Substance abuse long ago reached epidemic proportions in America. It is a complicated health condition requiring both physiological and psychological treatment. Most abusers think they can stop on their own, but the majority of those who try don’t succeed. Admission to a residential care program can be an important step in permanent recovery, provided the addict desires to get well.
Residential Care
One residential care recovery program that has seen amazing results over the past 37 years is His Mansion (http://www.hismansion.com/). Tucked into the New Hampshire hills, this 360-acre working farm and rehabilitation center has successfully treated everything from substance abuse to eating disorders.
His Mansion serves what it calls “Fourth World Citizens.” These are men and women who see themselves as broken, lost and outside the mainstream. They often feel unwanted, unworthy, unneeded and unacceptable. They typically cannot maintain a love relationship, hold down a job or continue in school. They often indulge in unhealthy sexual activities, substance abuse or other dangerous dependencies to numb the pain.
His Mansion offers long-term residential care in the context of Christian community. They work with adults between 18-35 years of age who struggle with alcohol and drug abuse, sexual addiction, pornography, eating disorders, depression and other mental health issues. The year-long program is comprised of a rigorous work schedule, classroom studies, group and individual counseling, devotional quiet time and careful monitoring of any needed medication.
His Mansion operates on the premise that ultimate healing comes through Jesus Christ by the agency of the Holy Spirit. Their approach emphasizes the importance of becoming a new person in Christ. No fees are charged for the program and no one is turned away for lack of funds. However, residents are expected to have outside sponsors who help with minimal expenses and emotional support.
Those not willing to cooperate with the residential care recovery program are not accepted for treatment. Those who play games after arrival are asked to leave. More information is available at the His Mansion website http://www.hismansion.com/about-us.html.
Specialized Help
While substance abuse hasn’t abated, His Mansion has seen a sharp rise in people seeking treatment for two other maladies: eating disorders and depression.
An eating disorder is an unhealthy obsession with food that is harmful or life-threatening. Eating disorders affect as many as 10 million females and one million males in the U.S. Millions more struggle with bouts of binge eating. An eating disorder is a serious illness that may frequently occur with other problems like depression and substance abuse.
According to recent research, depressive disorders affect almost 19 million American adults annually. This includes major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder. The National Mental Health Association reports that 15% of depressed people will commit suicide and that depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020.
“These are serious problems, but we have seen spectacular results,” says Stan Farmer, who helped start the ministry in 1971 and still serves as Executive Director. “At His Mansion, we believe in miracles because we witness them on a regular basis.”
