Prayers
Prayer to St. Jude to End Addiction
God of life, You made me in Your perfect image, to live in Your love and to give You glory, honor and praise. Open my heart to Your healing power. Come, Lord Jesus, calm my soul just as you whispered “Peace” to the stormy sea.
St. Jude, most holy Apostle, in my need I reach out to you. I beg you to intercede for me that I may find strength to overcome my illness. Bless all those who struggle with addiction. Touch them, heal them, reassure them of the Father’s constant love.
Remain at my side, St. Jude, to chase away all evil temptations, fears, and doubts. May the quiet assurance of your loving presence illuminate the darkness in my heart and bring lasting peace. Amen.
Interviews
Book Reviews and Commentaries
Addiction Treatment by Michael Weaver MD Reviewed by Claire Nana Psych Central
The Vision for You by David Clayton Reviewed by Jessica Easthope NetTV
Film Reviews and Commentaries
Bobbi Jo: Under the Influence Commentary by John Lavenburg Crux
Resources
Medical Journal Articles
Articles/Commentaries
Continued Increases in Overdose Deaths Related to Synthetic Opioids Implications for Clinical Practice by Grant T. Baldwin, PhD, MPH; Puja Seth, PhD; Rita K. Noonan, PhD JAMA. 2021;325(12):1151-1152. February 11, 2021
Is Cardinal Becciu being rehabilitated? by Andrea Gagliarducci Catholic News Service/The Catholic World Report
Removing One Barrier to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment.Is It Enough? by Melissa B. Weimer, DO, MCR; Sarah E. Wakeman, MD; Richard Saitz, MD, MPH JAMA. February 25, 20212021;325(12):1147-1148.
Overcoming Barriers to Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder by Yngvild Olsen, MD, MPH; Ruchi M. Fitzgerald, MD; Sarah E. Wakeman, MD JAMA. February 25, 20212021;325(12):1149-1150
Healing from Addiction, Family Wounds in Nicky Jam’s El Ganador by Stehen G. Adubato Patheos
Removing One Barrier to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment/Is It Enough? by Melissa B. Weimer, DO, MCR ; Sarah E. Wakeman, MD, and Richard Saitz, MD, MPH JAMA February 25
Pain and Isolation Are Driving America’s Lockdown Overdose Surge. The pandemic is causing a surge in drug overdoses due to increasing isolation, desperation, and erratic supply. by Maia Szalavitz Vice News
Addiction and Redemption by Jim Wahlberg The Coming Home Network
St. Ignatius helped me get sober as a Protestant—and stay sober in 2020 as a Catholic by Seth HainesAmerica
Policy road map shows the way to end the overdose epidemic by Andis Robeznieks AMA
New Protocol Reduces Opioid Use by Up to Two-Thirds in Trauma Patients by Johns Hopkins Medicine
Addiction to Meprosamate (Equabile, Miltown) by Carl F. Essig, M.D.; John D. Ainslie, M.D. JAMA. 1957;164(12):1382
Pornography Addiction and the Medicalization of Free Speech by Jay Clarkson and Shana Kopaczewski Journal of Communication Inquiry March 26, 2013
Changing the Language of Addiction by Michael P. Botticelli, MEd; Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH JAMA. 2016;316(13):1361-1362. 4
To be free and normal: Addiction, governance, and the therapeutics of buprenorphine by S Harris - Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 2015
Opioid Dependence vs Addiction .A Distinction Without a Difference? by Jane C. Ballantyne, MD, FRCA; Mark D. Sullivan, MD, PhD; Andrew Kolodny, MD Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(17):1342-1343
The Opioid Epidemic During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Danielle F. Haley, MPH, PhD; Richard Saitz, MD, MPH JAMA. 2020;324(16):1615-1617.
