This weekend, Christians worldwide are uniting in intercessory prayer on behalf of addicts and their families.

In the United States alone, more than 22 million people are dependent on illicit drugs, alcohol, or both.

“Not only is substance abuse America’s number one health problem, the devastation of alcoholism and other drug addiction has impacted families and communities worldwide,” explain organizers of the 20th annual “Just Pray NO!” campaign, which is calling on believers around the world to pray and fast for the “release of those bound by substance abuse.”

“Substance abuse has been directly linked to violence and sexual immorality and is a major source of income for organized crime and terrorist activities,” they add in their website.

According an article published in The New England Journal of Medicine in December 1999, women whose partners abused alcohol were 3.6 times more likely than other women to be assaulted by their partners.

And the Journal of Studies on Alcohol in 2002 published an article that revealed how more than 70,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 were victims of alcohol-related sexual assault in the United States.

“Put on the full armor of God and fervently pray in spirit and in truth,” organizers of the prayer campaign urge.

In addition to drug and alcohol abuse, “Just Pray No!” is also calling on believers to intercede for those addicted to pornography and gambling.

Suggestions on group activities for churches, ministries and community organizations are available on the event’s website, justprayno.org.