Published: October 20, 2020
LCSAP offers information churches need
Red Ribbon Week in Lawrence County kicks off with a program designed to help churches minister more effectively to people with substance use disorders.
A Faith Forum sponsored by the Lawrence County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (LCSAP) is a free event set for 6 p.m. Thursday, October 22 at First Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg. It includes dinner and a presentation by Tennessee Director of Faith-Based Initiatives Jaime Harper, followed by a panel discussion.
“Our community is so fortunate to have churches that want to support people, wherever they are in life,” said LCSAP Director Alesha Harris. “We understand more all the time about the reasons people are hurting. This program will help us understand others better so we can give them more meaningful support.”
Harper will talk about “Addictive Brain Training,” or how trauma suffered during childhood affects the brain and makes people more susceptible to addictions of all kinds.
Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, is a term many of us are now familiar with. ACEs include witnessing or experiencing violence or abuse of any kind; a parent’s drug use, mental illness, or incarceration; and other kinds of severe family dysfunction.
“Now that we know about ACEs, we want to take it further by talking about how we can help people who have had those experiences,” Harris said. “Ministers, church teachers and leaders, and even lay people can take concrete actions to offer assistance.”
We know that the two greatest commandments for Christians involve love – loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. By acting on the second commandment, we help others accomplish the first – it is impossible to love God with your whole self when unresolved trauma, and substance use disorders, have a hold on our lives.
Please join me at Thursday’s event by calling 931-244-5533 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also still request a red bow and/or light bulb for your home or business through these contacts. Either will demonstrate your support for a drug-free Lawrence County.
LCSAP plans a drug take-back event at WLX on Saturday, October 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where you can drop off unused or expired drugs of any kind (no liquids, please) for safe disposal. LCSAP representatives will be on hand that evening at the Lawrenceburg Rotary Club Demolition Derby at Rotary Park.
“Like” LCSAP on Facebook to keep up with all its activities and to learn more about substance use disorders.