I received an e-mail from a cousin who was thanking relatives and friends for their prayers.

He recently discovered his 37- year-old son was an alcoholic. After years of a life spiraling downward — divorce, loss of job and finally loss of all his possessions — the son was entering a rehab center for treatment. You could sense the pain and exhaustion in the tone of the letter.

Until recently, my cousin had no idea that his son had been addicted to alcohol. This experience is not an isolated among families. Addiction is epidemic in America.

At least 22 million Americans age 12 and older are addicted to drugs and alcohol. And 7.7 percent of the population uses illicit drugs.

In spite of the government’s war on drugs we are not reducing the problem. According to a U.S. government study, the cost of drug abuse to society increases 5.9 percent each year, to over $150 billion annually.

Only one out of 10 addicts get the treatment needed to kick their habit. Ninety-five percent of untreated addicts die of their addiction.

The number one drug problem in America is alcohol. Fifty percent of homicides, 50 percent of traffic deaths, and 40 percent of assaults are alcohol related. Cost to Americans for alcohol abuse was $185 billion in 1998.

Substance abuse is not the addiction affecting our society. According to a Focus on the Family Poll in 2003, 10 percent of adults admit to Internet sexual addiction — 28 percent of those are women. At least 47 percent of families said pornography is a problem in their home.

The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers reported in 2003 that two out of three divorces site the Internet as a significant factor. And 2.9 percent of adults in the United States are considered to be either pathological or problem gamblers. Eating compulsions and addiction affect about 3 percent of Americans.

We should understand three important facts about addiction. Anyone can become addicted. Anyone can become addicted to anything. And anyone can overcome addiction.

Fewer than 1 percent of addicts kick their habits alone. Treatment is vital. Alcoholics Anonymous and NarcAnon both report a success rate near 70 percent.

There are three things that summarize effective treatment. First, the addict must admit they are addicted and confess that they need help with the problem.

The Bible says we are to “confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so that we may be healed” (James 5:16). Second, the addict must get the support of others. The addict cannot do it alone. The church is exhorted to “carry each other’s burdens” (Galations 6:2).

Finally, the addict needs the strength from God. Even with others helping, the addict needs the new life that God offers to really kick the habit. It is no cliché, Jesus does “set captives free” (Luke 4:18).

The church should be a healing place for those with hurts, hang-ups, and habits (Celebrate Recovery motto). If you know someone who is addicted, get your friend or family member into a treatment program, and a good church.

Del Loy is pastor of Crosspoint Church.