Read Reaching Your Addicted Loved One Help Hope for Those Battling Substance Abuse Victor Torres Don Wilkerson 9781641231008 Books
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As a teenager, Victor Torres was a gang warlord and heroin addict on New York City’s violent streets. Through the ministry of David Wilkerson and Nicky Cruz, Victor had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ and came to realize that God had a purpose for his life. Victor has spent the last forty-five years helping tens of thousands of young men and women find freedom from drug addiction and gang life. Now, he answers your toughest questions about your addicted loved one. Without pulling punches or promising easy answers, Victor provides wisdom and expertise that can lead you toward success.
Some of the questions Victor addresses are…
Some of the questions Victor addresses are…
- How can I know if my loved one has a substance abuse problem?
- How can I tell the difference between helping and enabling?
- What if my loved one refuses to get help?
- When should I call the police?
- What should we look for in a treatment program?
- What can I expect when my loved one comes out of treatment?
- How do I prepare for relapse?
Read Reaching Your Addicted Loved One Help Hope for Those Battling Substance Abuse Victor Torres Don Wilkerson 9781641231008 Books
"This week, drugs were the theme. No, really. I didn't plan on it. But first I was talking with my brother about his DDR (drug demand reduction) assignment for Young Marines, and we spent some time researching how much drug problems cost the military. Then I read Premeditated Serendipity, which I'll be reviewing really soon (like tomorrow), and one of the characters lost a family member to drugs. And I read Reaching Your Addicted Loved One. Even though none of my close family members have drug problems (thank you, Lord), I've met many friends in recovery, and some not-yet-in-recovery, especially through church programs I've been involved with. So I'm always interested in reading books about addiction. They help me understand the battles so many of my Mpact girls and youth kids have faced as they watched close family members deal with addictions.
I was excited to read this book because the author, Victor Torres, came through the Teen Challenge program and was mentored by its founder. I'm very familiar with Teen Challenge and the story that birthed this awesome ministry, so I signed up to read Victor's book.
But before I talk about the book, why should we read books about addiction, even if we don't have loved ones who struggle with drugs or alcohol (or other non-chemical addictions)?
#1 We Should Read Books About Addiction Because the Drug and Alcohol Problem is Everywhere.
Even if this problem isn't in your house, chances are, you are going to encounter it. Your kids will see and hear things at school. I hope you make friends at church that have struggled with drugs, because that means that your church is attracting the sick and broken, and also that these people are taking steps to get their lives together! And drugs may even impact your own family...even if your family members don't drink or smoke or take illegal drugs. (How? Many addictions start with a legally prescribed drug to relieve pain from an injury. As helpful as these drugs can be for their intended purpose, they can also be highly addictive.). If someone you know and love becomes trapped in the snare of addiction, you want to see the signs early. You want to read books about addiction now, so that if this does happen in your family or with someone you know, you'll be able to avoid panic and take the correct action to help your loved one.
Reaching Your Addicted Loved One is actually intended for the family member in the thick of it, the one who already knows there is an addiction or is starting to suspect it. But personally, I think we should read books about addiction before that situation arises, for the same reason you learn first aid or CPR. Imagine if you had to open a book to read about how to do first aid when someone you love was bleeding all over the floor.
That image. I know. You're welcome.
#2 Addiction is Both a Spiritual and Physical/Mental Problem
The best books about addiction will address both sides of this problem. If they don't, it doesn't mean you shouldn't read them, but you should definitely make sure to include both sides of the equation. When your family or someone you know ends up in a drug addiction crisis, the world will be trying to give you their advice. Some of it will be purely physical or mental health related. Other advice will deny the physical side of things and focus only on the spiritual. But both are wrong...or right. We should run to Jesus first. But God made us physical beings, not only spiritual beings, and that means that there will be both physical and spiritual solutions to problems. Reading books about addiction - including both perspectives - will prepare you to approach the problem with both physical and spiritual tools.
#3 Every Addict is Reachable and Curable
When we read books about addiction, we acknowledge that there is hope, whether for our parent or child or friend or the homeless man on the street. We arm ourselves with knowledge of how to pray and how to act alongside those prayers. Learning about addiction will help you have hope and give hope. It will help you have a different view of your loved one who struggles with addiction (or the stranger on the street). You will understand better the choices they made, the choices they need to make, and how they got where they are. You'll better understand the healing that needs to happen, the resources available, and from that understanding can come great hope.
