On Substance Abuse

Wisdom Nugget: Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them"

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"Drugs are merely the most obvious form of addiction in our society. Drug addiction is one of the things that undermines traditional values" - Christopher Lasch

People abuse substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs for varied and complicated reasons, but it is clear that our society pays a significant cost. "Drug addiction destroys lives, tears apart families and harms society."

The source of this quote is unknown but the message it carries is confirmed in our hospitals and emergency departments both through direct damage to health by substance abuse and its link to physical trauma. Families are also torn apart because one or some members of the family got into drug addiction. Abused substances produce some form of intoxication that alters judgment, perception, attention, or physical control.

Most people start doing drugs because they are in pain or going through something terrible in their homes or at their workplaces. But I wonder how that brings relief. Can you find relief in puking your guts out? Is sleeping in the gutter a relief? Is becoming incoherent a relief? Is getting sexually abused a relief? Can you get relief from lying on a hospital bed or in a morgue? Does intoxicating yourself in the bid to forget not make it worse? You will still become sober and remember everything and then what will happen next, get intoxicated again? You even complicate matters because not only do you have to worry about whatever it is you're going through, you now also have to worry about buying the substance, making sure you have enough stashed and a lot that comes with it. Some other people do drugs just out of pleasure. But what is the pleasure? They become socially withdrawn; as a matter of fact the only people they begin to associate with are abusers like themselves. Their life generally deteriorates; they may lose their jobs, status, prestige, friends, and even family. Where then is the pleasure in any of those?

Vincent said "I started with the weed, then the pills and acid, making cocktails of all sorts of drugs, even overdosing to make the rushes last longer. I took copious amounts of these chemicals every day for as long as two years until I had a bad trip one night and went into toxic psychosis. I prayed and cried for this feeling to go away; I had voices in my head, had the shakes and couldn't leave home for six months. I became very withdrawn and thought everyone was watching me. I couldn't walk in public places. Man! I couldn't even drive. I ended up homeless and on the streets, living and sleeping in a cardboard box, begging and struggling to find ways to get my next meal. I asked myself if this is rock bottom, and I believe that it was. While observing these homeless people I decided that I had had enough. Yes I wanted drugs, but I realized that I could want life more." Vincent had a breakthrough and realized that life was more important to him and decided to live it. He was lucky to have survived the ordeal. Others have had it worse and didn't make it through. But if you're into substance abuse like Vincent was, you can make it through. All you have to do is make up your mind to walk away from it and seek medical help and counseling for withdrawal. Trust me you're better off without it.

As a sage once said, "Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them!" No matter how bad it is, look within, there's something to be happy about, if you find nothing, be happy that you're still alive today and let it motivate you to want to live. Stay away from the substance; do not let it inflame you. Keep your family, friends, loved ones and most importantly keep God close to you and you'll go through anything without having to damage your health or life.