Article August 19, 1991 Issue

How spiritual sense defeats addiction

Peace, purpose, a sense of our individual worth—these are what set a person free from addiction.

Marian Cates

Many people start their days with a cigarette or a cup of coffee. Others start with an alcoholic drink, a marijuana cigarette, or a dose of an even stronger drug.

For all these individuals, life seems, to one degree or another, an ordeal requiring artificial stimulation or numbing in order to get through the day. From the seemingly harmless "I can't get going in the morning without my shot of caffeine, or nicotine" all the way to the desperate admission "When I'm straight,' I feel like nothing," the addict reveals his sense of helplessness. He may want to quit, but he can't seem to find the strength to do it, because he feels such a need for the drug.

As one who's "been there," I can assure you that a person can turn to God for help in breaking free of addiction. As the Psalmist put it so clearly, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." God has a purpose for each one of His children. And this purpose can be felt and fulfilled by every individual. Our real purpose in life is to express God's qualities—peace, joy, health, love, purity, intelligence—not slavery to a drug. Every single one of us has something valuable to contribute and the God-given ability to do it.

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POSITIVE PRESS
August 19, 1991
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