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| "Drugs are merely the most obvious form of addiction in our society. Drug addiction is one of the things that undermine traditional values."- Christopher Lasch. |
People abuse
substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs for varied and complicated
reasons, but it is clear that our society pays a significant cost. “Drug addiction destroys
lives, tears apart families and harms society” the source of this quote is unknown
but the message it carries is confirmed in our hospitals and emergency
departments both
through direct damage
to health by substance abuse and its link to physical trauma.
Families are also
thrown apart because one or some members of the family got into drug addiction.
Abused substances produce some form of
intoxication that
alters judgment, perception, attention, or physical control.
Most people start
doing drugs because they are in pain or going through something terrible in the
home or at work. But I wonder how that brings
relief. Can you find
relief in puking your guts out? Is sleeping in the gutter relief? Is becoming incoherent
relief? Is getting sexually abused relief? Is lying in the hospital sick
relief? Is lying in the morgue relief? Does intoxicating yourself in the bid to
forget not make it worse? You will still
become sober and
remember everything and then what will happen next, get intoxicated again?
You even complicate
matters because not only do you have to worry about whatever it is you’re going through, you
now also have to worry about buying the substance, making sure you have enough
stashed and a lot that comes with it.
Some other people do
drugs just out of pleasure. But what is the pleasure? They become socially withdrawn;
as a matter of fact the only people they begin to associate with are abusers
like themselves. Their life generally deteriorates; they may lose their jobs,
status, prestige, friends, and even family. Where then is the pleasure in any
of those?
Vincent said “I started with the
weed, then the pills and acid, making cocktails of all sorts of drugs, even
overdosing to make the rushes last longer. I took copious amounts of these chemicals
every day for as long as two years until I had a bad trip one night and went
into toxic psychosis. I prayed and cried for this feeling to go away; I had
voices in my head, had the shakes and couldn't leave home for six months.
I became very
withdrawn and thought everyone was watching me. I couldn’t walk in public
places. Man! I couldn’t even drive. I ended up homeless and on the streets, living
and sleeping in a cardboard box, begging and struggling to find ways to get my
next meal. I asked myself if this is rock bottom, and I believe that it was.
While observing these homeless people I decided that I had had enough. Yes I wanted
drugs, but I realized that I could want life more.”
Vincent had a
breakthrough and realized that life was more important to him and decided to live
it. He was lucky to have survived the ordeal. Others have had it worse and didn’t make it through.
But if you’re into substance abuse like Vincent was, you can make it
through. All you have to do is make up your mind to walk away from it and seek
medical help and counseling for withdrawal.
Trust me you’re better off without
it. Beloved, beyond God’s word seriously condemning this habit, it is a destroyer of
destinies: it can cut short one’s life. So why deliberately indulge in something that can terminate
your life?
I don’t know who this is
for, but there is power available to set you free. Stay away from the
substance; do not let it inflame you. Keep your family, friends, loved ones and
most importantly keep God close to you and you’ll go through anything without having
to damage your health or life. Your testimony will cause deliverance for many
tomorrow. Shalom!
WISDOM NUGGET: Isaiah 5:11
“Woe to those who rise
early in the morning that they may run after strong drink...” – KJV
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