Encouraging Hope for Substance Abusers and their Families

By: DrScott

A 23-year-old young woman was found dead in a car in Reidesville, NC.
Also found with her was the following form of Psalm 23:
“King Heroin is my shepherd. I shall always want. He maketh me to lie down in the gutters.
“He leadeth me beside the troubled waters. He destroyeth my soul.
“He leadeth me in the paths of wickedness.
“Yea, I shall walk through the valley of poverty and will fear no evil, for thou, Heroin, are with me.
“Thy Needle and Capsule comfort me. Thou strippest the table of groceries in the presence of my family. Thou robbest my head of reason.
“My cup of sorrow runneth over. Surely heroin addiction shall stalk me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the House of the Damned forever.” Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel

Defining the Problem:

Over the past 40 years, drug use has worked over-time to gain a grip on our society. What was once a past-time for those singing the blues or recovering from an illness, has now become an addiction, destroying the lives of individuals, families and communities. The numbers of those abusing and dependent on substances are mind blowing. For instances, 40 percent to 50 percent of men have temporary alcohol induced problems. 10 percent to 20 percent of men and 3 percent to 10 percent of women develop pervasive and persistent alcohol related problems. The usual alcoholic has a job, family and only about 5 percent live on Skid Row.

During 1993, the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse revealed that 4.5 million persons in the United States used cocaine. About 1.3 million people stated that they self administered cocaine on a frequent monthly basis.

A report by The Drug and Alcohol Information System (2002) indicated that “Although non-Hispanic Blacks made up 12 percent of the U.S. population in 1999, this group represented 23 percent of admissions to publicly funded substance abuse treatment facilities in the 1999 Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). TEDS reported 366,000 Black admissions to publicly funded substance abuse treatment facilities. In 1999, alcohol and cocaine were the leading primary substances among Blacks entering treatment. These two substances accounted for almost two thirds of all Black admissions.

Abuse of alcohol was the leading substance problem among Black male admissions (35 percent), followed by cocaine (28 percent). Among Black female admitted to a treatment facility, however, cocaine abuse was the leading substance problem (40 percent), followed by alcohol (27 percent).

Marijuana abuse was the third leading substance problem among Black male admissions, accounting for 19 percent. Among Black female admissions, however, opiates (primarily heroin) were the third leading substance, accounting for 18 percent”. And according to the recent report by the federal government in 2003, an estimated 19.5 million Americans were active illicit drug users and 16.1 million were heavy drinkers.
Another survey released by the University of Colorado shows that the problem of drug use is not just outside the church. The study involved nearly 14,000 junior-high and high-school youth. It compared churched young people with unchurched young people and found very little difference.

Additionally, 88 percent of the unchurched young people reported drinking beer compared with 80 percent of churched young people. When asked how many had tried marijuana, 47 percent of the unchurched young people had done so compared with 38 percent of the churched youth. For amphetamines and barbiturates, 28 percent of the unchurched youth had tried them as well as 22 percent of the churched young people. And for cocaine use, the percentage was 14 percent for unchurched and 11 percent for churched youth (Anderson, 2007).

Today, 1 in 10 babies born in the United States are addicted to drugs and over 30 percent of child abuse cases involve a parent using illegal drugs.

Some Reasons Why Do People Use Drugs?

Cope with Cultural Pain:
The historical impact of racism and discrimination are very real in our society. Recently, famed talk show host, Don Imus was released from his syndicated television and radio programs after using derogatory, racial and sexist comments directed at the Rutgers Women Basketball Team. While it seems that many Americans were outraged by his comments, we must not forget that while Mr. Imus’ comments were blatant, there are more settle, yet equally powerful forms of racism and racist gestures that are largely unchallenged every day in Corporate America, healthcare and academic institutions.

African-Americans are challenged daily with Metamorphic Schizophrenic Thoughts of wanting to trust, but not sure if they can, often re-living the pain elitism, racism and sexism they experience daily in society. The synergistic effect of pain (catastrophic stress) is one of the major reasons African-Americans use drugs. Often, African-Americans use of drugs is an attempt to mediate the shame, pain and anger felt from racism and oppression.

Additional Reasons:
sadness
poor self esteem
social alienation
dare for excitement
alleviation of stress
self medicating (prescription drugs)

Myths about African-American Users:

All African-Americans with drug problems are poor and struggling

Every African-American house with drugs is a crack house

Distinguishing between abuse and dependency:

Abuse/Misuse
Drug abuse is the use of illicit drugs, or the abuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs. The abuse of legal or legitimate drugs (prescription or over-the-counter) can be done by using the drugs in a manner that is inconsistent or unrelated to acceptable medical practice.

