Drug Overdose Deaths Continue to Rise

81,230 drug overdose deaths in one year (from June 2019-May 2020) is a big number and the largest number of its category in the history of the United States. 2 major contributors to this number: Fentanyl use from a drug standpoint Recklessness and hopelessness in the...

No Fear in Death

by Mark Shaw Death has been a subject that could no longer be ignored in 2020.  With the coronavirus (COVID-19) infecting and contributing to the deaths of over 300,000 people reportedly in the USA alone in 2020, Americans were confronted with a reality they could no...

End of 2020

At this time last year, who would have imagined that we would experience a year like 2020? COVID-19, racial discord, an often-vitriolic election race, and so much more. The good and comforting news? God is Sovereign and at work in and through everything that happens,...

Gospel Hope for an Epidemic

Reposted with permission from Biblical Counseling Coalition (BCC). Originally published March 26, 2018. By: Mark Shaw   An incredible number of 64,000 accidental overdose deaths occurred in 2016 in the United States of America. To put that number of souls in...

New Advent Guide Available Now!

The Addiction Connection has released Advent: Meditations for Addicts, available in print and ebook. Dr. Mark E. Shaw and ShirIey Crowder pray the Lord will be pleased to use Advent: Meditations for Addicts, a meditative journey through Advent, to help you keep your...
“You have cancer”

“You have cancer”

“Now, I’m going to use a scary word to describe your situation but I think we got to it early: melanoma.” My doctor spoke these words to me this past July. The reason I had gone to the dermatologist that day was to have him look at a sore on the back of my lower leg...
National Transformation Month

National Transformation Month

September is National Recovery Month according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For 31 years, Recovery Month has been shining a national spotlight on the...

A Spiritually-Maturing Athlete: Ben Roethlisberger

For several years in a row, Pittsburgh Steelers NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s offseason news stories were quite troubling. Negative reports included two accusations of sexual assault, a motorcycle wreck, and involvement in some controversial situations. Ben...

Meet a Program: The Lighthouse in Ft. Wayne, IN

Written by Pastor Wes Pinkley Every Tuesday night in Fort Wayne Indiana you will find a community impacted by The Lighthouse. Founded by director Brandon Bower, this transitional living program seeks to help men recover from addiction and engage in meaningful life,...

COVID-19 and the Heart of Gambling

We are in the middle of a pandemic that has created a ripple effect in many ways. Our normal routines have been shattered. Non-essential places are closed. We can’t meet with friends in-person. Group gatherings have been banned. In addition, professional sporting...

Universal Loss and a Message of Great Gain

In my lifetime, I cannot recall living in a time as unique as the one in which we are living right now. I’ve never experienced a pandemic, and the “stay at home” mandate is unprecedented for me. I am out of sorts, not in a routine, don’t have a dedicated space to work...

Featuring our 20th Podcast

Steve Barnett’s Testimony of Transformation For our 20th TAC Podcast, we have a special edition featuring Steve Barnett’s testimony of transformation. Steve shares a powerful picture of how disciple-making in an addict’s life is the catalyst for how Jesus Christ...

Featured Residential Program: Redemption House

In case you have not heard about it yet, I want to introduce you to a genuinely biblical addiction residential program for men called Redemption House. John Leonard is the Founder and CEO of this 5 year old program in beautiful Minnesota. John is an educated,...

Addiction Recovery Programs During a Pandemic

COVID-19 has disrupted the world’s systems and that includes the addiction and recovery world. I’ve been thinking about both the positive and negative consequences. THE BAD Many people who are diagnosed in the world’s system with substance use disorder (SUD) are more...

Sobering Centers: An Effective Solution?

Harvard professor and author Gene Heyman. Ph.D. had this to say about a community’s response to addiction, “We typically do not advocate incarceration and medical care for the same activities” (2009). Consider this: When caught, a thief goes immediately to jail....

Addicts: An Unreached People Group?

By Mark E. Shaw, D.Min. This post originally appeared on the Biblical Counseling Coalition by Mark E. Shaw on April 29, 2015. It has been reposted with permission.   With over 2 billion people worldwide lacking access to a Christian person, an evangelical church, and...