Ten Warning Signs of Alcoholism

Here are Ten warning signs of alcoholism. Understanding alcoholism signs can help you determine whether you or a loved one are experiencing alcohol addiction. You or your loved one may consider yourself “social drinkers” but as the amount of drinking per occasion or per week increases, one or more of the ten warning signs of alcoholism will develop as a result.

Two alcoholism signs associated with dependency are tolerance and withdrawal. Tolerance is the need for increasing amounts of alcohol consumption to become intoxicated. Withdrawal symptoms occur when alcohol intake is reduced or discontinued. In the USA alone, as many as 14 million adults are alcoholics.

What are ten warning signs of alcoholism? Here are alcoholism signs listed (in no particular order):

1. Drinking Alone

2. Making Excuses, Finding Excuses to Drink

3. Daily or Frequent Drinking Needed to Function

4. Inability to Reduce or Stop Alcohol Intake

5. Violent Episodes Associated with Drinking

6. Drinking Secretly

7. Becoming Angry When Confronted About Drinking

8. Poorer Eating Habits

9. Failure to Care for Physical Appearance

10. Trembling in the Morning

Alcoholism signs can also include blackouts, the complete inability to remember the previous evenings events. Also grayouts the inability to remember portions of the events of the previous evening. Also feeling anxious in a social situation where alcohol is not available.

Does heavy chronic drinking have health consequences? Absolutely. Chronic heavy drinking can result in serious damage to the liver, heart, brain and other vital organs. Such severe physical damage may irreversible and result in serious illnesses and even early death.

If the above ten warning signs of alcoholism help create interest in exploring possible alcohol addiction and finding help for you or a loved one, the good news is that help is available. God loves you and wants you to be totally free from your addiction. Reformers Unanimous offers multiple tools for the alcoholic including our local addiction classes, residential addiction treatment, alcohol recovery books, and the Personal Recovery Kit

What is Addiction ?

What is addiction? Addiction is enslavement, to a substance, activity, or state of mind intended to fill a void that can only be filled by God. Addiction is precipitated by untrue views of God, our past, ourselves, and the world around us. Real recovery only occurs as we develop an intimate relationship with God, and he reveals to us what is true about these four areas.

Relapse Prevention: Ten Failures that make a fall Final

Five Failures Before the Fall:

1. We UNDERESTIMATE God’s PLAN for our life.

Genesis 2:15-18 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

2. We place ourselves into DANGEROUS situations.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

3. We DOUBT God’s GOODNESS to us.

Genesis 3:4-5 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

4. We WANT what God says we CAN’T have.

Genesis 3:6a And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat…

5. We try to get OTHERS to ENGAGE in our fall.

Genesis 3:6b …and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Five Failures After the Fall:

1. We try to WORK our WAY out of the guilt of our fall.

Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

2. We avoid GOD after our FALL.

Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

3. We SHIFT the BLAME for our fall.

Genesis 3:11-13 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

4. We ENDURE greater BURDENS from our fall.

Genesis 3:17-19 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

5. Our PATH to God, after the fall, endures RESISTANCE.

Genesis 3:22-24 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

 If you or someone you love needs help, contact us at 562.606.6041 or find a local chapter near you now.

13 Tips For Breaking Bad Habits and Developing Good Habits Through the RU Program

Every year during Christmas, and New Years many people begin thinking about where their life is headed. Maybe your looking to quit smoking, or another addiction, maybe your looking to lose weight or make another bad habit you want to quit Reformers Unanimous can help. Your at the right place RU has helped thousands of people just like you experience revolutionary results in their spiritual, professional, and personal lives by delving into these materials, and applying the principles to their lives.

The underlying secret to permanent change is that, there are no shortcuts in life. If you are the kind of person who likes to dabble with bits and pieces of a system; or start something but not finish; then this program will not help you! The people who have seen maximum results from this program have been those who have followed the directions, made themselves accountable to others, and stuck with the program day after day to completion. The following are 13 Tips For Breaking Bad Habits and Developing Good Habits Through the RU Program:


1. Identify the end results of what you would like to accomplish from this program. When you came to this program it was because there was something about your life that seemed to not be working. Maybe your problem has created conflict in an important relationship in your life or career. Maybe it is apathy – your nonchalant disregard for the important things in life. Or, maybe your goal is to rid yourself of an existing “bad” habit or behavior. Be sure to identify your goal. Be sure to identify the behavior you are going to substitute along with the “new” behavior. Be very specific. “I want to be a better Christian” or “I want to quit smoking” is not a new habit. “I will study the curriculum on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 6pm to 7pm instead of watching television” is more specific and doable. Develop a strategy for completing your program so the end results can be attained. You will look to self discipline and accountability to get there; but in time, the grace of God will supernaturally empower you, of this I am convinced!


2. Discover your motivations for sticking to and finishing the program. Write down all of your motivations for using the RU program inside the cover of your Bible, Strongholds Study Course, or in the notes pages of your “It’s Personal” Daily Journal. We all have different motivations for accomplishing things. For example, you may want to get in shape, lose weight, lower your blood pressure, or feel youthful. Look at how this completing this program will benefit all areas of your life, not just your spirit or soul, but your body as well. God wants you to glorify Him in all things! So consider how this program will affect your relationship with God, spouse, children, job, income, social contacts, and physical health. The more thorough you are when doing this exercise, the easier it will be for you to follow through! Keep writing until you can’t imagine a life without finishing this program.


