5 church projects to help addictstranslated

Today in Russia there are more than 600 church organizations and projects to help addicts and their relatives. These are sobriety societies and brotherhoods, outpatient and counseling programs, rehabilitation centers, where priests, psychologists, and addiction specialists work with addicts. Those addicted to alcohol, drugs, or gambling can get help in such centers.

“Abode of Healing” (Leningrad region)

80 kilometers from St. Petersburg is the “Abode of Healing” - one of the first projects to help drug addicts. Two men's and one women's rehabilitation centers. The wards look after the household, stage plays, and make candles. There is a carpentry workshop, a vegetable garden, and a farm with sheep, goats, cows, and chickens. An important part of rehabilitation is weekly participation in worship services.

The founder and director of the project is Archpriest Sergiy Belkov. In the past, he was a colonel in the criminal investigation department. At first he caught drug addicts, and then he began to help them.

Center for assistance to addicts and their families “Kozhevniki” (Moscow)

There is a free consultation center at the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Kozhevniki. Here they help not only for free...