It is also one of the greatest killers of people all over the It is also one of the greatest killers of people all over the Globe. Globe.

Russia is not at all an exception. The statistics of last Russia is not at all an exception. The statistics of last years shows a steady growth of alcoholism and years shows a steady growth of alcoholism and addiction in our country. The total number of the addiction in our country. The total number of the registered patients with these diseases in Russia registered patients with these diseases in Russia makes more than two millions. However, according to makes more than two millions. However, according to experts, experts, thethe actual number of such patients actual number of such patients surpasses this amount at least six timessurpasses this amount at least six times. .

But this problem looks even worse and much more grave But this problem looks even worse and much more grave when we consider that each member of every addicted when we consider that each member of every addicted family (especially, spouses and children), suffer from family (especially, spouses and children), suffer from the disease and manifest their own personality the disease and manifest their own personality dysfunctions. This fact dysfunctions. This fact increasesincreases anan amount of the amount of the victims of the disease at least three timesvictims of the disease at least three times. .

Besides physical and moral sufferings, caused by Besides physical and moral sufferings, caused by these illnesses, patients and their families these illnesses, patients and their families

develop a variety of extremely negative social develop a variety of extremely negative social and economic consequences.and economic consequences.

The sharp decrease of efficiency in work, truancies, The sharp decrease of efficiency in work, truancies, industrial injuries, and breakages of work equipment industrial injuries, and breakages of work equipment is only part of problems arising in economic sphere.is only part of problems arising in economic sphere.

The overwhelming number of crimes is made in a The overwhelming number of crimes is made in a status of alcoholic or narcotic intoxication or on status of alcoholic or narcotic intoxication or on motives connected to the use of drugs or alcohol. motives connected to the use of drugs or alcohol.

Significant percent (up to 85 %) of HIV/AIDS in Russia is Significant percent (up to 85 %) of HIV/AIDS in Russia is also connected with intravenous injections of an also connected with intravenous injections of an illegal drug. illegal drug.

More than two thirds of those who are addicted More than two thirds of those who are addicted to alcohol or drugs are young people in the age to alcohol or drugs are young people in the age under 25, approximately half from them - 12-16 under 25, approximately half from them - 12-16 years old teenagers.years old teenagers.

A thorough study and deep analysis of the A thorough study and deep analysis of the world experience in overcoming of addiction world experience in overcoming of addiction

was made by our foundation.was made by our foundation.

It has convinced us that the only way to resolve It has convinced us that the only way to resolve addiction problems is to form a large network of addiction problems is to form a large network of activities and programs, embracing all the aspects of activities and programs, embracing all the aspects of this problem: biological, genetic, mental, social and – this problem: biological, genetic, mental, social and – the most important – spiritual. the most important – spiritual.

A Christian therapeutic community approach may A Christian therapeutic community approach may includeinclude all these aspects andall these aspects and therefore istherefore is the the most adequate to the problem. It can be said most adequate to the problem. It can be said that EFFECTIVENESS OF A SOLUTION OF that EFFECTIVENESS OF A SOLUTION OF ADDICTION PROBLEM IS AS MACH HIGH AS IT ADDICTION PROBLEM IS AS MACH HIGH AS IT INCLUDES THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY INCLUDES THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY ELEMENTS.ELEMENTS.

The term “Therapeutic Community” The term “Therapeutic Community” (TC), as it is employed today,(TC), as it is employed today,

refers to a phenomenon which emerged simultaneously refers to a phenomenon which emerged simultaneously in England and in America in the middle of the 20in England and in America in the middle of the 20thth century. It century. It is most familiar to mental health is most familiar to mental health professionals as denoting a type of residential professionals as denoting a type of residential treatment for psychiatric patientstreatment for psychiatric patients, first , first developed by Dr. Maxwell Jones in two hospitals in developed by Dr. Maxwell Jones in two hospitals in England and Scotland. England and Scotland.

But now the term is also widely applying to a But now the term is also widely applying to a form of non-psychiatrically oriented self-help form of non-psychiatrically oriented self-help residential treatment, mostly in the addiction residential treatment, mostly in the addiction field, operated primarily by ex-addict staff, with field, operated primarily by ex-addict staff, with a limited assistance of trained professionals.a limited assistance of trained professionals.