3. Examine the consequences for quitting this program. Along with the reasons why you should finish, write down the ways you will be negatively affected if your life does not change dramatically. Again, consider all areas of your life: spiritual, physical and emotional. We all have urges to quit things. Have powerful reasons not to quit ready and accessible, so you are prepared when doubts come.


4. Make a public commitment. Be fully committed. This will do the trick every time. We understand that this may be uncomfortable to you to reveal the things you are struggling with, but if you don’t get things out in the open for discussion and have accountability, you’ll never see a change.


5. Choose an accountability partner to support you in your development to help keep you focused and motivated. This can be your Pastor, RU Director, Counsel Leader or other trusted spiritually mature counselor. This partner will help keep you on track. You can report your progress (and failures) as you go along. They will be there for great advice, for moral support, and to help keep you going when you want to stop. Marks of a good accountability partner are:

a. Unity- Either an accountability partner of the same gender or your spouse is preferred so you can comfortably share your inward struggles and failures. This is also so that the dynamics of a romantic relationship do not develop and interfere with your progress.

b. Solidarity- Someone who understands your struggles and has developed past them can often be more effective in helping you. They know where you are coming from, and can speak from experience.

c. Transparency- Pick a partner who can have forthright and candid conversations with you. Accountability is not useful if you are lying about your struggles or progress with your partner.


6. Find inspiration from God on a daily basis. Inspiration is one of the best motivators, and it can be found everyday in the Word of God and by prayer. As you will learn, all communication from God is intended to produce a proper daily meditation. Every day, ask God for new inspiration for your meditations, and it will help sustain motivation over the long term.


7. Always think positively about what God is trying to accomplish. Squash all negative thoughts while you monitor your thoughts. According to the Bible, what a person thinks is what they become. The Bible also tells us that all thoughts that are negative, unbelieving, or untrue need to be pushed out, and replaced with positive (truthful) thoughts. Positive thinking based on God’s Word can be amazingly transformational. Negative thinking has destroyed every negative thinker! You will NOT be an exception.


8. Give it time – be patient. This is often easier said than done. Our 21st century thinking causes us to expect instant results. When you think about your goals, think long term. It has taken you years to develop the problems and mindsets that have led you to this program. So obviously, it will take God some time to change your thinking and bad habits.


9. Track your progress without condemnation. When you are not being consistent or lapsing, ask yourself “Why?” But be careful not to “beat yourself up” over a lapse. Ask God to help you have the strength to finish what you started.


10. Plan for a marathon, not a sprint. This is going to take a little time. Here are some methods for not burning out:

a. Break your goals into smaller, mini-goals. Sometimes large or long-term goals can be overwhelming. Instead of saying you are going to read a whole book or do 10 challenges today, say you will read 10 pages during lunch, or do a challenge over your coffee break.

b. Don’t burn your self out the first week in your enthusiasm for a new life. Plan out a course of action where you slowly increase your effort over time, then prepare for God’s grace on your behalf to keep it going. Keep a pace that you can reasonably maintain till you finish the program.

11. Make the program enjoyable. One reason you might be tempted to put off the program is because it is hard work. This is true, but the key to success is to find a way to make it fun or pleasurable. For instance, if you do not enjoy memorizing, try making it into a song or a game. If you do not enjoy reading, try reading the book with someone you enjoy, rather than watching television with them. If you focus on making this program enjoyable, the duty of it will become delight.


12. Just do it. Though God is standing by to orchestrate a good work in you, you must strengthen your relationship with Him in order to stimulate this workmanship. You are going to have to conclude that you are going to do it! This is essential. Your life has come to the point, either through apathy or addiction that it cannot go on any longer. Stop making excuses and just start doing the program! Here are some thought to help you with this:


a. Just get started. There are some days when you will not feel like getting out of bed, or reading, or journaling. Instead of thinking about how hard it is and how long it will take, ask God for help to start then do it! He will help you.


b. Make it a rule to never skip time with God two days in a row. This rule takes into account our natural tendency to miss days now and then. We are not perfect. So, you missed one day … now the second day is upon you and you are feeling lazy, apathetic, or discouraged … tell yourself NO! You will not miss two days in a row

c. Commit to these new habits (reading, memorization, mediation, and journaling) for a minimum of 30 days uninterrupted. Research tells us that it takes a minimum of 3-4 weeks to develop a new habit. Don’t quit. Permanent, healthy habits are just around the corner.


13. Chart Your Progress with the Daily Journal. The Journal has many helpful daily disciplines that will help track how you are progressing. Make a habit of looking back on your previous day to see how closely you followed God’s direction for that day. Then, at longer intervals, (weekly, monthly, etc.) look at previous days in your journal to see how you are developing through your struggles and see the victory. You will be amazed at the progress that you will see in hindsight.

This whole program may seem daunting, but thousands have gone before you. Remember the only way to eat an elephant is…one bite at a time! Don’t worry; we are here to help you at every stage of your journey. By visiting http://www.reformu.com/ you can find additional materials that will help develop you in each stage of your new life. We also are available at  562.606.6041, to help you. To  find a good local church, or an RU Class near you, click here.  We hope your decision to engage in this program will be the first of many that God will use to revolutionize your life.

10 Signs of Drug Addiction

It can be very difficult to admit yourself and others that you have an addiction. Also if you are a family member, or loved one of an addicted person, or potentially addicted person it is important to recognize if addiction is present so you can get them the help they need. The problem is if you have never been an addict yourself you may not recognize the signs of addiction. So to be a blessing to potential addicts, and their families here are ten warning signs of addiction.

