The Basics
Title: Reaching your Addicted Loved One
Author: Victor Torres
Genre: Self-help | Substance abuse & addictions | Drugs
Release date: January 8, 2019
Book Synopsis
As a teenager, Victor Torres was a gang warlord and heroin addict on New York City’s violent streets. Through the ministry of David Wilkerson and Nicky Cruz, Victor had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ and came to realize that God had a purpose for his life. Victor has spent the last forty-five years helping tens of thousands of young men and women find freedom from drug addiction and gang life. Now, he answers your toughest questions about your addicted loved one. Without pulling punches or promising easy answers, Victor provides wisdom and expertise that can lead you toward success.
Some of the questions Victor addresses are…
- How can I know if my loved one has a substance abuse problem?
- How can I tell the difference between helping and enabling?
- What if my loved one refuses to get help?
- When should I call the police?
- What should we look for in a treatment program?
- What can I expect when my loved one comes out of treatment?
- How do I prepare for relapse?
God did not create your loved one to be an addict or a loser. On the contrary, God created him or her for a better life. Although, for the moment, it may seem like you are losing your loved one, they still have a God-given destiny and a purpose. No matter how bad the picture may look now, there is always hope.
My Two Cents
In a very easy to read format, Victor Torres combines his personal testimony of how God brought him out of his addiction with biblical and practical advice that will help someone struggling with an addiction or a family member or friend of an addict know how to help the addict. He explains how the power of the Holy Spirit works in and through people and circumstances to bring about change in the life of an addict. He talks about how being an addict begins with a simple choice to use a drug or participate in whatever addictive behavior is available.
Torres considers the question of whether addiction is a disease. He says, “It is a disease activated by a choice.” Although my personal study, research, and understanding leads me to believe addiction is not a disease, I do agree that each person is responsible for the choices he or she makes.
Torres does explain that there is a cure for the disease of addiction when an addicted person chooses to “lay down the chains of bondage and pick-up the weapons that will bring an end to this warfare. These mighty weapons can tear down the stronghold of addiction through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
In spite of not agreeing with Torres on every point, I am in absolute agreement that the only hope for help that an addict has is in and through transformation by the Holy Spirit.
Addicts and their family and friends will find this book inspiriting and helpful.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Whitaker House and Victor Torres for reviewing. I was not required to provide a positive review. Thoughts in “My Two Cents” are my own opinion.
Click here to purchase your copy!
About the Author
Victor Torres was a junkie, drug-pusher, and warlord in Brooklyn’s meanest streets. Since his conversion, he has ministered Christ to thousands. He and his wife Carmen have traveled to over thirty nations preaching the Good News. Their chief undertaking, however, has been New Life for Youth, which began in 1971 in Richmond, Virginia. This growing work is one of the most respected and largest organizations in the country. Today, New Life for Youth has a ranch in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, which is helping an ever increasing number of hurting young men searching for hope, as well as a home for women with drug-related problems called the Mercy House.
Their other resources in the Richmond, Virginia, area include House of Hope, a home for recovering men, and Mercy Moms, which serves women and their children. Victor and Carmen are also the founders and pastors of New Life Outreach International, a fast-growing dynamic church in Richmond, Virginia with over forty nationalities worshiping together. In 2017, his story was made into an award-winning major motion picture, Victor
Guest Post from Victor
New Life Success Steps
- Pray, pray, and then pray some more. And after that, pray.
- Have faith enough for the both of you. Have faith enough for the whole family if necessary.
- Keep fighting for your addicted loved one until they can do battle for themselves.
- Choose to believe beyond what you can see.
- Picture their future and believe the vision.
- Celebrate your loved one’s freedom—dare to believe!
Healing is yours for the taking. Reach out, ask God for help, and then receive it. Never lose hope that your loved one will be healed. My life, and the lives of so many others, is proof that God can even bring the dead back to life.
Your loved one was made for more than this. Don’t give up!
Blog Stops
A Baker’s Perspective, January 1
The Power of Words, January 2
Real World Bible Study, January 3
Reading is My Superpower, January 4
(Interview)
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, January 4
Through the Lens of Scripture, January 5
Artistic Nobody, January 6 (Spotlight)
Mary Hake, January 7
Carpe Diem, January 8
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 9
Simple Harvest Reads, January 10 (Spotlight)
Janices book reviews, January 11
Bigreadersite, January 12
Margaret Kazmierczak, January 13 (Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, January 14
Give Away
To celebrate his tour, Victor is giving away a grand prize of a $20 Starbucks gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d8d3/reaching-your-addicted-loved-one-celebration-tour-giveaway
Join the discussion
2 replies to “Book Reviews: Reaching Your Addicted Loved One”
Congrats on this tour and thank for the opportunity to read about another great book out there to read. It helps out so I can find books I know my family will enjoy reading. Thanks as well for the giveaway.
this book sounds like a very intriguing read.