Nonfatal Opioid Overdoses at an Urban Emergency Department During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Taylor A. Ochalek, PhD ; Kirk L. Cumpston, DO ; Brandon K. Wills, DO ; et al JAMA. 2020;324(16):1673-1674
General Challenges
Articles/Commentaries
Addiction in the South African Context by Pamela Maringa Jesuit Institute South Africa
What pro-life Catholics are doing to fight suicide, the death penalty, poverty, hunger, gun violence and police killings, the opioid epidemic and wars by Molly Cahill America
Physicians and Lawmakers attempt to tackle the national crisis by Wamara Mwine LinkedIn
Brazilian priest serving addicts in São Paulo’s ‘Crackland’ faces threats by Eduardo Campos Lim Crux
How to Respond to an Overdose by Granite Recovery Centers Clinically Reviewed by Cheryl Smith MS,MLADC
Drug Arrests Still Costing NYC Millions As Residents Beg For Aid, Freedom For City Families by Janet Burns Forbes
The N-word of God: Envisioning the image of Christ by Mark Doox Religion News Service
Freedom-from Addiction by Bill Robins, SJ IgNation
Pope's April prayer intention: 'Liberation from addictions' by Vatican News
Addiction Under Quarantine: How Coronavirus is Changing 12-Step Programs by Mary Farrow CAN/National Catholic Register
Dad’s quest to find son’s killer shines light on prescription drug crisis by Peter Finney Jr. Catholic News Service/Crux
Climate campaigners launch 40-day Multifaith Lenten Vigil by Ellen Teague Independent Catholic News
A doctor’s radical treatment for pregnant addicts? Get them clean by Del Quentin Wilber Los Angles Times
Opioid vending machine opens in Vancouver by William Turvill The Guardian
Just a few hundred prescribers responsible for half of U.S. opioid doses by Lisa Rapaport Reuters
The Irony of Opioids by Katherine Lucky Commonweal
The True Cause of the Opioid Epidemic by Olga Khazan The Atlantic
Why Aren’t White Mothers Being Blamed for the Opioid Crisis Like Black Mothers During the Crack Epidemic? by Dr. Sam Kline Patheos
New Oregon Group Is Tackling Opioid Misuse and Addiction by The Skanner
For Many Teens, the Battle With Opioid Addiction Starts With Wisdom Teeth by Neel V. Patel Popular Science, ‘
Seattle Has Figured Out How to End the War on Drugs by Nicholas Kristof, New York Times /Real Clear Politics
Addiction, Mental Illness and Trauma: How I Became an Addict by Guest Contributor America
The science is in: Faith can be effective against adolescent depression by Jane Cooley Fruehwirth America
French cannabis debate ignores race, religion and mass incarceration of Muslims by David A. Guba Religion News Service
West Virginia woman shares her story of addiction and recovery by Colleen Rowan Crux
Loving and Losing an Addict by Edith Taichman Tablet
As opioid epidemic spreads, a NC church opens its doors to a syringe exchange by Yonat Shimron Religion News Service
Tom Petty Backed-Down by Opioid Epidemic by Dwight Lee Wolter Patheos
The opioid crisis demands a new solution. Churches are hoping to be part of it by John W. Miller America
International Union of Superiors General aims for better formation on abuse issues by Constance Vilanova La Croix International
The opioid crisis: Can spirituality help heal the wounds of addiction? by John Burger Aleteia
Dozens of doctors in Appalachia charged in opioid fraud bust by Gabriella Borter Reuters
Catholic Charities, parishes launch addiction ministries by Zoey Maraist Catholic Herald Staff Writer The Arrington Catholic Herald
Catholic school awarded for implementing “full inclusion” for people with Down syndrome and autism by Cerith Gardiner Aleteia
Cardinal from Myanmar: Poverty is a manmade disaster by Heidi Schlumpf National Catholic Reporter
7 Waye that Opening Day of Baseball is like Easter by Sean Barry, SJ The Jesuit Post