1. Changes in Physical Appearance

Drug and alcohol use will have a recognizable impact on an addicted persons body. Physical symptoms of substance abuse include:

◦ Unexplained weight loss or weight gain

◦ Development of unusual sores on the body

◦ Bruises and/or cuts

◦ Burns, particularly those on hands or face

◦ Facial redness or irritated skin

◦ Frequently irritated eyes

◦ Development of tooth decay or gum problems

◦ Strange smells on clothing

2. Sudden Health Problems

Common health-related symptoms that can arise from substance abuse are:

◦ Unexplained exhaustion/tiredness

◦ Irregular sleeping patterns

◦ Recurrent nosebleeds

◦ Vomiting

◦ Seizures

◦ Headaches

◦ Memory loss

◦ Cotton mouth (excessively feeling thirsty thirsty all the time)

◦ Constant sickness

3. Unexplained Personality Changes

It’s natural for personality changes to occur during formative years, life stage changes, and during times of increase stressed, but sudden unexplainable changes in behavior may indicate addiction. Some of these include: ◦ Sudden lack of motivation

◦ Loss of conscience or inhibitions

◦ Boisterous, loud behavior

◦ Out of character withdrawal, overexcitement, or hyperactivity


4. Spiritual Decline

Addiction is symptomatic of deeper spiritual problems. This can be seen when the user begins to:

◦ Evidences less desire for spiritual activity: church attendance, bible reading, prayer

◦ Avoids spiritual mentors, authority figures

◦ Consumed with current situations with no vision for the future

◦ Feel walk with God is stale and no longer full of joy and power.

◦ Decreasing desire for bettering the kingdom of God or encouraging fellow believers.

5. Mental/Emotional Instability


Depressants and stimulants have a distinct impact on the emotions. That’s why drugs and alcohol can often activate:

◦ Depression

◦ Mood swings

◦ Difficulties in managing anger

◦ Hear voices

◦ Perform actions driven by paranoia

◦ Act compulsively

◦ Lose their ability to concentrate or focus

6. Changes at School/Work

At school/work, the following are addiction red-flags:

◦ Lateness

◦ Unexplained absences

◦ Problems and complaints reported by peers, employers and/or teachers

◦ Distinct drops in performance levels

7. Changes at Home

Around the house, the following are addiction red-flags:

◦ Locked doors

◦ Unexplainable financial transactions, missing money

◦ Excessive use of perfumes or air fresheners/odor-neutralizers

◦ Missing prescription medications, alcoholic beverages, household cleaners and other products

8. Activities

Substance abuse often becomes the sole focus of life for addicts, overshadowing the activities that use to bring them happiness. Changes that should cause concern are:

◦ Lost interest in most or all of their favorite activities

◦ Breaking promises or making excuses (uncharacteristically)

◦ Disappearances

9. Change in Possessions

Addiction often causes a person to lose sight of everything else. When looking at their living space or what they hold dear, be concerned if you notice that someone is:

◦ Selling personal items for cash

◦ Stealing

◦ In possession of pipes or improvised drug apparatuses, or any seeming drug paraphernalia

10. Relationships

Things to look out for where relationships are concerned:

◦ New friends they don’t want you to meet

◦ An abrupt breaking of long-term ties with their friends and family members


If the above ten warning signs of addiction help create interest in exploring possible alcohol addiction and finding help for you or a loved one, the good news is that help is available. God loves you and wants you to be totally free from your addiction. Reformers Unanimous offers multiple tools for the alcoholic including our local addiction classes, residential addiction treatment, topical recovery books, and the Personal Recovery Kit.

Help for Families of Addicts- Part 4 Effects of drug addiction on family members Effects on the Parents Marriage

If the addict is your child, this can be very damaging and destructive to your marriage. An addicted child knows who the "softie" is in your home. If the addict is a son, it is generally the mother who is the soft one; if she is a daughter, it usually is the father who is the softer one. That being said, when the father gives up on the son and refuses to bail him out of jail, the mother takes over and believes whatever the child tells her. I have had mothers in this situation tell me, "It is different now. He just needs a little money to tie him over until he gets paid." I’ve also heard, "His friends talked him into it. He did not want to sell the drugs." Another quote I've heard from mothers is, “If we don't give him food, he won't have anything to eat."

Sometimes, when the father resorts to “tough love” and “cuts off” his own son because of addiction, the mother gets angry. She may be feeling enormous guilt over what has happened to her son in the past. She will defend her poor little boy no matter what he does. And again, as I have mentioned, you can reverse the role in regards to the father and daughter. If dad and mom are not careful, the marriage can be fractured. The manipulative child will play one parent against the other. Another tactic the addict will use is when they accuse one parent of abuse and lie about the past to manipulate the sympathetic partner. Trust between spouses is destroyed, communication is broken down, and the child's only hope for the discipline he needs is gone. Counseling for mom and dad is essential. Not only for the survival of their marriage but for the sake of the addicted child.

This is why it is imperative for you to get your addicted loved-one involved in a local chapter of Reformers Unanimous. This is the very best thing you can do not only for the addict, but also for those who love the addict and are affected by his behavior. Go on the website (Reformu.com) and find a chapter close by to you, and then whole-heartedly dive into the program alongside your addicted loved-one. There, again, you will be introduced to the Truth--which is Jesus Christ. You will also be instructed on how to live and walk in the Truth. In doing so you will help yourself, your marriage, and your family. It is the best tool that you can give your loved-one who is in active addiction right now.

Spouses of the Addicted

The situation for the spouse of an addict is a little different than that of parents of an addicted child. Spouses have the additional pain of being rejected and being abandoned by their husband or wife. Even if they don't actually leave you, they are not the same person you married. The grief of watching the man, or woman you love die slowly is indescribable.