Would I recommend Reaching Your Addicted Loved One?
Yes, I would definitely recommend this book. It will go on my list of books on addiction, and I'm already planning to recommend it to my little brother for his next Young Marines project. This book was very practical and hands-on. Even though I'm not personally dealing with a loved one in this situation right now, as I read I felt like the practicality would be so encouraging to someone in panic mode, wondering what to do. The book is well-written and easy to read, well-researched with trusted sources. (I recognized many of them from my own research.) You can read the book straight through, or jump straight to questions like "What should I look for in a treatment program?" or "What if my loved one refuses to get help?" I think this book should definitely belong in any pastor's library as well.
I received a review copy of this book; all opinions are my own."
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Tags : Reaching Your Addicted Loved One Help Hope for Those Battling Substance Abuse [Victor Torres, Don Wilkerson] on . <DIV>As a teenager, Victor Torres was a gang warlord and heroin addict on New York City’s violent streets. Through the ministry of David Wilkerson and Nicky Cruz,Victor Torres, Don Wilkerson,Reaching Your Addicted Loved One Help Hope for Those Battling Substance Abuse,Whitaker House,1641231009,Church work with recovering addicts.,GENERAL,General Adult,Non-Fiction,Psychology/Psychopathology - Addiction,RELIGION / Christian Living / Social Issues,RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Counseling Recovery,Recovery,Religion/Christian Living - Family Relationships,Religion/Christian Living - Social Issues,Religion/Christian Ministry - Counseling Recovery,SELF-HELP / Substance Abuse Addictions / Drugs,recovery; drug abuse; intervention; Opioids; recovery from drug addiction; heroin; narcotics; rebellion; transformation; gangs; Nicky Cruz
Reaching Your Addicted Loved One Help Hope for Those Battling Substance Abuse Victor Torres Don Wilkerson 9781641231008 Books Reviews :
Reaching Your Addicted Loved One Help Hope for Those Battling Substance Abuse Victor Torres Don Wilkerson 9781641231008 Books Reviews
- Spot on. Loved this book. If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction, this is a must read.
- This week, drugs were the theme. No, really. I didn't plan on it. But first I was talking with my brother about his DDR (drug demand reduction) assignment for Young Marines, and we spent some time researching how much drug problems cost the military. Then I read Premeditated Serendipity, which I'll be reviewing really soon (like tomorrow), and one of the characters lost a family member to drugs. And I read Reaching Your Addicted Loved One. Even though none of my close family members have drug problems (thank you, Lord), I've met many friends in recovery, and some not-yet-in-recovery, especially through church programs I've been involved with. So I'm always interested in reading books about addiction. They help me understand the battles so many of my Mpact girls and youth kids have faced as they watched close family members deal with addictions.
I was excited to read this book because the author, Victor Torres, came through the Teen Challenge program and was mentored by its founder. I'm very familiar with Teen Challenge and the story that birthed this awesome ministry, so I signed up to read Victor's book.
But before I talk about the book, why should we read books about addiction, even if we don't have loved ones who struggle with drugs or alcohol (or other non-chemical addictions)?
#1 We Should Read Books About Addiction Because the Drug and Alcohol Problem is Everywhere.
Even if this problem isn't in your house, chances are, you are going to encounter it. Your kids will see and hear things at school. I hope you make friends at church that have struggled with drugs, because that means that your church is attracting the sick and broken, and also that these people are taking steps to get their lives together! And drugs may even impact your own family...even if your family members don't drink or smoke or take illegal drugs. (How? Many addictions start with a legally prescribed drug to relieve pain from an injury. As helpful as these drugs can be for their intended purpose, they can also be highly addictive.). If someone you know and love becomes trapped in the snare of addiction, you want to see the signs early. You want to read books about addiction now, so that if this does happen in your family or with someone you know, you'll be able to avoid panic and take the correct action to help your loved one.
Reaching Your Addicted Loved One is actually intended for the family member in the thick of it, the one who already knows there is an addiction or is starting to suspect it. But personally, I think we should read books about addiction before that situation arises, for the same reason you learn first aid or CPR. Imagine if you had to open a book to read about how to do first aid when someone you love was bleeding all over the floor.
That image. I know. You're welcome.
