Addictions

 

PORTRAITS

• Rachel was very active in the church, along with her family. Although she was not always reliable, she was eager to help. She attended church regularly—even the evening services. One Sunday evening Rachel came in late and loudly. She was obviously drunk. Her children were in tow, but very embarrassed.
• Tim never seemed to have money for all his bills. He also seemed to be sick a lot with a constantly stuffy nose. Then a congregation member saw him on a street corner in the city playing the cello and begging for money.
• Dawn loved the Bingo games. No one thought much about it until a neighbor discovered her young children home alone one night while Dawn was playing the cards at the Bingo parlor.
• Reggie had always been famous for how many beers he could drink without feeling any effects. But something had changed. He’d been drunk several times recently, according to friends. You’re called in when he’s arrested for a DUI.

DEFINITIONS AND KEY THOUGHTS

• An addiction is a dependence on a substance (alcohol, prescription medicine, marijuana or street drugs) or activity (gambling, shopping).
• An addiction is a physical (as in alcohol or most other drugs) or psychological (as in gambling or shopping) compulsion to use a substance or activity in order to cope with everyday life. For example, without alcohol, the alcoholic does not feel “normal” and cannot function well.
• Addiction is a behavior that is habitual and difficult or seemingly impossible to control. It leads to activity that is designed solely to obtain the substance or cover up its use—the housewife hiding bottles all over the house, the drug addict shoplifting to support the habit, the gambler embezzling to pay off debts. 
• Characterized by the defense mechanism of denial—the addict blames his or her problems on someone else. The boss is too difficult, the spouse isn’t affectionate enough, the kids are disobedient, or the friends are too persuasive. The addict refuses to take responsibility.
• Drug addiction is the biochemical dependence on a substance to create a “high” or desired effect—the body over time needs the substance in ever-increasing amounts to stave off the symptoms of withdrawal.
• Non-drug addictions include compulsive overeating, gambling, sexual addiction such as that to pornography, compulsive spending, and smoking.

 

Why and How of Addiction

 

Many addicts begin by simply experimenting—trying out a drug, going to a casino, taking a puff on a teenaged friend’s cigarette. They like the experience and continue doing it.

 

At some point, the abuse of a substance becomes dependence when it is required by the user and produces withdrawal symptoms when stopped. Although most addicts affirm their ability to stop using at any time, most have little or no control over their substance use.

 

Drugs and alcohol may be used to cover up underlying emotional problems such as depression, bipolar disorder, hyperactivity, or chronic illness.

 

Ongoing drug use can lead to changes in body chemistry such that the body begins to require the drug. Over time, the body needs more and more of the substance because of a biochemical process called tolerance.

 

Key Characteristics:

 

•         A pattern of out of control substance usage or behavior for a year or more.
•         Mood swings are often present
•         Increasing usage or pattern of behavior over time.
•         Feeling of shame or selfworthlessness
•         Strong need to be liked or for approval from others
•         Impulse control problems – especially with food, sex, drugs or money
•         Use of substance or behavior to reduce anxiety
•         Obsessing about substance or behavior
•         Unmanageability
•         Guilt and Shame
•         Failed efforts to control
•         Negative consequences to self and others

 

Serenity Prayer

 

God take and

receive my liberty,

my memory, my

understanding and will,

All that I am and

have He has given me

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things

I cannot change,

Courage to change

the things I can,

And wisdom to know

the difference

Living one day at a time

Enjoying one

moment at a time

Accepting hardships as

the pathway to peace

Taking, as He did, this

sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it

Trusting that He will

make all things right

If I surrender to his will

That I may be reasonably

happy in this life

and supremely happy in

the next. AMEN.

 

 

For the drunkard and

the glutton will come

to poverty.

—PROVERBS 23:21

 

 

 

 

Alcohol addicts also

have an increased

tolerance as a result

of addictive drinking.

This means that as

alcohol addiction

progresses the addict

needs more and more

alcohol in order to

feel the same effects.