BOMCA Student shines in Inter-house Sports Day by Nick Costello Heal
Cardinal Ranjith declares war on drugs in Sri Lanka by UCANews.com
Justice, canon law, restoration: How do sisters heal after transgressions? by Dan Stockman Global Sisters Report
Opioid overdose rates rising among African Americans by Catholic News Agency/Angelus
Philippine bishop: Duterte’s drug war is ‘illegal, immoral and anti-poor’ by Paul Jeffrey Catholic News Service/Crux
Why I send my children to Catholic school by Effie Caldarola Catholic News Service/Arlington Catholic Herald
Hitting Bottom by Dwight Lee Wolter Patheos
The personal stories of the opioid crisis paint a grim picture by Mark Pattison Catholic News Service/America
Opioids claiming lives and affecting many others, say panelists by Nark Patterson Catholic News Service/The Pilot
Pennsylvania diocese opening faith-based addiction recovery high school by Catholic News Agency/Angelus
How Addiction And Trauma Brought One Nun Closer To God by Miriam James Heidland America
Vatican to host conference on addictions by Independent Catholic News
How dealing with past trauma may be the key to breaking addiction by Joanna Moorhead The Guardian
The Psychopharmacology of Everyday Life by Jamieson Webster NCR Daily
Amid drug crisis, spiritual first responders hit the streets by America
In Appalachia and Wisconsin, two approaches to the opioid crisis by Elizabeth Eisenstadt Evans National Catholic Reporter
To stem opioid crisis, investment coalition pressures supply chain by Elizabeth Eisenstadt Evans National Catholic Reporter
How Duterte Used Facebook To Fuel the Philippine Drug War by Davey Alba BuzzFeed
Spirituality Within Addiction & Recovery by Dwight Lee Wolter Patheos
Philippine Catholics protest drug killings, death penalty by Reuters Staff
Five Minutes with Joseph A. Califano, Jr by The Buzz
Can the Catholic Church help an addicted generation? by Mary Rezac CNS
From addiction to ordination: a homeless man's journey to priesthood by CNA/EWTN News
Videos
Spiritual and Emotional Roots and Treatment of Addiction - Dr. John Townsend
Drugs, Marijuana, and Alcohol: A Catholic Teaching on Intoxication
"Recovery and The Family" by Father Martin.
Resources
Alcoholism
Articles/Commentaries
Recovering rabbi gives back through spiritual advisement by Julia BrowPsychCongress
Jesuit presenter discusses battling addiction with faith and 12 steps by Joyce Coronel The Catholic Sun
Bill Wilson Becomes Bill W. as AA Gives Birth to Hope by Dwight Lee Wolter Patheos
David’s Road to Recovery by Caritas
Pornography Addiction
Articles/Commentaries
A silent addiction, The Irish Catholic by Tony Monahan Mind and Body Works
Significant wins seen in the battle against pornography by Mark Pattison Catholic News Service/Angelus
India's crackdown on porn sites draws mixed reaction by ucanews.com reporter
What’s missing in the fight against porn? Author thinks he has the answer
by Fr Robert McTeigue, SJ Aleteia
How Pornography Affects your Brain by Dr. Gregory Bottaro
Video
A Catholic Psychologist's Advice on When to Seek Help — Feat. Dr. Greg Bottaro
Drug Addiction
Resources
Articles/Commentaries
Illegal Online Opioids Are Targeted by Mary Chris Jaklevic JAMA. 2020;324(15):1490
Priest Sex Trafficked Teen Drug Addicts for Decades: DOJ by Blake Montgomery Daily Beast
Sisters remain involved in drug harm-reduction efforts, despite moral concerns by Georgia Perry Global Sisters Report
Q & A with Sr. Lilly Chunkapura on helping addicts to start life anew by Philip Mathew Global Sisters Report
Falling out. A generation of African American heroin users is dying in the opioid epidemic nobody talks about. by Peter Jamison The Washington Post
New approaches to the opioid crisis by NCR Staff
by Abby Goodnough The New York Times
This E.R. Treats Opioid Addiction on Demand. That’s Very Rare. by Abby Goodnough The New York Times
