Overcoming Drug Addiction
The term"Drugs" is used to cover a wide range of substances including antibiotics, aspirin, alcohol, caffeine, tobacco as well as illegal drugs such as cocaine, speed, marijuana. While there are a number of references to alcohol, there is nothing explicit about many of the other substances. Nonetheless there is sufficient instruction in the Bible so that follower of Jesus can determine how to think about the general topic of"drugs".
First, drugs are a part of God’s good creation, provided by God as a part of his plans and purposes to ‘equip’ creation to be a place of blessing. There is nothing wrong with"drugs" in and of themselves. Used correctly drugs can be useful and beneficial to humanity. For example, one writer in the Bible [inPsalm 104:14-15] says:
[God] makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for man to cultivate"”
bringing forth food from the earth:
wine that gladdens the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine,
and bread that sustains his heart.
Second, problems with"drugs" arise when they are misused - it is not drugs, but drug abuse that is wrong. For example, following through the theme of alcohol, the apostle Paul encourages the followers of Jesus in Ephesians 5:18:
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
There are two other principles need to be taken into consideration with this issue.
Are you enslaved or troubled by a habitual use of various narcotic, stimulant or mind-influencing drugs (including alcohol)? Do you have symptoms of physical, emotional or mental addiction? You may not have a sickness, but a sin problem which causes enslavement and sickness.
Jesus Christ has done something about your problem. He came to liberate you from such problems and enable you to gain self-control, a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23).
What Scripture Says
Everything is permissible for me -- but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me -- but I will not be mastered by anything" (I Corinthians 6:12).