First of these communities, Synanon, was First of these communities, Synanon, was founded in the early 60’s in Americafounded in the early 60’s in America

by Charles Dederich, a recovering alcoholic, gained his by Charles Dederich, a recovering alcoholic, gained his sobriety in AA (“Alcoholics Anonymous”). Few years sobriety in AA (“Alcoholics Anonymous”). Few years later another large TC – later another large TC – Daytop VillageDaytop Village – was – was founded by two professionals, Dr. Dan Casriel and Dr. founded by two professionals, Dr. Dan Casriel and Dr. Alexander Bassin with the help of a Synanon’ Alexander Bassin with the help of a Synanon’ graduate, David Deitch. graduate, David Deitch.

During next four decades TDuring next four decades TСС become one of the become one of the most spread and commonly known form of most spread and commonly known form of addiction treatment. In 1975 the World addiction treatment. In 1975 the World Federation of Therapeutic Communities was Federation of Therapeutic Communities was founded with Monsignor William O’Brien as a founded with Monsignor William O’Brien as a president. Now the Federation include more president. Now the Federation include more than 3000 TCs from almost all countries around than 3000 TCs from almost all countries around the Globe.the Globe.

In his initial President’s message William In his initial President’s message William O’Brien expressed the philosophy of the O’Brien expressed the philosophy of the

organization:organization: ““Therapeutic communities are all too familiar with the Therapeutic communities are all too familiar with the struggle to survive in an environment which is struggle to survive in an environment which is harshly adverse. We have seen the tragic results of harshly adverse. We have seen the tragic results of an ever-expanding emphasis on the medical and the an ever-expanding emphasis on the medical and the pharmacological. We are weary of simplistic, pharmacological. We are weary of simplistic, phantasmagoric solution dependent on chemistry to phantasmagoric solution dependent on chemistry to solve a dilemma that is not chemical. solve a dilemma that is not chemical.

Somewhere along the road there has been far too much Somewhere along the road there has been far too much focus upon chemistry and far too little focus on focus upon chemistry and far too little focus on human dilemmas, i.e. the disintegration of the family human dilemmas, i.e. the disintegration of the family and its attendant values. Said breakdown results in a and its attendant values. Said breakdown results in a monumental see of turmoil for which the symptom of monumental see of turmoil for which the symptom of addiction represent only the top ofaddiction represent only the top of iceberg.” iceberg.”

TC, as well as its forerunner 12 Steps TC, as well as its forerunner 12 Steps program have clearly Christian originprogram have clearly Christian origin

Most researchers noticed links between TC of 20th Most researchers noticed links between TC of 20th century and early Christianity. For example, we know century and early Christianity. For example, we know about the practice of about the practice of exomologesisexomologesis, which involves , which involves complete openness about one’s life, past and present, complete openness about one’s life, past and present, to be followed by important personal changes, with to be followed by important personal changes, with the support and encouragement of other members of the support and encouragement of other members of the Congregation.the Congregation.

There was practice of There was practice of mutual honesty, amendment mutual honesty, amendment of life and growing involvementof life and growing involvement with the concern with the concern for others. for others.

The concept also involved The concept also involved self-disclosure and confes-self-disclosure and confes-sion of sin, followed by appropriate sion of sin, followed by appropriate announcement of penance, pleas for announcement of penance, pleas for forgiveness and plans for making restitutionforgiveness and plans for making restitution. A . A final phase of friendly fellowship,final phase of friendly fellowship,

KoinoniaKoinonia, closed the meeting. This general formula , closed the meeting. This general formula continued until the Council of Nicea, A.D.325.continued until the Council of Nicea, A.D.325.

It is interesting, that the term It is interesting, that the term “Therapeutic Community” is even deeper “Therapeutic Community” is even deeper

in its meaning in its meaning than the inventors could probably than the inventors could probably

imagine:imagine:The word “Therapeutic” comes from the Greek word The word “Therapeutic” comes from the Greek word

ίί and its derivates. In modern languages we and its derivates. In modern languages we use to understand by this word “treatment”. But if we use to understand by this word “treatment”. But if we look at the word in an Ancient-Greek-English look at the word in an Ancient-Greek-English vocabulary, we find that the first meaning there will vocabulary, we find that the first meaning there will be “obeisance”, “veneration”, “worship”, and also be “obeisance”, “veneration”, “worship”, and also “care (of)”; “tendance”, etc.“care (of)”; “tendance”, etc.