29 sickened at Ohio prison due to fentanyl-heroin mix by Bethany Bruner The Columbus Dispatch
Abusing prescription drugs by Rev Kenneth Doyle Crux
by Joann Frawley Desmond National Catholic Register
Waking Up to an Epidemic by Jim Kennedy, SJ The Jesuit Post
The Opioid Epidemic: A Catholic Perspective by CatholicPhilly.com
America’s opioid crisis has become an “epidemic of epidemics" by Ella Nilsenel Vox
What’s the Catholic response to the opioid epidemic? Hope in action. by Lucas Briola America
Ryan’s story: Family hopes their openness about Ryan’s heroin overdose will help others by Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger
'What Is Your Name?' Looking for Humanity in the Heroin Epidemic by Laura McKinnis, APNP Health Progress
FDA approves Inivior’s monthly injection to treat opioid addiction by Max Blau STAT
Faith 'compels us' to fight scourge of opioid crisis, says bishop by Catholic News Service
Opioid crisis: Seeking help for pastoral response by Peter Feuerherd National Catholic Reporter
Can the Catholic Church help an addicted generation? by Mary Rezac CNS
Catholics and America’s Changing Face of Drug Addiction by Joann Frawley Desmond National Catholic Register
Massachusetts Catholic bishops urge immediate action on opioid crisis by Wicked Local Waltham
From addiction to ordination: a homeless man's journey to priesthood by CNA/EWTN News
Church groups respond to opioid crisis by Michelle Martin OSV Newsweekly
Uncovering Carnage by Connor Grubaugh First Things
Statement on Canada’s Opioid Crisis and Drug Addiction by Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Catholics Bring Light to the Darkness of Opioid Addiction by Nicholas W. Smith The National Catholic Register
Methadone and buprenorphine reduce risk of death after opioid overdose by National Institutes of Health
WHO classifies video-game addiction as a disease-here’s how to prevent it.
by Jacob Passy MarketWatch
Catholic Charities brings together parish liaisons to tackle the opioid crisis by Elizabeth A. Elliott Catholic Herald
Ryan's story: Family hopes their openness about Ryan's heroin overdose will help others by Elizabeth A. Elliott Catholic Herald
A Second Chance" Overdose Prevention, Naloxone, and Human Rights in the United States by Human Rights Watch
CHI St. Gabriel’s Health Helps Lead the Way in Battling the Opioid Crisis by Kevin E Lofton LinkedIn
Pregnancy and Addiction: Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnant Women by RCM News
Church groups respond to opioid crisis by Michelle Martin OSV Newsweek
Uncovering Carnage by Connor Grubaugh First Things
Statement on Canada’s Opioid Crisis and Drug Addiction by Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Catholic Charities brings together parish liaisons to tackle the opioid crisis by Elizabeth A. Elliott Catholic Herald
Videos
The fentanyl drug epidemic in North America | DW Documentary
College Students and Substance Abuse
by Beginnings Treatment Centers
Ben Shapiro: Opiod Epidemic
Pornography Addiction
Articles/Commentaries
Treatment and Healing of Sexual and Pornographic Addictions by Dr. Victor B. Cline Catholic News Agency
Sexual Addiction
Articles/Commentaries
Treatment and Healing of Sexual and Pornographic Addictions by Dr. Victor B. Cline Catholic News Agency
Gaming Disorder Addiction
Articles/Commentaries
Video game addiction is real, rare, and poorly understood by German Lopez Vox
WHO classifies video-game addiction as a disease-here’s how to prevent it. by Jacob Passy MarketWatch
CELLPHONE Addiction
Articles/Commentaries
You can’t keep your kids from screen addiction unless you do this one thing by Mathilde De Robien Aleteia
Iran 4 Experiments to Break My Social Media Addiction. Here’s What Worked. by Sarah K. Peck Harvard Business Review