Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens, head of the Church of Greece, has called for a comprehensive approach to combating drug addiction, urging society to address not only the illegal drug trade but also the deeper social and spiritual causes that drive people into substance abuse.

In a message marking the **International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking**, Archbishop Ieronymos said that behind every statistic are real human lives—young people who have lost hope, families enduring hardship, and parents desperately seeking help for their children.

He described addiction as both a personal tragedy and a wound affecting society as a whole, arguing that technological progress and expanded opportunities for communication have failed to eliminate loneliness, while material prosperity cannot replace spiritual values.

"Drugs promise relief but bring slavery; they promise oblivion but create even greater pain; they promise freedom but lead to the cruelest form of captivity," the Archbishop said.

According to Ieronymos, efforts to combat addiction must go beyond law enforcement and focus on understanding the factors that lead people to despair, inner emptiness, and the desire to escape reality. He called for coordinated action by families, schools, government institutions, and the Church in the areas of prevention, treatment, and the social reintegration of people recovering from addiction.

The Archbishop also expressed gratitude to doctors, psychologists, volunteers, and all those working to help people overcome substance dependence. He offered words of encouragement to those struggling with addiction, emphasizing that "falling is not the end" and that faith, love, and support can open the path to a new life.

The Russian Orthodox Church likewise highlighted the importance of providing comprehensive assistance to people suffering from addiction. According to the Coordination Center for Combating Drug Addiction of the Synodal Department for Charity, the Church's nationwide assistance hotline has recently received a growing number of calls from relatives of minors seeking help.

"If in the past most inquiries concerned people aged 35 to 40, we are now increasingly receiving requests from relatives of teenagers," said Kristina Meshcheryakova, executive director of the St. John of Kronstadt Charitable Foundation.

Alexei Lazarev, head of addiction recovery programs at the Synodal Department for Charity, stressed that restoring healthy family relationships is a key element in overcoming addiction. He said Orthodox rehabilitation combines medical and psychological care with community life, spiritual guidance, and efforts to rebuild family bonds.

The Russian Orthodox Church currently operates 271 free addiction support services across the country, including 46 rehabilitation centers, 78 counseling offices, 22 social reintegration centers, four motivational centers, and 104 support groups. Approximately 3,500 people seek assistance from Orthodox rehabilitation programs each year, with up to 600 individuals undergoing rehabilitation at any given time. The Church also conducts prevention programs in cooperation with state educational institutions and provides counseling through its national support hotline.