You remember the good times you shared together, and the love and joy you shared. You remember the look that was on their face when you got engaged. You see all of these things in your mind's eye, and you just want to die because it hurts so badly. Your addicted spouse gets enraged at little things. They are angry and hostile one minute and happy and loving the next. You never know what to expect. They make promises to do things with you and the kids and then don’t show up. Many will, at times, become violent, and destroy household objects such as the children's toys. In a act of sheer desperation, your addicted spouse may go as far as to tear up the picture your child drew for them. You have been abandoned, abused, rejected, and humiliated. You are grieved at the loss of the relationship that you held with your spouse.

You must realize that you cannot fix your spouse. As much as you love them, you cannot make them go back to what they used to be. You can be there for them if, and when, they finally decide to take action, but until your spouse decides to get help your hands are basically tied. One thing, and the best thing, you can do for you and your children is to get involved in a local chapter of Reformers Unanimous and diligently get to know Jesus Christ and walk with Him. This is the best thing you can do for yourself and your children. The RU program will teach you more about what your addicted spouse is going through and offer you the support that you need. It will provide comfort to you in an otherwise helpless situation. Additionally, if your spouse sees you faithfully attend each week, he or she just may become curious enough to try it out.

No matter how ugly life becomes as a result of your spouses addiction, don't quit praying, and certainly don't quit progressing in the Reformers Unanimous Discipleship Program. As you and your children abide in the love and peace and joy and comfort of the Lord Jesus Christ, your spouse may continue to get worse. Remember though that they must hit rock bottom in order to get better! God is hearing, and He is answering your prayer. He is taking your spouse to a place where there is no where to turn to except the Lord.

Prayer is a powerful tool that God has given His children. God is not standing by helpless. It may not look very pretty and may not be what you expected at all, but God knows exactly what He is doing. God knows how to change a heart, not just the behavior. In order to truly change behavior, there must first be a change of belief in an individual's heart, and the only one that can do that is God.

Your addicted spouse has a choice in how they respond to God's moving in their life. God has chosen to give us all free will. He has so much respect for our free will that He will not force us to respond to Him. The Bible does not clearly tell us how long the prodigal father had to wait for his son to come back home. It might have been days, weeks, months, and even years. As the prodigal's father felt, you too feel helpless and discouraged. You want to do something to fix your spouse. The most powerful thing that you can do, as we have already mentioned, is accept the truth and that is Jesus Christ.

You must abide in Him, walk with Him, and pray to Him. It is easy to get discouraged because sometimes it does not look like anything is happening, but you just keep walking with Jesus and praying. The Holy Spirit is on the job. You can't physically see it, but the Holy Spirit is working. There is eternal stuff going on, and most of it is not visible to our physical eye. You must realize that it takes incredible courage and strength to quit a drug habit. It also takes brutal honesty and a real change of belief in the heart to escape the bondage of drug addiction.

God's Role in Recovery

Your addicted loved-one cannot possibly beat addiction using their strength alone. But Jesus can do it in them. He supplies the strength to become clean and to stay clean. Most drug addicts are very lonely people. They have run everybody off. They really need a friend, somebody who understands them and really cares. They need somebody that sees through the lies and won't play games with them. They need somebody that won't condemn them. In fact, the addict is typically looking for Jesus, but they just don't know it consciously.

Every time you pray and as you walk with Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit speaks to your loved one's heart. He speaks peace, mercy, and love. It might happen at two o'clock in the morning while they are sleeping off a buzz in the back seat of someone's car, or it may happen when they hear a familiar Christian hymn. It might happen when a stranger shows them just a glimpse of compassion. Jesus knows when their spirit is open to hearing His soft, loving voice and it is then that the Spirit of God will speak!

His presence is so gentle and so tender that your loved one is drawn to it. Oh yes, they might resist and certainly can. But, His gentle voice, His compassionate invitation is always there. It is like when Lazarus was dead in the tomb, no life, no joy, and no useful purpose in his dead body. It really does remind you of someone living an addictive lifestyle. But, as Jesus called forth to Lazarus to come out of that tomb, He is also calling to your loved one to come out of the tomb of addiction and to experience life in Him.

As your addicted loved-one responds to Jesus, they will then understand that they are not alone. They draw close to His presence. Jesus understands your loved-one. He knows what motivates them and what they are really afraid of. He knows what lies they believe, and He exposes the lie and teaches the Truth. Pray that your loved-one accepts it!

The closer your loved-one gets to Jesus, the more they walk and abide in Jesus—meaning that they become more like Jesus. They slowly take on the character of Jesus. They submit to the Holy Spirit of God instead of submitting to the urges and passions of their drug of choice. They grow in the love of Jesus. They respect and draw strength from Him. They feel loved and valued by Jesus. They heal inside. They don't need the drug to feel good any more. Your addicted loved-one cannot play games with Jesus. If they are honestly trying to stay clean, Jesus will continue to work with them.

The addicted can't have their drug and freedom in Jesus at the same time. Jesus will always hear your loved one's honest cry for help. He won't play games if your loved one chooses the drug, and the drug is what they will get. Jesus is only willing to help those who accept His help by faith. As they experience the presence and power of Jesus, and as they continue in the discipleship program of Reformers Unanimous, I believe they will start valuing the presence of Jesus more than the high of the drug.

