Building communities of care for those affected by addiction

The Catholic Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ) recently published a pastoral guide to help parishes lead crime prevention and community transformation efforts. According to Father Stephan Alexander, general manager of the CCSJ, the guide encourages every parish to establish a social justice ministry and a crime prevention and community care committee.

These committees are tasked with identifying local struggles and organizing community responses. Father Alexander noted that research shows many community members struggle with addiction or substance use disorders, particularly young people between the ages of 18 and 29. He stated that addiction is a social justice issue often treated as a moral or criminal failing rather than a treatable medical condition.

The CCSJ highlights that marginalized communities and low income neighborhoods face higher addiction rates but have fewer options for recovery. Structural barriers, including inadequate healthcare, housing instability, and a lack of mental health support, make it difficult for these individuals to access help. These challenges were discussed during a workshop titled A Faith-Based Response to Drugs and Youth Criminal Recruitment, held from September 15 to 18.