If you are a parent of an addicted loved one or know someone who is, you are invited to join a weekly group support meeting, Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL).

When family members realize that a loved one is struggling with substance abuse and addiction, a broad range of feelings often arise: anger, guilt, fear, loss, denial. The next big question is often, What now?

RBC hosts a weekly PAL support group to educate and help each other with issues arising from loving someone with an addiction. Each PAL group is facilitated by a peer who is walking the same path. While the focus is on parents with an addicted child, all family members and friends age 18 and older are welcome to attend PAL meetings. Meetings are open to anyone of any faith or background, as our primary goal is to provide hope through education and support for those dealing with addicted loved ones.

What to Expect at a PAL Group Meeting

There are two parts to a PAL group meeting: an educational component and a sharing component. Typical PAL meetings follow the same general pattern. Each meeting begins with prayer, followed by the stating of group guidelines, introductions, then exploration and discussion of an educational topic. Lastly, members have an opportunity to share what’s going on in their present struggles or victories with their loved one, and then the meeting ends with prayer. During discussion and sharing, differences in opinion are heard without judgment, and suggestions are offered in lieu of advice. Because everyone experiences the journey at their own pace and is supported by the group regardless, participants are encouraged to “take what works and leave the rest.”

Meeting Time and Location

We will continue our weekly PAL meetings virtually via Zoom meetings. If you are just finding out about PAL and are interested in joining us at our weekly meetings, please respond to pal@restonbible.org. We will use your email to send an invitation to our online meeting.

Hear from Fred and Jason Leamnson in an interview by the BBC about the struggles brought about by the pandemic.

Fred Leamnson will serve as facilitator. If you have any questions, you can send him an email at pal@restonbible.org.

A Word from the Facilitator

My name is Fred Leamnson. My wife Cathy and I are the parents of an adult son, Jason, who battled heroin addiction for a dozen or more years. We’re happy to report that in May 2018, he went into recovery. He’s been sober since May 27, 2018. God answered our prayer to break the grip of addiction on our son. In our minds and his, he is a living example of one of God’s miracles.

We are very relieved and grateful for Jason’s recovery. But addicts and parents alike know the journey is never over. Relapse is often part of recovery. Jason is no exception. He had a very scary, but short period of relapse in the fall of 2020. We nearly lost him, but God had other plans.

One thing Cathy and I know for certain: Parents dealing with an adult son or daughter battling addiction have a special set of problems. They often feel alone, embarrassed, and isolated. When they muster up the courage to talk to friends, it often isn’t helpful.

For years during Jason’s active addiction, we prayed for a recovery group focused on parents. We learned about Pal in the summer of 2018. Pal offers parents dealing with this horrible disease to meet, learn, and discuss their situations with parents who are dealing with the same issues. It makes all the difference in the world to hear from others walking in your shoes.

Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL) was developed by Mike Speakman, a Christian who spent over thirty years as an addiction counselor and saw this need in the recovery system. PAL provides hope and support through addiction education for parents dealing with an addicted loved one. Please watch the video below to hear from PAL attendees’ experiences as participants in the group.