Your loved-one will find out that Jesus does not hang out with their drug friends, does not appreciate their lifestyle, and that He finds pornography offensive. Jesus does not mind working with your addictive loved-one when they run into the wall of depression and when they are feeling tired and down. Your loved-one will learn how to pray and work through their frustration and depression instead of drugging them away. Jesus will help them grow. Jesus will help them heal, and this healing is lasting and deep.

Your loved-one will begin to see as they progress through the Reformers Unanimous program, (whether it is at the local chapter or at the homes in Rockford) that they are changing. They will have a calmness and peace that does not need anybody or anything. We find that when Jesus does something, He does it right and complete. Your loved one can't quit on their own strength. They can only quit in the strength of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ living in them. Your loved one will go through agony getting off the drugs. They go through this agony for the sake of the One who went through agony for them on the cross at Calvary.

A few weeks of discomfort is nothing in exchange for what Christ endured for all humanity. The power to overcome addiction is found in one place—Jesus Christ! Your loved-one needs this power, and Reformers Unanimous can give it to them! Won’t you please allow us to introduce you to the help that you and your addicted loved one need?

Helping an addict through recovery can seem overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone we have a variety of options to help you in time in your life. You can browse the resources below or contact us at  562.606.6041 or email us at reformu@pacificbaptist.com. We are here to help, so don’t go another day without letting us serve you.

Help for Families of Addicts - Part 3 Codependence, Enabling, Family Addiction Intervention What is Codependence

by Dr. George Crabb, D.O.

An inability to sustain oneself without the cooperating power of another who is equally, but differently, in need of sustenance.

Co-dependents need each other for different purposes. Usually the addict is dependant upon getting their needs met apart from God. They do so through the help of a cooperative fellow dependent. The other dependent party is usually unable to sustain oneself unless they are meeting people’s needs. Being the only means of support of a dependent person is the source of their strength. One is dependent on being supported; the other is dependent upon supporting. One could say that co-dependents are a match made in hell. This behavior often manifests itself in a love-hate relationship.

What is Enabling

Enabling is furnishing sufficient power for one to overcome through humanity what God intends to be accomplished through His Trinity.

Enablement is different than codependency in that the enabler does not assist out of personal dependence, but rather out of their individual reliance. The enabler most often struggles to accept God’s sovereignty in the life of their loved-one. These “bouts with doubt” lead them to rely on their own devices. Their enablement is intended to empower a failing person to lighten the consequences of their mistakes. Although well-intentioned, this is usually done out of self love. Self love is a legitimate natural love, but it has selfish motives. Frequently, the selfish motive is fear of letting go or losing control of the dependent one. This behavior manifests itself in help that hurts.

The deepest grief in the world is watching your loved-one die a slow death right before your eyes. They are still alive on the outside, but dead on the inside. Your loved-one will lie, steal, and manipulate you with promises, only to break them time and time again. It seems as if they just don't care! Their heart, in a sense, has died. Sometimes you wish you could just close the casket and get on with your life. If you have an addict living in your home, you will eventually have to put them out. That’s right, put them out.

You may put off making this decision as long as you want to, but you are not helping them by letting them stay high all the time at your home. When you feed them, and give them a place to stay, you are enabling them to keep using. By your actions, you are encouraging them to continue in their addictive lifestyle. They will stay high for as long as they can get away with it. Everyday they will do more, and more damage to themselves as well as everyone around them. The kindest thing you can do for your addictive loved-one is to kick them out of your home if they don't respond to your offer to help.

When the prodigal son (mentioned in Luke 15:11-32) went off to the far country, he did not come to his senses when there was plenty of money around and partying going on. He woke up to reality when he was feeding hogs, and getting really hungry. The only way you can help your loved-one that refuses to get help is by allowing them to hit rock-bottom sooner rather than later. Let them hit bottom before they have sustained so much physical and mental damage that their life, in all essence, is destroyed.

Your addicted loved-one might have to live there for a while, but they will eventually get tired of living at rock-bottom. They will beg and plead, and they will deny they are using. They will ask for money. They will want to use your car. They will beg you to give them a little more time to get back on their feet. You have to cut them off completely! Don't lie for your loved-one to their boss. Don't give them the one hundred dollars they want, and don't make their car payment for them…THE ONLY WAY TO HELP IS TO LET THEM FAIL! Let them get fired, let them be hungry, force them to walk and not drive!

They might end up homeless--living in a dumpster, hungry, jobless, and alone-- but they must face the hard, cold reality of their destructive lifestyle that they have chosen. An addict is not going to quit using until they hit rock-bottom. Rock-bottom, simply put, is the place where the painful consequences of addiction exceed the pleasure of that addiction. The addict may hit rock-bottom in the county jail, when the car is repossessed, when the husband or wife leaves, or when the children are taken away from him or her. They might hit rock-bottom when they are hungry and the family abandons them. They might hit rock-bottom when there is no place to crash anymore. Don't let them continue to play games with you; do not take action to help your loved-one avoid hitting rock-bottom.

Again, only if your loved-one will not take serious action to get help with their addiction should you put them out of your home. If they are willing to get involved in the local chapter of Reformers Unanimous, or go to the Men's or Women's School of Discipleship we should offer every ounce of support we can muster.

If your addicted loved-one is going to live in your home while attending a class or program you must have a strict regiment of conditions for them. If time allows for it, make them get a job and go to work. If they want a car, they can pay for it. But, if necessary, they can walk to work. If you give them a ride, make them pay for the ride even if it is only a small amount. Even if you only charge them 25 cents it will still remove the appearance of “getting something for nothing”. You can give them a safe place to live away from their ungodly friends, but if they live with you, insist that they pay rent and keep the place clean. If they won't pay the rent you charge, make them leave. If they run up a big phone bill and won't pay, make them leave. If they steal from you or threaten you, make them leave. You must set limits and boundaries, real limits and real boundaries. If you renege by not issuing appropriate consequences for rule violations you are only hurting your loved-one. You must be stern.