—WWW.ABOUTALCOHOL.US

 

 

WISE COUNSEL

 

For the loved one of an addict:

 

• Safety is always the key issue. If the user has been driving under the influence or has small children at home who might be endangered, take immediate steps to protect the user and others. For instance, family members must be taught to say no to rides by the user or to call for help if the user is unable to supervise younger children.
• If physical or sexual abuse occurs when the user is under the influence, leave the home immediately, going to a relative’s home or a shelter for victims of domestic violence. If verbal abuse is an issue when the user is under the influence, seek counseling help or join a support group for family members of addicts.

 

ACTION STEPS

 

1. Prevent the user from driving.

 

Get rid of the user’s car the first time he or she drives under the influence—that sets a clear boundary regarding substance abuse.

 

To protect family members, the user, and innocent bystanders, you need to convince this person to stop driving or doing anything while under the influence.

 

The Club® and other antitheft devices prohibit driving; sophisticated electronic can prevent driving unless a breathalyzer test is first passed.

 

Point out that this is for the good of the person and others, and that continued usage will cause repercussions in the rest of life—not being able to drive to work or to go other places.

 

2. Encourage the user to have a thorough medical checkup.

 

A medical exam will rule out any medical problems caused by use of the substance.

 

An addiction, such as alcoholism, has powerful physical ‘drawing’ effects, so treatment from a doctor is certainly recommended.

 

People recovering from any addition are recovering from a powerful dependency.

 

3. Encourage the user to allow a professional in chemical dependency to assess whether the substance use is an addiction.

 

Such assessments are available at community mental health agencies, some hospitals, and community substance abuse centers (common in urban and suburban areas and through county governments in many rural areas).

 

4. Encourage family members to seek Christ-centered educational and support

programs and with special guidance seek out programs like al-Anon or Families Anonymous.

 

These programs are based on the “Twelve Steps of Alcoholism,”  a highly successful program for treating addiction.

 

Due to the more than

2 million people per

year who drive under

the influence, the National

Highway Traffic

Safety Administration

claims that alcoholism

statistics indicate

17,000 alcohol-related

traffic fatalities

in each of the last

three years.

—WWW.STOPADDICTION.COM

 

BIBLICAL INSIGHTS

 

Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may follow intoxicating drink; who continue until night, till wine inflames them! —Isaiah 5:11

 

Many alcoholics are so dependent on alcohol that they begin early in the morning and continue drinking until late at night.

 

The tragedy of addiction is that it controls and dominates the desires and choices of the addicted.

 

The even greater tragedy is the rejection by the addicted of the Lord’s work in their lives. God alone can provide the lasting comfort, joy, and relief that people mistakenly seek in alcohol.

 

And I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot,

nor shall you have a man—so, too, will I be toward you.” —Hosea 3:3

 

Addictions are powerful enemies to our relationship with God. Whether the addiction is to alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, web-surfing, shopping, or whatever, addicted people can attest to their seeming inability to control their desires.

 

Addictions usually begin very subtly—an experience, substance, or individual that brings pleasure begins to become an obsession. Eventually, the obsession takes control. Rarely can a person escape the addiction without some form of intervention.

 

Addicts must determine to change, replace the addictive substance with something more wholesome, and then finally find a way to meet their need differently.

 

Addictions destroy individuals, families, friendships, reputations, and careers. Addictions make people victims of their own desires. Despite all this, God offers hope to the addict. God wants to free His people from anything that takes His rightful place in their lives. He wants to show them that He can meet all their needs. With God’s help and the compassionate accountability of other believers, addicts can be set free—bought back. Jesus has already paid the price.

 

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. —1 Corinthians 6:12

 

God gave people “richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17), but Evil works tirelessly to take God’s blessings and twist them.

 

Believers are allowed to enjoy many things as long as they are not forbidden by Scripture. But they must never allow themselves to be controlled or “brought under the power of any.”

 

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness,passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. — Colossians 3:5, 6

 

These verses describe some of those sinful desires that believers should “put to death.” Sexual sins, evil desires, and covetousness (a form of idolatry) should have no place in a believer’s heart.

 

It takes a conscious daily decision to say no to these sinful temptations and rely on the Holy Spirit’s power to overcome them.

 

PRAYER STARTER

 

Dear Lord, please help me to be open to considering that this might be a true addiction. Lead me by your Holy Spirit to the resources that will be most helpful and thank you for your willingness to forgive even addiction. In Jesus name, Amen.