Another word of the term derived from Latin root “-Another word of the term derived from Latin root “-munusmunus”, that means “responsibility”, “burden”, ”, that means “responsibility”, “burden”, “load”, as well as “mercy, charity, grace” and also “load”, as well as “mercy, charity, grace” and also “favour”. The prefix “co-“ means something that is “favour”. The prefix “co-“ means something that is forming and developing in the process of human forming and developing in the process of human interaction (and deeper, in the process of interaction interaction (and deeper, in the process of interaction of people with their Creator). It is very significant, of people with their Creator). It is very significant, that the word “Communio”, that in many languages that the word “Communio”, that in many languages means the greatest Christian sacrament, derived means the greatest Christian sacrament, derived from the same root. from the same root.

Following is a scheme that we use in our lectures and Following is a scheme that we use in our lectures and counseling sessions. counseling sessions.

The scheme can help us to illustrates correlation The scheme can help us to illustrates correlation between all the elements (causes, routes and between all the elements (causes, routes and consequences) of addiction and its opposite: freedom. consequences) of addiction and its opposite: freedom.

We may pay special attention on the trunks of this We may pay special attention on the trunks of this trees: trees:

► in one case - in one case - real healthy unity to each other real healthy unity to each other through God, based on His lovethrough God, based on His love, which necessarily , which necessarily includes includes service one anotherservice one another, ,

► and and morbid links and binding, based on fear and morbid links and binding, based on fear and selfishness selfishness – in the other case. – in the other case.

►  

►  

Tree of Freedom Tree of Freedom Tree of AdditionsTree of Additions

SoilSoil True True LoveLove that mention St. that mention St. John (1 John 4:7-8). John (1 John 4:7-8).

““Beloved, let us love one Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. born of God and knows God. The one who does not love The one who does not love does not know God, for does not know God, for GodGod isis love”love”..

FearFear

(as luck of Love)(as luck of Love)

RootsRoots FaithFaith

(God is the center of (God is the center of Universe)Universe)

EgoismEgoism, selfishness , selfishness

(Ego or Self is the center of (Ego or Self is the center of Universe)Universe)

Bark Bark (providing (providing feeding of feeding of the whole the whole tree)tree)

Humility, Serenity Humility, Serenity

(In Russian language the very (In Russian language the very word “serenity” (word “serenity” (смирениесмирение) ) means acceptance of means acceptance of everything is going on with everything is going on with peacepeace in heart) in heart)

Pride Pride (Russian word for (Russian word for pride - pride - гордостьгордость – is – is derived from a root that derived from a root that means means separationseparation, , division, schismdivision, schism))

►  

►  

Tree of Freedom Tree of Additions

Trunk Community (com-munus: serving one another, bearing of one another’s burdens, consecrating one another, also – sacrificing for another), Compare also communion (Eucharist) – the greatest Christian sacrament – and also Union, Unity with one another and primarily with God

Codependence (Co-dependency, i.e. dependency, developing in the course of human transactions throughout the whole life of a human being, unhealthy cohesion causing all kinds of addictions and other problems

Branches True bonding with people in marriage, real friendship, brotherhood in Christ, relationship with Him and through His Heavenly Church with other people. Plenty joyful life of His Kingdom.

All kinds of dependencies and addictions (alcoholism, drug addiction, overeating, gambling, sex-addiction, workaholizm, dependency on other people etc.)

►  

►  

Tree of Freedom Tree of Additions

Fruits Epistle to Galatians, 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience (in other translation – longsuffering), kindness (goodness), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness), self-control (temperance); against such things there is no law”.

Lust, gluttony, envy, greed, resentment, intolerance, guilt, sloth etc.

The words of this prayer sound at every meeting of The words of this prayer sound at every meeting of one of the widest therapeutic community in the one of the widest therapeutic community in the world – 12 step movement (AA, NA, etc): world – 12 step movement (AA, NA, etc):

““God, grant me the serenity to God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference”.to know the difference”.