It is important that you set the conditions for the addicted person; they must not have any input into this process whatsoever. You have to get you loved-one accustomed to living on somebody else’s terms! It is hard to see your loved-one eventually become homeless or to be put in jail. To observe this is surely one of the most frightening things a parent could observe, and nobody enjoys having to see this happen; however, this system of hard-core reality is the only thing that the addict will acknowledge. At this point you may ask yourself, "Why does it have to get so ugly?" Because it hurts bad to get off drugs.

The Choice

The withdrawal from a substance can truly be an agony that lasts for weeks, if not months. The typical drug addict will do almost anything to avoid the discomfort of withdrawal. Your loved-one will not start in this recovery program until they perceive that it will hurt worse to continue using then it would to get help (and face the withdrawals). When it hurts worse to use than it does to quit, they will get the help they need, and they will make an honest effort to quit. Don't expect them to go through the discomfort of withdrawal just because you asked them to. Drug withdrawals can include very severe symptoms such as intense anxiety, deep depression, fatigue, body aches, low grade fever, chills, and, much, much more. Sometimes, the depression can linger up to one year, secondary to the fact of the drug-induced manipulation of the brain's neurotransmitters, brain-cell injury, and even brain-cell death.

So, you do have a choice! Making the appropriate choice will probably hurt. Your loved-one will cry and scream and call you all sorts of names. They may even threaten you or other family members. They will tell you it will be different this time if you let them have their way. Don’t fall for it! Be willing to leave them at the RU discipleship homes if necessary. They will say that they hate you and maybe even curse you every day, but that is okay and to be expected. Look at it this way: they are still alive to curse; they could be dead! You are doing the right thing when you let them hit rock-bottom, but as mentioned before, they will make you absolutely miserable. Know that in the end, if they endure the pain of beating their addiction and succeed, they will forever be grateful for the sacrifices that you made.

Family Addiction Intervention

As you approach your loved-one in regards to the consequences of their addiction, you must come to them in a spirit that is not critical or condemning. You want to take an approach that is strictly informative and empathetic, demonstrating your desire to help. As you approach the loved-one that is addicted, be ready to immediately offer options to help them break the bondage of their addiction and find freedom. Be ready to give them something concrete they can do today. Make sure that they understand, to the best of your ability, that you are offering help and not punishment.

When you approach your loved-one, have information about the Reformers Unanimous International ministry ready to show them. This way, if they are receptive to your offer to help, you will be able to capitalize on their openness and not risk the chance that they may change their mind. Furthermore, we recommend that before you confront your loved one, you speak to a Reformers Unanimous director in your area. Ask the director if he would be present with you to help you and your loved-one start the process of finding freedom from addiction. Also for the non-functioning addict, you should consider investigating the Reformers Unanimous Schools of Discipleship in Rockford, Illinois. At these residential homes, your loved-one will be afforded several months to separate from ungodly influences and transform their thinking through discipleship, and counseling. There, they will find a thorough discipleship program that will introduce them to the truth, and help them apply it to their daily lives. Graduates of our discipleship homes have an 82% success rate over their addictions.

I do want to caution you, though. Be ready for denial and refusal to get help. Do not be discouraged! The fact that your loved-one refused you today does not mean your attempt is a failure. Your loved-one has heard you, and needs time to think about it. An addict must want to be done with addiction in order to be successful in overcoming addiction.

Help for Families of Addicts - Part 2 Denial of Addiction Denial

by Dr. George Crabb, D.O.

You can't reason with an addict. Just telling them that the drug is destroying them won't even slow them down. The drug addict truly believes they are in control. This is what is often called denial. Denial is nothing more than a defense mechanism whereby painful realities are ignored or explained away. Addiction is centered on escaping ones reality, and so truth is avoided, denied, and sometimes whole new realities are created in an addict’s imagination to avoid the truth.

Due to the addict’s false sense of reality, they believe that all of the actual or potential damage you talk to them about could only happen to somebody else; all addicts are convinced that they are the exception. You can only point out to your loved-one what the drug is doing to their life right now. You tell them that they messed up at work, and got fired. You can let them know that today their spouse moved out, and filed a restraining order against them. In many cases, you are going to be the only reality-check your loved-one has. And, although it seems useless, it is important to continue to speak the truth to the addict regardless of their denial.

If you protect them from the results of their drug use, you are not doing your job. In fact, you are hurting them by enabling them. You have to force them to face the consequences of their drug use. The drug addict is making everybody's life around them miserable. They think that nobody knows that they are using drugs. They even think that it is nobody's business, and they have the right to do whatever they want to do. On and on they go down this destructive path.

Understanding Guilt

Addicts know what buttons to push to make you feel guilty and sympathetic. Sooner or later, most parents or families of addicts go through a stage of intense guilt over what has happened to their child or loved-one. They might say, "If I had only been a better father, a better mother, a better brother or sister, a better husband or wife, a better child, perhaps then my loved-one would not be an addict”. These thoughts are often Satanic, for once you accept the responsibility, and ask for forgiveness you are under no condemnation. In reality, your loved-one, who is in active addiction right now, has made the choice for himself. The responsibility for his addiction is 100 percent his own. Yes, the ground around them may have been fertilized by a myriad of negative influences -- such as bad choices, bad actions, bad language, and bad advice -- but they are ultimately responsible for the choice of continuing to live in their addictive behavior.

