Despite the overwhelming numbers of individuals and families combating substance abuse and chemical addictions in Coffee County, many people still do not know where to turn for help, and immediate resources remain limited. The people behind Trinity Addictions Recovery Outreach are hoping to change that.
Trinity was founded in Dec. 2015 by Jerry Hudson, a Broxton resident who has resided in Coffee County for over three decades. He is also a recovering alcoholic and addict who battled his own addictions the majority of his adult life.
“I spent the better part of 20 years rightly earning the reputation as a pill popper and beer drinker,” Hudson says. “Through God’s grace and a strong support system of family and others who believed in me all those years, I’m chemically-free today and, with God’s help, I hope to spend the next 20, 30, 40 years, however long I’m allowed to live, leading others to Christ and break free from the seemingly hopeless cycle of addiction.”
Trinity is based on the idea that one of the best ways to reach an addict is through the experience, strength, and hope of another addict who has overcome his or her own addiction.
“This is by no means a new idea,” Hudson says. “It’s a concept firmly grounded in Scripture that has been part of the reason for success in 12-step groups for the last 80 years or so. I think the medical and psychological fields certainly have their place in addictions recovery and can offer some tools beneficial to the addict. Unfortunately, most of the time, these fields fail to address what is, ultimately, a spiritual sickness. On the flip side of that, churches and Christians (especially those with no personal experience in addiction) often fail to recognize and address the physical and emotional problems that go hand and hand with long-term substance abuse. Beyond a personal and ongoing relationship with God, probably the best thing an addict and family can have is the support and experience of others who have faced and overcome similar challenges.”
Trinity ARO is currently in the process of formalizing as a non-profit ministry organization in Georgia and is working with individuals and organizations in the local area to explore future plans which may include establishing a residential facility and/or a 24-hour community resource center. The primary focus of the ministry now is to provide individuals and families with 24/7 telephone and personal support, especially in crisis situations. They can be reached at (912) 850-4568 or (912) 359-5547. Women in need of support can call (912) 381-9525.
To learn more, contact trinityaro @ gmail.com or find Trinity ARO on Facebook here.
– Jerry Hudson is a co-founder and serves as the primary content editor of DouglasNow.com.