Conquering Addiction

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,”
(Ephesians 5:18, ESV)

In life and the pastorate, I have seen the effects of addiction on people’s physical wellbeing. My step grandfather was an alcoholic. His problem had an effect on his body and his family. In the pastorate, I took a man to the hospital on two occasions in the middle of the night with alcohol poisoning. If I had not taken him, he may have died in his apartment.

According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, “Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) kill over 2.6 million people each year, accounting for nearly 5% of deaths worldwide.” “178 thousand Americans die from the effects of alcohol in an average year, and over 105 thousand people die from drug overdoses in a year.”

These statistics do not even consider all the detrimental health effects of drug and alcohol abuse on the body. Abuse of drugs and alcohol can contribute to cardiovascular illness, stroke, cancer, mental disorders and much more.

The Scriptures warn us not to be overtaken by substances. Isaiah recorded these words from the Lord,

“Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them!” (Isaiah 5:11, ESV)

One of the signs of abuse is the inner compulsion to partake all the time. The addict feels that they cannot function in life without the substance.

So, how does the addiction begin? Well, there seem to be a variety of trigger points. Some may have started drinking excessively or doing drugs as a way to cope with the stresses of life. I have seen this especially with young people where the trials of life at an early age drove them to find a way to deal with various issues.

Some of the time addictions begin in social venues where people partake in excess. This is especially true for the drug abuse. The opioid problem often begins with a simple prescription for pain which progresses to habitual usage.

The problem for abuse in the life of the believer is significant for it will affect one’s Christian life in severe and often unseen ways. Look at Paul’s words to the Ephesians.

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18, ESV)

Here he contrasted drunkenness with being filled with the Spirit. While I view the phrase “do not get drunk with wine,” metaphorically as referring to anything of this world that will consume and drive one’s life, there can be no doubt that alcohol and drugs can do this. For dependence on these things end up controlling the addict and definitely will interfere with the addict’s ability to be led by the Spirit and to experience the Spirit’ power.

Unfortunately, the problem for the addict is so complex that in most cases simply declaring their partaking as sin and commanding them to stop will not work. The internal drive to partake is so strong that they cannot stop without help. I have known people who hated their addiction, but just could not break it.

So, what can help? Well, counselling can help, but it is not effective in and of itself. Why? Well, when I called around to find help for someone, I found no local drug and alcohol abuse counsellors who would work with the abuser. The ones with whom I spoke said they gave up their drug and alcohol certification and practice because in office counselling did not work. They recommended a secular in-patient program, most of which were expensive 30–90-day programs. Even with these the success rates were questionable. I had one person with a drug and alcohol problem that went through one of these 30-day programs at least 3 or four times.

What does work? The best thing that I have seen are the Christian based programs that are one year long. Their success rates are higher than average where healing comes in a community focused on the Lord. In these programs they deal with the complete person, physically, emotionally and spiritually. In New Hampshire we had one called His Mansion, who did a wonderful work in the lives of those who truly wanted help.

As a pastor, my advice is this. If you have someone who is struggling with addiction, first pray for them. Ask that the Lord will touch the person’s heart and that the person would want help. Then point them to a solid Christian in-patient program that focuses heavily on discipleship and emotional healing, as well as the physical wellbeing.