#2 Addiction is Both a Spiritual and Physical/Mental Problem
The best books about addiction will address both sides of this problem. If they don't, it doesn't mean you shouldn't read them, but you should definitely make sure to include both sides of the equation. When your family or someone you know ends up in a drug addiction crisis, the world will be trying to give you their advice. Some of it will be purely physical or mental health related. Other advice will deny the physical side of things and focus only on the spiritual. But both are wrong...or right. We should run to Jesus first. But God made us physical beings, not only spiritual beings, and that means that there will be both physical and spiritual solutions to problems. Reading books about addiction - including both perspectives - will prepare you to approach the problem with both physical and spiritual tools.
#3 Every Addict is Reachable and Curable
When we read books about addiction, we acknowledge that there is hope, whether for our parent or child or friend or the homeless man on the street. We arm ourselves with knowledge of how to pray and how to act alongside those prayers. Learning about addiction will help you have hope and give hope. It will help you have a different view of your loved one who struggles with addiction (or the stranger on the street). You will understand better the choices they made, the choices they need to make, and how they got where they are. You'll better understand the healing that needs to happen, the resources available, and from that understanding can come great hope.
Would I recommend Reaching Your Addicted Loved One?
Yes, I would definitely recommend this book. It will go on my list of books on addiction, and I'm already planning to recommend it to my little brother for his next Young Marines project. This book was very practical and hands-on. Even though I'm not personally dealing with a loved one in this situation right now, as I read I felt like the practicality would be so encouraging to someone in panic mode, wondering what to do. The book is well-written and easy to read, well-researched with trusted sources. (I recognized many of them from my own research.) You can read the book straight through, or jump straight to questions like "What should I look for in a treatment program?" or "What if my loved one refuses to get help?" I think this book should definitely belong in any pastor's library as well.
I received a review copy of this book; all opinions are my own. - I am honored to have been given the opportunity to review Reaching Your Addicted Loved One by Victor Torres. If you have a family member or friend who struggles with addiction, this could be the most helpful book you’ll ever read. I highly recommend it for personal use, to pass on to someone with an addicted loved one in their life, and for pastoral use or church libraries.
One reason I believe this book is so effective is due to the credibility of Torres as he draws from personal experience. Once a gang warlord and heroin addict, he came to Christ through the ministry of Dave Wilkerson and Nicky Cruz, and soon began a vital outreach to addicts himself. But while this book draws from that history, it’s main strength is the practical help and guidance it offers. It’s based on first-hand knowledge, with a strong biblical foundation, and with prayer as a key weapon.
Torres makes an important statement in the Introduction that we need to cling to I believe that any addict is reachable and curable. What hope that offers, for to doubt it would be to doubt that all things are possible with God. The book’s description in the summary above lists some of the topics that are discussed, and I loved how each chapter ends with some “new life success steps.â€
Here’s a few thoughts that stood out to me…
-- Torres addresses the nature of addiction “Addiction, like smoking and eating-related illnesses, is a disease. But it is a disease that begins with a choice.â€
-- Rather than “tough love,†we need to speak “truth love†by being willing to speak and live out the truth, even when it is hard, scary, and uncomfortable for all involved.
-- Three chapters toward the end speak to treatment programs. One chapter deals with guidelines for choosing a treatment program, another focuses on what to expect when the loved one comes out of treatment, and the other addresses the need to prepare for possible relapse.
Torres points out that “the hopeless state of loving an addicted person is a terrible place to be.†While this book targets drug addiction, I believe the principles he gives can apply to other forms of addiction also. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. - This was a very hard book for me to read. It had a personal meaning to me because I have a family member who became addicted to drugs at an early age. It destroyed his life as well as the family. It is hard to convince someone they need help and I wish I had something like this book at the time to encourage me and guide me through helping this person. I do agree with the author about not blaming yourself for their addiction.
I have a very strong opinion about addiction and I agree with the author that addiction is curable, but the person has to want to be cured. It's all about choices and sometimes people make bad choices because of their addiction. One of the things I learned was not to give up and keep trying to help them. One of the best things about this book is the honesty the author has about his own struggle with addiction. His candidness is refreshing and although I may not agree with everything in the book, I applaud him for speaking out about something that others don't want to deal with. His experiences are real and can help others because he understands what they are going through.
I liked the biblical facts he presented and how we need to lean on God when dealing with someone who is an addict. It isn't an easy road, but with God all things are possible. A support system is vital to helping you cope and I wish I had had that when I was in the midst of my addicted family member. Overall the book is informative and has a lot of information that will help people as they go through this battle.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
