Hitting bottom" is painful, especially when we have spent a lifetime covering up our problems in order to appear successful and serene, particularly in a church setting! A person who has been using drugs and/or alcohol to "socialize" but eventually uses in order to just feel normal has crossed an invisible line into addiction. This can be a lonely, frightening place!

Loving someone who is addicted is like loving two people - the drunk one and the sober one (confusing!) It usually takes a painful crisis for any of us to realize our need for help. As long as we think we can handle it (drugs, alcohol, loved ones addictions) we just stay on a roller coaster of denial. Once we "give up" (surrender) - that's when God steps in and does for us what we can't do for ourselves.