Good News for the Chemically Dependent and Those Who Love Them

by Jeff VanVonderen

Millions of people are caught in the vortex of addiction to alcohol or some other form of prescription or non-prescription drug. And despite what many want to believe, chemical dependency is a silent storm quietly raging within the church. It leaves confusion, despair, and broken relationships in its wake. Sadly, if the church does get involved, the help it offers is often unhelpful. Jeff VanVonderen is an internationally known speaker on addictions and church and family wellness. He provides the counsel and resources needed to deal with addictions by How and why people become dependent. What steps must be taken to overcome the dependency. Why total family wellness is essential to long-range recovery. What friends, loved ones, and the church should (and shouldn't) do to help the dependent person.

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1995

Reviews

[Taina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Timing was perfect because I started reading it then my bf relapsed and all the stuff Jeff wrote was exactly what I needed to hear when dealing with a loved one struggling. Wording was easy to understand. Really enjoyed this book. Highly recommend to anyone in recovery of with loved ones that struggle(ed) with chemical dependency

[Heather Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for anyone dealing with addiction in a loved one. I loved his honesty and practical thoughts and insight. This is written by a Christian author, so you do need to be aware that there's a lot of Jesus in this book. I'm totally fine with that, but if you're not, this probably isn't the book for you. There is some sharp criticism for the church and the Christian community in general around the treatment and "help" for those with a substance addiction, but I felt his points were spot on and more people could stand to hear things from this perspective. The book was a tremendous help to me.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is amazing so far. While sometimes the diagrams and written descriptions take a while for me to digest, he always ends up making lots of sense in the end. I think most people would benefit from reading this book, whether they are now in a situation of having someone they care about in a chemical dependency or not. I'm just now in the figuring out how the dependency happened, but I look forward to the part where he talks about how to deal with it and how to help.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very, Very religious. Some very good insights.