Every movement begins with a story. For Darv and Carol Smith, that story began with a shared calling to bring hope and healing to those trapped in addiction.
Darv’s background in addiction medicine and years of experience as an addictionologist gave him a deep understanding of the physical and emotional toll addiction takes. As the founder and director of Whole Person Health Center in Boulder, Colorado, he spent over a decade helping people rebuild their lives through comprehensive, compassionate care.
Carol’s journey began in education. After earning her degree at USC, she completed a masters in counseling, combining her gift for teaching with a heart for restoration. As she joined Darv in the addiction field, they discovered a shared passion: to equip others to bring the same kind of healing to their own communities.
In 1989, that passion became action. Darv and Carol developed the Addictive Behavior School within Youth With A Mission (YWAM), a training program designed to help people around the world understand addiction, counsel effectively, and guide others toward freedom.
Over the decades, their model has been replicated across multiple nations, raising up generations of addiction counselors who carry both practical expertise and spiritual compassion.
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Their legacy is not just a program. It is a movement of people bringing restoration where it is needed most.
Today, through Addictive Behavior Ministries International, the Smiths’ vision continues to expand: connecting leaders, supporting schools, and multiplying hope across the globe.
Every gift trains another counselor. Every counselor reaches another community.
