It’s no secret that drug abuse plagues Covington County, and one local church has teamed up with Reformers Unanimous Addictions Program to bring another option to the table for locals battling addiction.

Joey “The Deadend Kid” Mayes, an amateur and professional boxer, who is involved in the ministry, was in Andalusia on Tuesday helping promote the ministry.

“I’m part of the Reformers Recovery Center,” he said. “We are beginning a program here on Friday at 7 p.m. It’s a faith-based program and all addictions from cigarettes to drugs to porn are welcome.”

Reformers Unanimous is a “Christ-centered recovery program with a complete line of curriculum and weekly support that meets in chapters globally,” according to its brochure.

Mayes said Ohio-based Harvest Baptist Temple raised funds to allow the program to come to Grace Christian Baptist Church.

“We want to try to get as many people as possible to come,” he said. “I consider it a huge blessing for God to choose this city for this faith-based program.”

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 23.5 million people ages 12 and up needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem.

Of those admissions to treatment, 23.1 percent were for alcohol only; 18.3 percent were for alcohol combined with another drug; 17 percent for marijuana; 14.1 percent for heroin; 8.1 percent for crack cocaine; 6.5 percent for stimulants; 5.9 percent for other opiates; and 3.2 percent for cocaine.

Grace Christian Baptist Church is located at 23099 Shreve Road, which is off of Hwy 84, at Ireland Tractor.

For counseling or information, call 504-8751.