Seeing the Need Behind the Drug - Part 1

“Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish! Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.” Prov 31:6-7
 
The topic today focuses our attention on the problem of drug abuse. While the Bible doesn’t specifically address modern day drug options – meth, crack, marijuana, etc. – it does speak to the most commonly abused drugs of the time, beer and wine. More importantly, these verses in Proverbs affirm that behind drug abuse lays a human who wrestles with some intense personal problems.   Today we can see that people still abuse drugs as a means to escape anguish, poverty, misery, even death. 
 
As parents, we can influence the options our kids consider to cope with the harsh realities of life. Here are three statements to offer to your child:

1. Drugs hide a problem inside – While a drug might “anesthetize” or hide the pain temporarily, we must try to understand the origin of the problem that would drive someone to abuse a drug.  We must seek to discover what is going on in his or her interior world. Does she feel lonely, depressed, or wounded?   What is he angry about, or too ashamed to admit? Does this kid lack the self-esteem to say no to drug abuse with his or her peers? 
2. Drugs don’t make the problem go away – In fact, our kids should hear us explain that drug abuse only serves to make the original problem worse. A person who uses a drug to escape depression only ends up feeling more depressed about his or her choices. 
3. The Lord can bring healing and health – While many people will continue to choose to abuse drugs as a means to cope with their problems, we can encourage our kids to turn to Christ in their troubles. Having faith in Him may not make the problem disappear, but our faith can bring us courage, endurance, and strength in the midst of our troubles.   When your kid comes home from school talking about the pressure to be accepted by his or her peers, pray together for the presence of Christ to supply courage at that very moment. Talk through various options for responding to pressures or emotional wounds. Look for choices that teach faithfulness, and that rely on other believers for strength. 

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Camper Corner
What are the most commonly used drugs that you hear or know about? What are the deeper problems that kids are trying to escape by abusing drugs? How can you help your friends find ways to face their problems with faith?