Two weeks ago, a friend of mine from church passed away. He was in his late twenties, and like so many people these days, he was struggling to make ends meet. He was a sweet guy, full of silly jokes and eager to talk to anyone about anything. One of my fondest memories of him was when we were part of a team helping clean up a house that had flooded. He was so kind to the young newlywed couple whose flood-ravaged home we were tearing apart. He was a believer, so that makes the cause of his death even harder to swallow. You see, my friend died of a drug overdose. Despite his many attempts to get his life on the right track, his addiction to drugs had a stronghold on him that he just couldn’t shake. I knew it had been a problem in his past, but I had no idea he was still struggling with it.
That’s why this article from CNN Health really hit home with me. It says that the number one health problem facing teens today is substance abuse. The addiction started early in my friend’s life. And he’s not alone. The National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) found that “9 out of 10 adult addicts started using before the age of 18.”
According to the article, whether it’s alcohol, tobacco, or drugs, “75 percent of high school students have used addictive substances with 1 in 5 of them meeting the medical criteria for addiction.” That means that it’s likely that three out of four girls sitting in your small group are using/have used drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. And let’s face it, it’s not that hard to hide.
With so many parents turning a blind eye to their students’ destructive behavior, I applaud CASA for saying that “parents need to engage their teenagers early and teach them the dangers of playing and experimenting with these types of addictive substance.” So true. And when parents aren’t willing to do so, that’s when the church, through godly leaders like YOU, steps in.
Like Leigh said in her recent post, it’s key that we get real with girls and find out what’s really going on in their lives and hearts. It’s easy to be superficial in Bible study. That’s why it’s important that you check up on your girls outside of the allotted one hour of Sunday School or small groups that you get with them every week. The accountability you provide just may be the difference between life and death for them.
Great blog, Emily! Well spoken. And a stark reminder that this stuff is REAL. It's not just something we read about or watch in a movie.
Fabulous blog Emily!
Engaging your kids and talking openly about the dangers are absolutely a must.
In addition to your insight, I would like to add that since some teens are engaging in this risky behavior already, that the flip side of the coin is to help parents understand the behavior, signs of drug usage, support for parents, and practical help in the addiction itself. How do you get them help? Parent and teen denial is often an obstacle to getting much needed assistance in treatment.
Parents in the church (and in ministry) are often at a loss as to what to do. And they also struggle with the shame if they were to confide in someone. So suffering in silence is perpetuated by the shame and guilt of the addiction.
I highly recommended a book regarding addiction by Ed Welch called: Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave: Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel.
His take is different to AA approach, but even if you disagree on his theological stance, the issue still remains that the individual needs help.
You can see the table of contents from the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Addictions-Banquet-Finding-Resources-Changing/dp/0875526063
Thank you so much for blogging about addictions.
Arlene, thanks so much for that book recommendation and your insight! I love it when our blog readers share their knowledge, and I hope that your comment can help other readers who are in the midst of helping others or themselves overcome addiction.
Emily,
My heart grieves for this young man & his family. May we as a church pray with & stand alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ, stretch out our hands with practical help, and offer the hope of Christ to those struggling with addiction, whether they themselves or a loved one.
Here is the issue: We are not guaranteed that those we love will not die from their addiction, this a real possible consequence from drug usage. Just as was the case with your friend. But I would say, don't let his death be in vain. Continue to honor him by speaking out about this stronghold, even in the Christian community, as you have done in this blog. And may God's grace flow through you to others as you raise awareness. I guarantee you there are people & families, in our pews who are struggling with this, just as your friend did.
AA (as much as I disagree with the gene theory), has a saying about addiction: There are 3 things that an addict will eventually face: "Jails, institutions, or death." I have seen this time and time again in the life of addicts.
In closing let me share another book resource, from Beth Moore:
Praying God's Word: Overcoming Strongholds, has an excellent chapter on overcoming addiction;
http://www.amazon.com/Praying-Gods-Word-Spiritual-Strongholds/dp/0805423516/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1310149315&sr=1-1
Grace to you.