and the other initiatives that do welcome working with the communities that have been involved in alternate lifestyles. I would think that what you would want is to get into a faith-based initiative that welcomes those lifestyles rather than getting into one where you are looked upon as being some kind of immoral person. It's not going to do the person who has that alternate lifestyle, any good to be involved in an initiative where they will feel a sense of being shunned or unwelcomed because the first thing that must be considered is overcoming the disease. It would be similar to a person who is an African American getting involved in a treatment program where everyone in the program is biased and filled with racial hatred and then they are going to come in there and try to get treatment. Well, that's a bit wild and so I would say the same thing here, let's find those organizations that welcome you with open arms and let's work with them and let's pray for the other people who are short sighted.

Q.
What role have faith communities traditionally played in responding to the needs of addicted persons?

A. Faith Communities have largely been involved in ignoring the problem in the past. They simply felt like this was a problem that was important but was not a matter of the church. It wasn't the case of being hostile. It just was the case of being ignorant really about how widespread and intense and devastating this problem is. I have found that as time has gone by, attitudes have largely changed due to the fact that so many of the people who are involved in the faith community have found themselves or their families into some kind of substance abuse. We find it in virtually every area of the church, including the pulpit so as this has happened more faith communities have taken a more active role.

Q.
How can faith communities play a larger role in preventing and treating addictions?

A. Well, they can play a larger role by collaborating with private and public ententies that are involved. For example: every faith community can very easily open up their facility to NA Narcotics Anonymous and to AA. They could also work with the various arms of the Federal Government as well as the State Governments that are involved with substance abuse treatment and they can educate their own Parishioners about it because of course there are many, many people who simply just don't have any knowledge of what treatment is. I find it just appalling that so relatively few people know that it's a disease. They think that it's some kind of immoral, sinful, lascivious activity, activity that God is going to punish by sending people to hell. We need to have a massive educational component in our church and in our faith communities so that we can instruct people as to the real makeup of drug abuse as well as how alcoholism it is a disease. It's a mental disease. It's a spiritual disease. It's a disease that affects the entire individual, his physical health. It affects all of the various components that make up a human being and what we have to do is let people know that so that we can provide healing.

Q.
What lessons can we learn from the experiences of the One Church - One Addict Initiative? A. The One Church One Addict Initiative basically says Love the addict and hate the addiction and our initiative is that we must open our arms wide and embrace people who have this disease while keeping in mind that we hate the disease itself. So, the best lesson that people can learn from One Church One Addict is that of loving people who have this disease and get them involved into the various treatment components that will help them to get rid of this disease and let them know that our doors are always open. One Church One Addict has stressed this over and over again to families, to churches, to hospitals, to various facilities. We need to open up, let people know they can come in. It's so sad when we close our doors because some one who wants to come does not look or act like us. What we got to do is let people know that we love them while we hate the addiction and the behavior that follows.

Q.
How can one church really make a difference?

A. One church is all that you need to save one or more individuals. One church is not going to go out here and solve the problems of America or North America or planet Earth but one church can reach out to those that come within its sanctuary. One church can make a difference with those who are within its own congregations. Just think about it this way; lets just say, that one church was able to actually change the behavior of one drug addict, now start multiplying that. If you did that with one church, and there are 75 churches in a community that means 75 people are now into a very normal lifestyle. Those 75 people will then affect 75 others. Certainly their families and friends will be affected and this will all continue to spread. One can make a difference. Let's try to do that. Let's have that one get out there and affect all of us.

Q.
How can the federal government help faith community efforts to address addiction?

A. Well, the Federal Government can work in collaboration with faith communities. See there's a big myth out here that we're supposed to have separation of church and state to the extent that it actually becomes divorce. We are saying that the Founding Fathers never intended that there be divorce. Separation simply means that you do not get to the point where you are actually proselytizing people who are involved with the treatment you are offering. It is extremely important that we keep, those lines clear, but it does not mean that you have to be hostile to either the government or to the church. We're all in this together we are all a part of the same nation and we all have to work together (government and faith) so that we can all have the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness which we feel is the birth right for each one of us.