Saturday, June 4, 2011

Workshop in Roseburg

Today 26 were in attendance at the workshop on addiction hosted by Redeemer’s Fellowship. The interest and enthusiasm of the group was inspiring. What was intended to be an introduction and overview became such a high level interaction we only covered two of the four topics intended. We discussed what is addiction from an integrated, multi-discipline approach and then how one of eight people becomes addicted and why. Understandably the group was eager to learn more about the principles of recovery. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of Redeemer’s folks who are interested in coming to Vancouver for more training, exposure and ministry to the homeless and marginalized in Downtown Eastside. 

Consequently we will have another training on June 25, 9-11 AM with the focus being on intervention, recovery, and preparation for service to those suffering from addiction. Roseburg has its own population of homeless. Participants are asked to carefully read the articles handed out in class, and become familiar with the material on this blog under the headings DTES Videos, Dislocation, and Educational. Also read as much as you can of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction written by Gabor Mate MD. The book covers his analysis of addiction particularly in Vancouver BC. This is a critical book in understanding addiction. 

If you missed today, contact me for the materials handed out today, as the material will overlap at the next workshop. I can email them to you. Hope you can join the group. 

Most importantly, today the group caught the vision that the church can be the ideal setting for treating addiction!