spiritist? 

I came from a Catholic family, but I remember since early days searching for rational faith.  I always tried to understand the differences between human beings. They seemed to be unfair, if we thought there was only one existence in life. It seemed none-sense to me. I heard about Spiritism but I wasn’t sure what it was. My intuition was present in my life, but it was at the end of my teenage years that I started to get in touch with the Spiritist Doctrine. One of my friends borrowed me The Spirits' Book. I connected with what was written there. I finally managed to find the answers to all my questions. By the time I finished reading it, I started to go to public lectures and study groups in Pelotas (RS), where I studied Medicine. 

O Consolador: What roles have you taken within the Spiritist Movement?  

I have been linked since 2000 to the spiritist group Seara do Mestre. This centre is based in Santo Ângelo (RS), where I do public lectures, sing and play guitar for the children before their spiritist classes on Saturday afternoons. I coordinate project to support families of drug addicts, called Grupo Apoio Fraterno. Our activities are held every Thursdays at 7pm. 

O Consolador: You are frequently requested to speak at seminars and lectures. How did this start?

I was first invited by the President of Grupo Espírita Seara do Mestre to give a lecture on HIV (Aids), focusing on Medicine and Spiritism. I would highlight the fact that I learn so much from it and feel such a great energy from doing this. Plus,  I also have the possibility to help another individual by taking the spiritist-medical point of view to them. I feel I can give them hope, faith and a clear message through it.

O Consolador: Would you like to mention a special moment in your life to us? 

Yes, I would. There was a moment when I heard the call from the spiritual benefactors to start to work with drug addicts and their relatives at the spiritist centre. It happened when I was about to finish a presentation on drugs. I was really concerned about this, since I didn’t believe I was the right person for this project. Therefore, I later saw how much help and preparation we got from the spiritual benefactors so we could accomplish this task. 

O Consolador: How do you see this drug pandemic that has increase massively in our society? Crack, for instance, has become enormously popular...

Drugs were created by the primitive man that used them with their beliefs and religious rituals. It is as old as the human race. Approximately 100 years after cocaine entered into use, a new variation of the substance emerged. This substance, crack, became enormously popular in the mid-1980s due in part to its almost immediate high and the fact that it is inexpensive to produce and buy. Crack has appeared in order to provoke political, social and scientific change worldwide but mainly to enable us to discuss and improve human relationships. It also enables us to open our eyes regarding drugs. Alcohol, for instance, is so incentivised nowadays. Therefore, it is in fact a gateway to other stronger drugs and spiritual obsessions. 

O Consolador: What are the main reasons for human beings to get involved with  drugs, even though they are aware of its severe consequences? 

The lack of paternal and maternal love is one of the strongest causes. When the relationship between son and parents is inexistent or weak, the child usually lacks trusting other human beings and searches for chemical substances in order to overcome his/her difficulties. 

O Consolador: What are the main consequences for the drug addicts and their families, based on your clinical experience? 

Some consequences that can be is noticeable are: the lack of energy, absences, scholar reproves, traffic accidents which could be lethal, aggressions, suicides, homicides, lack of physical and mental health. 

O Consolador: What would you suggest to spiritist leaders in order to help those who come to the spiritist centres for help against drugs? 

The spiritist centres need to offer the drug addicts and the families as much spiritual help as possible (spiritual counselling, public lectures, healing, fluidified water, spiritist literature). At Grupo Espírita Seara do Mestre these colleagues are sent to Apoio Fraterno. Besides that, we need to help them to get psychiatric and psychological help.  

O Consolador: What are the goals of the group Apoio Fraterno?  

This is a self-supporting group with the foundation based on the Spiritist Doctrine. We aim to help drug addicts and their relatives. Its main purpose is to encourage them to abstain completely from all drugs including alcohol. We have weekly meetings for 1 hour and half at the spiritist centre. We follow the Narcotics Anonymous technique of a series of twelve steps. These steps include admitting to a drug problem; seeking help; self-appraisal; confidential self-disclosure; making amends when possible, where harm has been done; achieving a spiritual awakening and supporting other drug addicts who want to recover. This has been adapted in accordance with the Spiritist Doctrine. All this has been detailed on the book “Apoio Fraterno: Auxiliando Almas a Vencer a Drogadição” (Fraternal Help: Helping souls to overcome drugs). This book has been written by me in conjunction with other workers from the spiritist group Grupo Espírita Seara do Mestre, can be purchased by whoever wants to get to know this work in detail.  

During the meeting the group share their own experience through confidential self-disclosure. This aims to help the participants to understand the disease and help them change their attitude. Before we start with the self-disclosure part, we study parts of the book “Fraternal Help”. This work is done by the Spiritual Benefactors.   

Each principle is talked through during three consecutive weeks. On the 4th week the second chapter of the book will be studied. This part contains the main psi-active substances (drugs). On the 5th week the Gospel According to Spiritism is studied. The group meets throughout the year, as well over the weekends. This work was made possible due to discipline, dedication, faith and direction from the Spiritual Benefactors.  

O Consolador: How was the group Apoio Fraterno created?   

It came out at a public lecture where this theme was being discussed. I wanted to reach the spiritist workers so that they would get involved with this theme. When I asked the audience a question, I was able to hear a spiritual voice telling me: “Why not you?” I got scared, but after speaking to other members of the centre, I decided to face the challenge and start to work. I was invited to start a new group to study this topic and work on a methodology around it. Two years later, we decided to open the weekly sessions for our brothers and sisters in need. The book was already finished by then. 

O Consolador: Can you please tell us about the motivation to appply the twelve steps from the Narcotics Anonymous into Apoio Fraterno?

I am convinced the teachings from the Spiritist Doctrine have contributed for this method. 

O Consolador: You have been working for over seven years with Grupo Apoio Fraterno. What are the results you have been noticing from this project? 

We can see the increase of faith, hope, strength and knowledge on the participants, in regards to this challenge they are facing. The relatives of drug addicts also understand they are sick and need to heal from co-dependency. They become aware of the need to change their attitudes, get ready of guilt and become more responsible for their lives. They also change their behaviour in moments of crises, demand, and discipline and love unconditionally. We can also see the change on drug dependents as well. These changes happen slowly throughout months. They start to become more confident, open for dialog and approachable. They start to value people more, leading to a change on the family setting: they become more balanced, healthy and distant from drugs. 

O Consolador: How do you see the new challenges society faces, such as virtual relationships being built up and menthal disorder cases? 

Virtual relationships can only grow if the real relationships are lacking. Menthal disorder cases are increasing due to the lack of inconditional love, resignation, true faith and charity. 

O Consolador: Can you please give us your final words?