The addict will use your guilt in an attempt to get you to continue to help support their drug habit. They will attempt to force you to tolerate behavior that is completely unacceptable. We must not allow this ploy to work! As one looks back over his life, he can always think of something he could have done differently. Each and every person could do this. There are always things that could have been said or done differently or more correctly. However, it must be understood that the addict continuing in their destructive behavior is their fault alone--and nobody else’s.

Your addicted loved-one may blame you for their drug addiction, but the first step in their recovery is to take responsibility for their actions. REMEMBER: It is NOT your problem; it is THEIR PROBLEM! We must be certain of this lest your loved one capitalize on your guilty feelings and use them to manipulate you. It is typically very difficult for the addict to accept responsibility for his addiction. To do so requires that they admit that they are wrong, and made a mistake; and, of course, they don't want to do that! The addict can't bear to acknowledge that he has caused so much pain and destruction in his own life as well as the lives of those closest to him. Coping with these emotions is extremely painful for the addict, and the shame associated with this lifestyle is immense. Therefore, rather than taking responsibility, they try to blame you for everything. The addict will often point to things such as your parenting style, your career or lack thereof, the neighborhood that they were raised in, the amount of time that you spent with them, the people you associated with, etc. This list can go on and on as the addict will never cease to come up with viable excuses.

Knowing that there is no end to the list of things that an addicted loved-one can find wrong with you to explain their addiction, we must draw lines and set limits. We must stand firm and maintain that the addict alone is the one responsible for his responses to the world around them-- including any imperfections and limitations that you may have.

Addiction prevents the addict from focusing on personal development, and because of this addicts are typically immature. An addict copes with life by refusing to take responsibility for his own actions; they have learned to deal with conflict by simply avoiding or escaping it. If they have a fight with their parents, they go out and get high. If they have a problem at school, they come home and get high. Lots of children grow up in homes just like yours, and they did not become addicted. Your loved-one is not the only person that grew up without a father. He is not the only one who grew up in a rough neighborhood. He is not the only one that grew up with an older brother (or sister) that was much more talented than him. He is not the only one that grew up in a poverty-stricken family. Don't let your loved one make you feel guilty for the things you had no control over, or had no way of knowing about. Even in the direst situation, where a child may have even been abused, that child makes their own choice about continuing to use drugs. He continues to choose to respond to life by escaping, avoiding, and using drugs instead of coping.

If you don't understand the truth behind accepting the blame, your addicted loved-one will continue to lie and manipulate your compassion, take advantage of your trust, and mock your mercy. They know you love them, and they take advantage of that fact. They will milk you for all you are worth. They may live in your back bedroom or basement, and they may disappear somewhere for days getting high and then expect you to allow them to crash at your place. Every time they decide to quit, your loved-one will want money for rehabilitation, medicine, etc. They say it is different this time. They are safe now, and they have Jesus, so they do not need rehabilitation. More of the same old lies—and we all too often fall for it!

The first step in breaking the bondage of this most destructive lifestyle is accepting the Truth, which is Jesus Christ. But, that is only the beginning. To find and walk in freedom, and to break the bondage of the destructive lifestyle, your loved-one will need intensive rehabilitation. One proven method of rehabilitation comes in the form of a highly structured discipleship program—Reformers Unanimous is one of the world leaders in providing this service. Whether it’s attending a local chapter in the area or enrolling in the Men's or Women's Schools of Discipleship (in Rockford, Illinois), Reformers is sure to be life-changing for any addict. Many addicts will take Jesus as their Savior and have nothing to do with Him in their daily life. You must insist that your loved-one enters into a recovery program through the Reformers Unanimous Program. Reformers will not allow your loved-one to deceive any longer. If your loved-one refuses to attend Reformers Unanimous and instead opts for an “easier, more comfortable” option, it is likely that he is deceiving you yet again.

Help for Families of Addicts - Part 1 Signs of Addiction

Dr. George Crabb, D.O.

“I have not seen or heard from my son in four weeks. I know he was alive a month ago because he stopped by his grandparent’s house asking for food and money. You see, my son is running from multiple warrants for drug possession. I know that he has guns, and I’m afraid he’ll kill himself or someone else--including me. I’m actually praying he will get arrested and go to prison so that he can at least realize that he has a problem. This is the hardest, saddest time of my life, and if it were not for my walk with the Lord, I don’t know what I would do. Even now I wonder if I can make it as I am increasingly overwhelmed with anxiety over whether my son is dead or alive. If it were not for the Reformers Unanimous program and the support of my leadership that I have found there, I don’t think I could carry on—it’s just so hard.”

The above is an excerpt from a letter written by a woman who is just like you and me. What has happened to this woman, tragically, can happen to anybody. Addiction is a problem that breaks down the walls of all socio-economic classes and devours whoever it can, regardless of their upbringing or background. Imagine, if you will, the one whom you love--the happy, healthy, young person with a great future ahead of him; a talented student, a generous giver, a loving friend, a new parent, and they are losing everything to addiction! All of their time and money goes into their addiction. They lose their job. Their car is repossessed, their house is foreclosed, and their spouse leaves them. The grief is unrelenting; it is almost worse than a death. A selfish, lying, evasive, and suspicious monster replaces your formerly happy and generous loved one. They get violent and abusive towards you. They may even threaten to harm you and steal from you.

