This month, we return to the important subject of addiction and addictive behavior, including substance-use disorders and behavioral addictions such as gambling, compulsive shopping, pornography use, and overwork. Given that these behaviors differ in both form and severity, this month's toolkit is tailored for caregivers as well as professional counselors.  In general, addictive behaviors often function as attempts to manage deep-seated emotional pain, such as anxiety, shame, loneliness, and disconnection.

Redeemer’s Gospel-centered Integrative  Framework for Therapy (GIFT), provides us with a helpful framework for understanding addictions: both from an attachment and a behavioral standpoint. Addictive behaviors often develop amid disconnection—from oneself, from others, and from God, and while a substance or compulsive behavior may temporarily provide relief, comfort, control, or escape when dependable connection feels unavailable, as Rose Viggiano has observed, “...the opposite of addiction is connection.”

This toolkit helps caregivers understand the relationship between the deep need for attachment and addictive behaviors, and proposes ways for individuals to receive help through treatment,  and experience a more secure and life-giving relationship with God.