On the other hand, misuse suggests more of a quantitative challenge or use in amounts other than directed and or for purposes other than intended rather than a qualitative difference. But make no mistake, if you are misusing drugs then you are also abusing. Misuse is abuse!

Dependency
Drug dependence (addiction) is compulsive use of a substance despite negative consequences which can be severe. Usually an addict becomes dependent in one of two ways (Physical, Psychological) or both.

Physical dependence on a substance (needing a drug to function) is not necessary or sufficient to define addiction. There are some substances that don’t cause addiction but do cause physical dependence (for example, some blood pressure medications) and substances that cause addiction but not classic physical dependence (cocaine withdrawal, for example, doesn’t have symptoms like vomiting and chills; it is mainly characterized by depression).

Psychological dependence is inherent in the notion of an individual’s reliance on a drug to produce an altered state o consciousness. For individuals psychologically dependent, even when they recognize that the use of a substance is excessive, they are unable to control their use and often involved themselves in activities (even illegal) attempting to obtain the drug. (Wadler, 1989)

It’s important to remember that factors related to abuse and dependency are very complicated and involves aspects of biological science such as tolerance, neurotransmitters (limbic system) and pharmacokinetics, which this article does not address.

What does the Bible say about drug use?

Many church leaders believe in statements such as;
“Drug abuse finds its origin in the sinful rebellion of human beings. Instead of finding fulfillment in Jesus Christ and honoring Him, people often turn to drugs to “help fill the void.” Instead of submitting to the God of the Bible, many succumb to a “god” of their own choosing. And ultimately, rather than finding the true freedom offered in Christ, some are ensnared in the slavery of drug abuse. The world encourages this abuse through the glorification of leisure, fun, and having a good time.”

With perhaps good intentions but injudicious information, many church leaders and denominations often blame the alcoholic or drug user for his or her abuse, largely believing that because they choose to take the drink, then therefore they are to blame. This reasoning seems simplistic at best, and ignorant at worse, and it encourages churches and other places of worship to not involve them in the treatment, thereby kicking drug abusers to the curve.

Battering the poor, the confused, the disadvantaged and the oppressed seems to be thematic in today’s society. But there’s no intrinsic worth in beating up on the weak. Without a doubt, taking responsibility for ones behavior is an obligation, but remember responsibility is a two-way street. God calls us to be concerned about those in need. (Luke 4:18)

Clearly, it’s not a secret that sin is most definitely an instigator in becoming an alcoholic or drug abuser, but by the time an abuser becomes an addict, voluntary choice is no longer within his/her control. “Addiction is more of a result of former sinful choices than of present ones”. (Minirth, 198

While the Bible has many things to say about abuse: Ahasuerus (Esth. 1:10); Lot (Gen. 19:32-33); Peter (1 Pet. 4:3-4); Paul (Rom. 14:19-21) just to name a few, it crucial to remember that Galatians 6:2 encourages us to “carry one another’s burden”. Maybe if more church leaders understood the complicated not naïve information about substance abuse, and followed Galatians 6:2, they would be less likely to reprimand abusers to the outside of the church fellowship.

Help for the Addict:

If you have a loved one addicted

Addicts can not get well without treatment and treatment must involve physical, mental/psychological and spiritual. Remember, Man is a three-part being and what affects one part, affects them all. Therefore each of these areas must be addressed.

Addicts and their families must identify the problems as an addiction. Usually intervention by those close to the addict is important (crucial) to get him or her to admit the need for treatment and to seek it.

Detoxification is necessary and should be done when possible in a hospital environment. Two major challenges with obtaining treatment in a hospital environment, you must have insurance and the treatment is provided on a voluntary bases. Without insurance, treatment can take place, but usually in community service centers or agencies.

Rehabilitation/Counseling (after hospitalization) is best done in a clinical setting. Long-term follow up is essential to help prevent relapse and to help maintain and reinforce new patterns of sober living while also working with the family to help decrease there suspected tolerated behaviors.

If you are a pastor, church or minister leader

Preach on the subject of substance abuse and encourage others to do the same
Learn how to counsel those who are abusing substances

Article Source: http://www.articles.narrowisthepath.com

Healthy Living Seminars www.healthylivingseminars.org

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