When you approach your loved one about the situation, about the drug addiction, about the extreme consequences that are transpiring in their life, they will be in denial. They will outright deny any usage of drugs! Any drug paraphernalia that you might find in their room, house, or vehicle will belong to a friend, according to your loved one. If you happen catch your loved-one with the drug in hand, they will most likely concede to using it, but they will vehemently deny they are addicted. They may even say, "Somebody planted the drug on me!" "Oh, I have just taken it once or twice, and it is doing no harm!" They can even go to the length of saying, "I work better on this stuff. It helps me concentrate better!" The person may tell you they can drive more safely while on the drug and that it helps them compensate for their shortcomings. They even go as far as to say they are doing it for your own good so that they can make more money, be more productive, get better grades, and be a better person for you.

At times, your loved-one may discontinue use of the drug for a while in a feeble effort to prove to you that they are not an addict, but, unfortunately, they rarely can stay off for a very long time. They attempt this feat in order to demonstrate that they have some type of control over the situation (which they obviously don't). Your loved-one thinks of it as a crutch, hobby, or choice. They use the drug as a medicine, and in their own mind and thought processes, it works! It gives them endless energy, a focus and drive they have never experienced. Everything seems to be fun, interesting, and it feels so wonderful to be high and alive. They know they are dying from the consequences of continued use, but they do not care. It feels so good to die!

It is my desire in writing this information to help those who have an addicted loved-one. I want to help you understand what, exactly, is going on in your addicted loved-one’s mind and their life. Hopefully my insights, both personal and observed, will give you guidance through this most difficult time in your life.

Signs of Addiction

The addict will, as already mentioned, often make your life miserable. They are self-centered and extremely manipulative. They lie without even thinking about it. They even, at times, believe the lies they are telling you. Addicts can often be suspicious and paranoid. They can, on occasion, hallucinate and believe that their hallucinations are reality. They accuse people of conspiring against them. They accuse their spouse of unfaithfulness. This is all done in an attempt to deflect attention from them and their issue. They deny the obvious. They do not show up for work, and then they get angry and blame the boss when they are fired. They steal from their family, and when they are confronted about the issue they get offended. They say one thing and do another. They contradict themselves in word and action. When the truth comes out, and they are confronted with it, they become angry and blame others for what transpired. While they are actively on the drug they feel that they are invincible and that they will never get caught. If they have children, they inevitably end up neglecting them or even abusing them. You see, the addict is caught up in his own little world, and he becomes incapable of caring about anything but his drug.

Our Founder - The Steve Curington Story

Your Life Can and Will Change... If You Want It To

Every story is different, but you know what? We all end up in the same place: Lonely, depressed, angry, frustrated, confused, suicidal, and EMPTY.

I don't know what made you come to this site - maybe a loved one, a friend, or you're just looking for some hope. No matter why you came, you're here for a reason. If my story isn't your story, it really doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that you can have the same freedom I have.

I can wake up and be glad the birds are singing and the sun is out - Can you?

I can spend my money on my family and children - Can you?

I can step out my door and not have to worry about going to jail - Can you?

I can play with my kids, imagine that? - Can you?

If you can't do these things and much more of anything else, keep an open mind as I tell my story. I guarantee you can have what I have and much, much more.

Hi, I'm Steve Curington and I would like to welcome you to the Reformers Unanimous Addictions Program web site. We are here to help and look forward to working with you in any way you may need. But first, let me tell you a little about myself.

Most people would say I had the perfect upbringing. My Christian family attended church nearly every Sunday and put me through Christian school. However, within two years after graduation, I was hopelessly addicted to cocaine and alcohol. How in the world could something like this happen to someone like me?

Addiction had stripped me of all my self-esteem, a prosperous career, and crippled me with debt. At the age of 28, I nearly died in a drunk driving accident. With a punctured lung quickly drowning me in my own blood, I cried out to God, “I don’t want to die!” My memory went blank after that point.

A lifesaving call by an unknown woman to 911 rescued me from death. Later, I would discover the reasons for God’s divine intervention that night.

As I lay in a hospital bed for over a week, no one I ever drank or used drugs with came to visit me. None of my so-called friends came to see me. The only one who came and visited me was a former Sunday School teacher from my old church. He gave me a Bible and asked me to read it. He told me to start in the book of John. In this book, God shows us how much He loves us. When I got to John 8:32, I read, “And you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free.” At that moment, I remembered a verse that I had memorized as a youth – John 14:6– where Jesus said “...I am the Truth.” I realized for the first time that if Jesus is the Truth, then John 8:32 actually meant that if you know Jesus, then Jesus will make you free!

My first step was to get back in church. After I left the hospital, I visited the church where I worshiped as a child. That is where God began to change my life. I got assurance of my salvation. I was no longer “lost.” I had been “found.” Over the course of about six months of learning, God began removing my addictions. I then began teaching a Bible study that ballooned to over two hundred people per week. I wrote a complete addiction recovery curriculum teaching the things I learned in those months. Other churches started their own “chapters” of our Bible study format called Reformers Unanimous. Now, we have hundreds of chapters in churches across America. Each Reformers Unanimous teaches the steps that lead to blessings from God. For me, those blessings consist of a beautiful wife, our precious children, a debt-free lifestyle, a career that led me to an executive position in the petroleum industry, and now, founder and president of the fastest growing, faith-based addictions program in America. God has done all of this. The best I could do for myself was a life crippled by addiction, debt, and misery.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. The lady who saved my life by calling 911– she ended up being the mother of the young lady I met and eventually married after I went back to church. Wow! God is greater than all my sin!

Would you like to experience this same freedom in your life? Would you like to know for sure that when you die you will be “found” in heaven? If so, read The First Step to Freedom on the next page to learn more about a decision that will change your life too.