Addiction can affect everyone in one way or another from a parent, sibling, grandparent, or friend. When it does, there is plenty of help for the addicted individual for treatment and recovery. The question is, where is the help for the family to recover. Like the addict the family needs help.
Through their community outreach, New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church is opening their doors to the public to learn about the dynamics which happen with addiction not only for the addict but also for the family. The program is set to be held at New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2941 Lutheran Rd, Gilbertsville, in the Worship Room on Oct. 5th at 12:15 p.m.
The program is entitled, ‘Parents and Families Support and Addiction Education’ and is conducted by Mike Rowe from Addiction Prevention Strategies. Mike will provide a comprehensive look at what happens to the family when addiction becomes part of their lives and what can be done to help them understand and recover.
Addiction Prevention Strategies began in 1999 with Mickey Rowe. Mickey, a top executive with the IBM Corporation and a member of famous band ‘The Jesters’ (circa 1960), found himself unemployed after losing his job due to alcoholism. Mickey entered treatment at the Caron Foundation in 1980 and after treatment never drank again. He realized families were suffering and no one was addressing their needs. There were so many programs for the addicted but nothing for the families. He presented his program to businesses and industries and began pilot programs with two of the largest employers in Berks County, Pennsylvania. While in
the early stages of APS, Mickey became ill and unable to continue his work.
Nine years later, Mike Rowe, Mickey’s son, resurrected and restructured his father’s unique family education program. He found a real need in helping families in churches. When Mike initially introduced ‘Parents and Families Support and Addiction Education’ to fifteen churches, fourteen out of the fifteen signed up to do the program, because the pastors realized the desperate need for education and support for the families that were impacted by addiction.
‘Through our ‘Parents and Families Support and Addiction Education’ program conducted through the education systems with churches and synagogues, we are able to educate families in understanding addiction, enabling, the importance of detachment, as well as setting healthy boundaries,’ shared Mike Rowe.
Part of New Hanover’s Evangelical Lutheran church vision to SERVE is to reach out to the lost and hurting through needbased, relevant ministries. By providing programs such as the ‘Parents and Families Support and Addiction Education’ they are fulfilling this vision and providing ways to face addiction head on.
If you have a loved one or friend struggling with ANY addiction and is resistant to change, Get Help Now! or for more information on the October 5th program, please contact Mike Rowe at m.rowe14@yahoo.com or call Addiction Prevention Strategies at 610-301-7464.