I’m grateful for drugs. I’ve had a history of bad headaches going back decades. No over-the-counter medications could touch the pain. When I got an especially bad one, it would sideline me for hours. I got tested (eye doctor, neurologist, EEG suction cups on my head, etc.). I tried various prescription drugs & treatments over the years (even acupuncture–as pictured). People have prayed over me, including a man who many thought had very effective healing prayers.
All these things seemed to work…for a while. But full healing never came. What I found helps most has been a drug called Rizitriptan (Maxalt). It will usually knock my headache out in an hour or two. And I never get severe headaches anymore. I know of many others who are being helped by medications. But the problem comes when those drugs are abused, used recreationally or as emotional crutches.
Why are more people turning to drugs? Certainly, the pandemic years contributed to that trend. But more so, people are looking for peace in hallucinogens, psychedelics, & psilocybin (in mushrooms). Last year, Prince Harry touted that psychedelics (& marijuana) helped him deal with his past traumas & pains. He said it brought him a sense of relief & relaxation, “unlocking so much of what we’ve suppressed.” Quarterback Aaron Rodgers used psychedelics to help him with his fear of death. Gwyneth Paltrow sees psychedelics as the new trend in the wellness industry.
People are using these more easily accessible drugs as “coping” techniques so much that legislators are trying to not only decriminalize them but regulate them for therapy programs. While drugs can be a wonderful way to treat physical problems, are they the best way to deal with non-physical issues? When people want to “heal” or “deal with” past events, current anxieties & confusion, or future fears, are these drugs bringing peace or only masking & numbing the pain?
Young people especially since the 60’s began “turning on” to drugs in search of peace, freedom, escape, & enlightenment. It can feel good in the moment. Yet at the same time, they know it’s not good for them. Those drugs can carry miserable after-effects, addictions, & long-term consequences. Others may seek solace in alcohol, secular psychology, or man-made religions. What they find there will only be temporary, surface level, & a substitute for what’s really needed.
If people only knew that the real help, hope, & healing they’re seeking can only be found in Jesus! Without even consciously knowing it, what they’re missing is the feeling that comes from belonging to God & being loved & valued by Him.. They’re needing to be relieved of guilt & shame for what they’ve done. They’re wanting to know that life makes sense & is meaningful–that they’re here for a purpose & that God has a plan for their lives. It would feel so much better to know that there’s a God who’s in control, is with them, for them & taking care of them. They desire to know that this short life isn’t all there is–that they need not fear the afterlife. But instead of turning to Him, they may spend their lives running away from Him, in denial & in dependency on brain-altering chemicals, digging themselves a deeper hole.
Scripture is clear that for Christians, abusing alcohol is wrong (& by extension other mind-altering substances): “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit…” (Eph. 5:17-18). You’re not going to find a list of specific intoxicants in the Bible to avoid, but the principle is to live soberly–don’t get stoned on anything.
We need to be always in control & clear-headed, otherwise, we open ourselves to harmful influences & bad behaviors (1 Pet. 1:13, 1 These. 5:6-8). Your judgment is impaired because drugs alter a person’s sensibilities & dulls spiritual sensitivity. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). You can never let down your guard because he’ll introduce more temptations & deceptions.
I’ve never once taken drugs recreationally or abused prescriptions. I’m so grateful that it’s never even been a serious temptation. I don’t believe I’ve missed out on the superficial highs & altered moods that chemicals produce. It’s not that I haven’t had problems, sadness, anxieties, or fears. It’s that I’ve been blessed from childhood to know where to turn for true help, hope & healing.
With Jesus, it’s OK to feel bad & sad sometimes. It’s normal & human in a fallen world. We can’t escape all pain. The difference is not the absence of problems, but the presence of the Good Shepherd, Wonderful Counselor, & Great Physician. By facing & persevering in stressful seasons, we grow & mature through learning dependency on the Lord.
It’s better to avoid drugs to begin with. But if it’s too late for that, seek help. Seek the Lord & break the bondage – OnlyGodCanHelp.com.