Print Friendly, PDF & Email

[vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Bill Russell knows addiction from personal experience.  After earning his law degree from University of Idaho, he went to work for the Nez Perce tribe.  At some point the stress of preparation and litigation was too much; he became an alcoholic.  His story mirrors that of most people struggling with addiction:  he denied to himself that he was drinking too much until someone pointed it out to him.  After he got sober he became a prosecuting attorney.  Most of the cases he saw involved substance abuse.

Alcoholism is both a disease and a moral problem.  The definition Mr. Russell likes best is: Alcoholism is a life controlling problem driven by alcohol consumption.  He mentioned that there is usually a trigger, a habit, and a reward that keeps the person returning to drink or drug.  Addicts hit bottom when the reward is no longer received; the addict might run out of money to buy drugs, lose a job, or be sent to jail.

Responsible people want to know what they can do to help but often end up enabling the addictive behavior of a loved one.  Moms are the ones most likely to bail out a troubled child although this doesn’t solve the problem.  Bill recommends intervention but admits that it sometimes fails.  He also said that there are three basic steps to recovery:

  1. Help the addict get help.  This might involve sending him/her to a detox center.  Most insurance companies will pay for recovery programs at rehabilitation facilities such as the Betty Ford Center.  For those who are truly down and out, detox centers such as the one in Portland are an option.
  2. Get help for yourself. As the loved one of the addict you have issues that need attention.  Groups like AL-ANON are good options.
  3. Give it time.

Bill Russell has been a leader at Union Gospel Mission for 25 years. He is the co-founder of Union Gospel Mission’s LifeChange recovery program.  LifeChange helps men, women and children escaping abuse, addiction, and homelessness transform their lives.  Bill is the current executive director of the Mission and the recipient of many accolades, including the Call to Change Award.

According to the organization’s Web site, “Union Gospel Mission was founded in 1927 when 40 area churches came together seeking to minister to the homeless and hurting on the streets of Portland.  In 1937, Union Gospel Mission purchased a building at 15 NW Third Avenue.  70 years later in 2007, the Mission expanded to include the LifeChange Center at 3 NW Third Avenue.  In December 2013, Union Gospel Mission opened the LifeChange Center for Women and Their Children, located in Beaverton.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]