WASHINGTON, D.C.— Representing the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, The Saint Anastasia Fellowship participated today in a landmark roundtable discussion hosted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Humbled by the collective wisdom of peer faith-based programs, the Fellowship advocated for a holistic paradigm that bridges the gap between spiritual tradition and modern clinical practice, placing faith and science at the heart of the recovery and prevention spectrums.
The Fellowship emphasized the critical importance of viewing support as an integrated spectrum, in which spiritual care is not secondary but central to public health initiatives.
“We must prioritize implementation science to ensure faith remains central to evidence-based recovery,” stated Adriana Markov, Program Manager for The Saint Anastasia Fellowship. “By integrating spiritual care as vital recovery capital in a ‘co-care’ model, we can transform the narrative into a salvific path that dismantles the stigma and isolation often found in traditional systems.”
The dialogue also touched on the need to address the systemic hurdles that impede long-term success for those re-entering their communities after treatment.
“Community-based recovery must go beyond the initial crisis to focus on reintegration and rehabilitation,” said Fr. Nikolas Delaveris, Director of Development for the Fellowship. “This requires dedicated collateral sanction relief efforts to ensure that those in sustained recovery have a clear, supported path back to full participation in society.”
The Fellowship expressed profound inspiration from the leadership of Director Sara Carter of the ONDCP and her dedication to the substance use population. Director Carter emphasized that the inclusion of faith is a key driver in making support systems more robust and available.
“Harnessing the power of faith is a core tenet of our National Drug Control Strategy,” says Director of National Drug Control Policy Sara Carter. “I am proud to say that—for the first time—our nation will officially recognize the importance of faith and demonstrated effectiveness of faith in helping to overcome addiction. Considering 83% of Americans believe in God or a higher power, faith will help millions of Americans build happier and healthier lives.”
The Saint Anastasia Fellowship extends its deepest gratitude to the current administration for its commitment to conceptualizing recovery through a lens that makes Christ’s transformative power central. With current data increasingly supporting the efficacy of spiritual care, the Fellowship remains honored to participate in the early stages of the ONDCP advisory board, bringing healing to the faithful.
Photo courtesy of Office of National Drug Control PolicyAbout The Saint Anastasia Fellowship
The Saint Anastasia Fellowship, an initiative of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, provides a bridge between sacramental life and clinical recovery. By integrating Orthodox spiritual practices with therapeutic recovery tools, the Fellowship serves those navigating addiction and their families through a communal peer support model, education, and prevention initiatives.
