STATE COLLEGE, Penn., July 15 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Concerned that many Christians who suffer from addiction avoid getting treatment, St. Joseph Institute has introduced scholarships for its residential addiction program. Based upon individual need, these scholarships can be as large as $10,000, reducing the total cost of a 30 day treatment program to $12,500. More than $250,000 in scholarship aid has been set aside for 2010.
"The shame and guilt associated with an addiction can be more intense for people of faith," stated Michael Campbell, co-founder of St. Joseph Institute. "With our scholarship program we are encouraging people to acknowledge their need for help and recognize that treatment should not be delayed. The negative impact of addiction on families, marriages, careers and personal happiness demands that it not be minimized or ignored. The teaching of scripture is an additional motivation to act now to repair the damage in a person's life and relationships."
"St. Joseph Institute is committed to reflecting Christian values through service to others," stated Michael Campbell, co-founder. "Our mission is to bring healing to those who suffer from addiction. We do this by combining the best practices of counseling, medicine and holistic care within a program that is built on a strong Christian foundation."
Non-denominational and not affiliated with any religious organization, St. Joseph Institute opened in 2005. Located in the mountains of central Pennsylvania, the professional team of physicians, healthcare practitioners, counselors, spiritual directors and teachers has extensive experience in wellness and addiction recovery. The comprehensive program includes detoxification and offers a very personalized treatment schedule.
"We know that people can be healed from the destructive patterns of addiction. The power of drugs, alcohol, food and other sources of addiction can be broken -- and replaced by hope, renewal and a path to a better future. Our Christian faith is a critical part of the solution, because at its core, addiction is a spiritual problem that demands a spiritual solution," Campbell added.
St. Joseph Institute offers a variety of treatment options for many types of addiction and related behavioral health problems. The standard program is a 30 day residential program that provides a very intensive approach to addiction recovery. The total cost before scholarships are applied is $22,500. Insurance may cover some aspects of treatment and, in addition to scholarships, other sources of financing are available.
The Institute is located near State College (the home of Penn State University) in central Pennsylvania. The very private 200 acre campus includes elegant log and stone lodges, a large wellness center, gym, chapel, lounges, spiritual gardens and miles of walking trails. The kitchen can accommodate almost any type of food restriction or special diet.
Note: Recent studies estimate that more than 23 million people in the United States need treatment for illicit drug or alcohol use. Of this total only 2.4 million, approximately 10%, are actually receiving treatment. In other words, 20 million people need help and are not receiving it. Studies suggest that an addicted person adversely affects the life of 4 others, creating a total of 80 million people in this country directly impacted by addiction.
