There are a lot of addicts in Monroe and, for that matter, in America. I am constantly involved in the lives of people who are struggling with addictions. I break these addicts down into four categories.
1 – Some of them are in denial as regards their problem, and I try to enter into their lives, gain trust, and help them see they are an addict and utter the words, “I am an addict and I need help.”
2 – Others acknowledge they are an addict, but feel they can get themselves out of their addiction by themselves, as if they are skilled in addiction treatment. This never works.
3 – Then there is the addict who escapes the prison cell of denial, gets help, to include a support system of accountability, and begins to break free. This usually takes a long time.
4 – Finally there is, as Gerald May says in his brilliant and helpful book Addiction and Grace, the addict who breaks free all of a sudden and for no good medical reason. That, says May, is the grace of God. (Note: I read May’s book years ago and it helped me very much. Also, I was pleased to see that John Eldridge recommends it in The Sacred Romance.)
Serious addictions are on the increase. For example, the availability of pornography is helping create a nation of porn addicts. And, the ease with which doctors hand out prescriptions for addictive medications without seeming concern for underlying systemic issues and their deep treatment is on the rise. From my own small world in my cultural context here in Monroe I have heard of this happening, and it greatly concerns me.
Greg Critser’s recent book Generation Rx confirms my fears. The book was reviewed in the New York Times Book Review. Here are a few quotes from the review, which can be read in full here.
““Generation Rx” contends that large drug companies have co-opted the federal government, seduced the medical establishment and mesmerized a temperamentally supine public into taking far more drugs than is strictly necessary, much less healthy. Worse, Americans have fallen victim to “polypharmacy”: using so many drugs for so many ailments that they have no idea how the various medications are interacting.
Nevertheless, this is not the work of a conspiracy theorist. The public, particularly “the Tribe of High-Performance Aging,” genuinely adores Viagra, Zoloft, Paxil and Prozac, believing that they vastly improve one’s quality of life. As in his previous book, “Fat Land,” Critser says the public has been complicitous in its own seduction. Gleefully voting with their tongues, Americans use drugs to combat depression (Paxil, Prozac), reduce the ruckus from the kids (Ritalin), make bedtime more like a night in the seraglio (Viagra) and turn the workplace into a hearty party (Vicodin).”
Critser says that prescription drugs are being viewed as the “New Healers.” Instead of dependency on God, we have prescription drug dependency. Of course we can thank God for a variety of medications. The issue is not their existence but addiction to them. And addiction, if you have never seen it, is a Destroyer of the inner life, marriage and family, and whatever else stands in its way.
I have personally seen many people break free from a variety of addictions. I’ve seen it happen with a combination of appropriate medications, counseling, and prayer. I’ve also seen many people instantly go free, as Gerald May says, by the grace of God. I am one of those. Many years ago I was doing illegal drugs almost every day. Then, I made a decision to leave that stuff behind and follow Jesus. The drugs stopped and have never returned. I deserve no credit for this, and give all the credit to the power and love of God.
What does God think of addicts? The answer is: God loves them. God wants to help them and is able to do so. When the chains of addiction finally drop away the words of the Real Jesus in Luke 4:18-19 get experienced:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
6 comments en “Freedom from Addiction to Prescription Drugs”
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:57 pm
There is a website that may be considered useful. Http://www.addicted.com is a resource for friends, families and those who suffer from various addictions. I hope this helps.
June 22nd, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Thank you for the link.
July 6th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
I was somewhat saddened when I read this post as I am currently taking one of the medications listed for depression. I don’t think of this as an addiction but as a way to treat the depression which I believe is not a choice but a disease. I have suffered since I can remember with terrible periods of saddness and darkness and although I know that God can heal all things I am thankful for this period which I have been able to be treated. It is since then that I have found Jesus and asked him to forgive and free me from my past. Although I hope to not have to be on medication forever I sometimes feel a need to hide this from people due to many Christians opinions that depression is a choice. I am not a member of your church but have attended several times. Could you please elaborate on your feelings about depression and the treatment of these sorts of disorders.
July 6th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Hello MAA – First, thank you for writing. I am sorry my post saddened you.
Here are some thoughts I have. But please note: I am not a physician or a psychiatrist.
1. As I said in my post, we can thank God for a variety of medications. Some years ago we had a speaker at Redeemer – Dr. Grant Mullen. He talked about the use of prescription drugs, and about mood disorders. Prescription drugs can help certain people who have mood disorders. Just like prescription drugs like antibiotics can cure people who have bacterial infections.
2. I believe I have seen people freed from depression in the following ways – through counseling, support, prayer, and if a person is clinically depressed, with the help of medications. So, if someone comes to me on a Sunday morning and asks me to pray for them because they suffer from depression, I pray, in authority, for God to heal them of their depression. I might follow up with them to see how they are doing. I have referred many persons to counseling and medical services to help people who are depressed. For some of them medications can help.
3. I do not personally feel that depression is always to be viewed as a “choice.” I don’t approach people that way. I certainly don’t view clinical depression as a choice, but as an illness. I don’t want any person in my church to have to hide the fact that they use prescription drugs to help them with depression. Again, Grant Mullen helped our people understand that when he spoke at Redeemer. Go here to begin to see what Grant has to say about getting help with depression – http://www.drgrantmullen.com/the_pathway/facts_about_depression.html.
4. But I do know that the choices some people make can lead to depression. For example, if one chooses to overspend week after week and incur great debt, that brings a lot of stress, which can in my mind produce depression. So in that sense a person’s depression can be a result of poor choices they have made. (Note: I think we’ve all done this. I know I have. You write: “I have found Jesus and asked him to forgive me from my past.” I’ve done this too. You and I and many others can thank God that He is a God of mercy, grace, and forgiveness.)
5. The quote from Critser’s book is meant to pinpoint what many feel is a great problem in America; namely, doctors who too liberally hand out prescriptions for addictive drugs without caring for the whole person. As a culture it seems like more and more persons are turning to prescription drugs as a cure for things that could be helped otherwise. Does this make sense?? That does not mean that someone such as yourself is abusing these drugs. But others, sadly, do. For example, Vicodin might be appropriately prescribed by a doctor to help someone with severe pain. But there are people who are getting addicted to Vicodin and cannot stop taking it. I have met people like this. Some end up abusing the drug outside of a doctor’s prescription, and this leads to a great bondage. Again, I am not a doctor. But I have a lot of friends who I feel are very good and responsible doctors, and who would be aware of the addictive properties of any meds they dispense and work with their patients to find the best treatment.
6. I am so glad you wrote. Has my response been at all helpful? If this has not been clear please let me know. And, if I can help more personally please give me a call at our church office.
Blessings,
John Piippo
July 7th, 2007 at 9:03 am
Dear Pastor John,
Thank you for your reply and yes it has helped. As this is an issue I have been struggling with and praying about (my fear of letting people know about my depression). God is so good to have worked a response through you that was loving instead of judgemental. I am brought to tears, eventhough I know this is how he works. I am hoping to be freed from taking medication and with much prayer I tried on my own but found myself in about a month having this very overwhelming saddness again. Although at least now I know God will help me through. I appreciate your response. God bless you and your work.
July 7th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Hello MAA – I am thankful my words were helpful. My prayers are now with you as you discover God’s hand in leading you through all of this. If you ever feel comfortable, let me know how I and our church family can be of more help.
Blessings!
John
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