‘My faith is what propels me:’ Speaking Up on the Need for More Addiction Recovery Resources

“Our family has felt powerless to stop it; that is what is so insidious about this disease.”  

Over the past five years, Catholic Charities Boston’s Hope and Healing Retreats — for those with loved ones affected by addiction – have become an anchor for mother and Norfolk resident Deb, reminding her she is never alone and grounding her in faith. 

Deb’s eldest son, Christopher, now 36, has grappled with addiction for over a decade. What began as smoking marijuana recreationally during his freshman year at Cornell University quickly progressed into smoking every day, morning to night. Following the pot, Christopher began to experience psychotic episodes which eventually forced him to withdraw from college, during his sophomore year.  

“Initially we thought he just wasn’t coping well with the transition to school,” said Deb. “He had been an excellent student in high school, taking five AP classes. He always had a big friend group and was a great communicator.” 

In the wake of his substance use and mental health challenges, Deb said she witnessed her son’s personality change – he became increasingly withdrawn, quick-tempered, and out of touch with reality.  

“He moved home, and he started playing video games and smoking pot incessantly,” she said.  “It wasn’t until later that he started acting out toward his brother, my husband and I. He eventually got violent.”  

Through attending the Hope and Healing retreat – as well as being involved in the organization, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Deb says she has learned that addiction has many faces and that it is rarely one-dimensional; she believes Christopher’s challenges are the result of both underlying mental illness and chemical imbalances caused by excessive substance use.  

Deb says beginning each day with prayer at the retreats, and being in a prayerful, peaceful environment around other women who have been in her shoes, never fails to deepen her faith and renew a sense of gratitude.  

“At the retreats, we all have different backgrounds, but it is wonderful to be around other women and to be able to share our stories and open up,” said Deb.  

She has learned to share her story freely because she loves her son and is committed to spreading awareness on the dire needs surrounding addiction – the need for more family support groups, for more accessible mental health screenings, for more crisis resources, and above all, for hope. 

Today, Christopher is living at Place of Promise in Lowell, a faith-based organization offering residential treatment for those struggling with addiction. A key aspect of the program, Deb says, is that the residents have no access to drugs, alcohol, or technological devices while they are there.  

While Deb said it is strange not having contact with him, she knows wholeheartedly that he is in good hands. Meanwhile, she places her trust in God’s hands, drawing strength from her faith. 

Last weekend, Deb attended the Hope and Healing retreat for the fourth year. On her drive there, she stopped to pick up another mother, who was attending the retreat for the first time – one small but poignant example of the ways in which mothers in the retreats support one another.  

“My faith is what propels me to learn more and become educated and just do everything I can to help him. I don’t know what I would do without my faith.” 

For more information regarding the Catholic Charities Recovery Connections programs or counseling services, please visit ccab.org/counseling.