supporting a loved one with addiction
“Addiction is a family disease. One person may use, but the whole family suffers.” – Shelly Lewis
When someone you love is struggling with addiction, it can feel like your whole world has been shaken. The heartbreak, confusion, and frustration can be overwhelming. In family and addiction in the LDS faith, there are added spiritual challenges—how do you support a loved one while staying rooted in your beliefs and the gospel of Jesus Christ?
You’re not alone. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), over 46 million people in the U.S. had a substance use disorder in 2021. And every one of those people has parents, siblings, spouses, or children who are deeply affected. Supporting a loved one with addiction requires courage, faith, and practical tools.
This guide explores how families in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can offer love, set healthy boundaries, and find peace while navigating the storm of addiction. Whether your loved one is in detox to rehab, sober living, or hasn’t accepted help yet, this post offers direction and hope grounded in both clinical care and eternal principles.
The Reality of Addiction and Its Ripple Effect
Addiction is more than a personal issue—it impacts everyone around it. Families often suffer in silence, afraid to speak up or unsure where to turn. In the LDS faith, there may be feelings of failure or fear of being judged, especially when someone steps away from Church activity due to addiction.
The Pain of Silence
It’s common for LDS families to try to “fix it” quietly or pray it away. While prayer is powerful, addiction often requires a multi-layered approach—spiritual, emotional, and clinical. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. In fact, silence often allows it to grow.
Why Intervention Matters
Sometimes, an intervention is necessary—a loving, structured conversation led by a family or professional interventionist. This process helps the person with addiction recognize the impact of their behavior and accept help.
Intervention is not about shame. It’s about love. And love means telling the truth, even when it’s hard.
LDS Church Teachings on Family, Addiction, and Hope
The Church recognizes addiction as a serious issue and offers guidance through bishops, stake presidents, and the Addiction Recovery Program (ARP). Church leaders are encouraged to respond with compassion, not condemnation.
The 12-Step ARP Model
The ARP is a gospel-centered version of the traditional 12-step program. It includes scripture study, meetings, sponsorship, and prayer. Families are invited to participate through loved one support meetings.
Here are a few highlights:
- Step 1: Admit powerlessness over addiction
- Step 2: Come to believe in God’s power to restore
- Step 3: Trust in God and turn your will over to Him
Families are not meant to walk this road alone. The Church offers support and structure for everyone involved in the healing process.
Supporting a Loved One With Addiction: Faith and Boundaries
Let’s talk about practical steps for supporting a loved one with addiction without losing your own peace.
Start With Compassion
Your loved one is not choosing addiction out of rebellion. It’s a disease that clouds judgment, distorts priorities, and breaks hearts. Approach them with Christlike compassion, not harshness.
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind…” – 1 Corinthians 13:4
You can love someone without enabling them.
Set Healthy Boundaries
Boundaries are not punishments—they’re protection. You can say, “I love you, but I won’t give you money if you’re using drugs.” Or, “You’re welcome in our home if you’re sober, but not while under the influence.”
Boundaries help both the person struggling and the rest of the family stay safe and emotionally grounded.
Get Church and Clinical Help
Ask your bishop for guidance. He can offer spiritual support, recommend the ARP, or even refer you to trusted rehabs or faith based rehab options in your area.
In Arizona, for example, there are multiple treatment centers that integrate LDS values with evidence-based therapy. Many offer Mormon rehab tracks that include prayer, scripture, and gospel support in addition to clinical care.
Detox to Rehab, Sober Living, and Long-Term Healing
Detox to Rehab: The First Step
Before healing can begin, physical dependence must be addressed. A detox to rehab program allows the body to safely withdraw from substances under medical supervision.
Sober Living: Building a New Life
After rehab, sober living homes offer structure, accountability, and community. These homes are often a crucial bridge between inpatient rehab and independent living. Many offer daily prayer, scripture study, and connection to local LDS wards.
Faith-Based Rehab: The Gospel in Action
Faith based rehab programs combine scripture, testimony, and gospel principles with licensed therapy. They address the root of the addiction while strengthening spiritual resilience.
Recovery is not just physical. It’s emotional. It’s relational. And it’s spiritual.
When the Road Is Long: Staying Rooted in Faith
Recovery isn’t always linear. There may be setbacks. Your loved one might reject help or relapse. This is hard. But don’t give up hope.
You Are Not Alone
The Savior walks with you. He understands pain, heartbreak, and loss. Through Him, peace is possible—even if your loved one hasn’t healed yet.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth…” – John 14:27
Lean on prayer, scriptures, your ward family, and Church leaders. Your spiritual well-being matters too.
Tools and Resources for LDS Families Facing Addiction
Here are some resources to help you and your loved one:
Talk to Your Bishop
They are called to help and offer confidential support, spiritual guidance, and access to ARP.
Attend ARP Family Support Meetings
These meetings offer a safe place to share and learn from others facing similar challenges.
Explore Faith-Based Treatment
Programs like Mormon rehab or faith based rehab integrate gospel principles with addiction science.
Learn More at Detox to Rehab
Visit Detox to Rehab for additional tools, directories, and recovery education tailored for LDS and faith-centered families.
Final Thoughts: Keep Going, Keep Believing
Dealing with family and addiction in the LDS faith is painful, but there is hope. Recovery is possible. With love, support, healthy boundaries, and spiritual guidance, healing can begin.
If your family is suffering, remember this: You are not alone. The Lord loves you. Your family is not broken—it’s in the process of being made whole.
