"You Are Not Alone" - A Substance Abuse Awareness Presentation

As part of an ongoing wellness series, the Sacred Heart Church Pastoral Care Team will be hosting a substance abuse program, entitled “You Are Not Alone.” This program which is free and open to the public is designed to raise awareness and hope about issues surrounding substance abuse and is geared toward those in the local community who is affected or afflicted by the disease.

“You Are Not Alone” will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 910 Main Street South, Southbury, CT.

Lynn Tidgwell, L.C.S.W., chairperson of the Sacred Heart Pastoral Care Committee, hopes the program will bring healing and hope to people suffering from this pervasive disease.

“Substance abuse is a national, growing crisis and it cuts across all ages, races, and socio-economic groups. Our goal is to raise awareness and educate the community about substance abuse, address the ways to prevent the disease, provide treatment resources, and support family members who are affected in some way by substance abuse. We believe that no one should suffer alone,” said Tidgwell.

The presenter, Greg Deforest, has been involved with launching a diocesan-wide Substance Abuse Ministry (SAM) in Staten Island for the past three years. He works in close partnership with Mary Martin, the director of the National Catholic Council on Alcoholism and Related Drug Problems, Inc. (NCCA).

Among other things, Greg has trained lay people to minister to those caught in the grips of addiction, and is passionate about spreading the message that ‘you are not alone.’ His goal is to eliminate the conspiracy of silence and denial surrounding this problem, and to encourage faith communities to be places of welcome to those afflicted or affected by substance abuse.

His talk will provide education about the nature and treatment of addictive problems, discuss prevention, and explain how to obtain a referral and support if you, or a loved one, is struggling with a substance abuse problem.

RSVP to Attend: Call Lynn at 203-217-0025, or reply by e-mail to sacredheartpc2@gmail.com