The Olive Branch: hope and healing from drug addiction

(Vatican Radio) The importance of bringing a message of hope to the margins of society. That theme has been at the heart of the words and actions of Pope Francis since the start of his pontificate. The Church, he says, must be “a field hospital”, offering healing, acceptance and inclusion to all people who’ve been hurt, helping them recover their dignity and realize their full potential.

That attitude is also central to the work of a detox and recovery community for people with addictions, based in the Wirral district of Liverpool in northern England. While providing a live-in support programme for men struggling to become drug-free, The Olive Branch also offers individuals the opportunity for a deeper journey of healing, to really recover from their addictions and, in turn, offer help to others.

Director Damien Prescott knows all about that journey of recovery: he himself struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for many years before finding someone to help him on the road to redemption as he describes the experience. He sat down with Philippa Hitchen to share his story, in the hope that it may provide inspiration for others……

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