Drugs: A deadly device of the devil #1
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Searching the Scriptures
David A. Bass, Rockford Church of Christ
During the seven years of the Vietnam War 58,000 Americans died in battle. In 2016, drug overdoses killed more Americans than the entire Vietnam War did. More Americans have died as the result of drugs, including alcohol, than in all the wars that the United States has participated in since the American Revolution.
By the twelfth grade, more than two-thirds of students have tried alcohol. Approximately 20% of high school students have had an encounter with drugs on school property. In 2024, 1.63 million students currently used e-cigarettes (vaping) in America. These are the most commonly used tobacco products among school students.
The devil is our enemy, and he will destroy us spiritually any way that he can! The Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8).
No age group, color, or social group is exempt from the devil’s temptations. He will attack on every front with every weapon that is at his disposal. One of his most deadly weapons, especially among our young people, is drug abuse, including alcohol and tobacco!
First of all we must recognize that drug abuse is a serious problem that effects every one of us. Drug abuse is not just a problem for our school children, but for many adults who are abusing prescription drugs. Even if you or a member of your family is not directly affected by drugs, indirectly you are through increased prices because of lost work hours, theft, or embezzlement. Alcohol, the most abused of all drugs, causes more deaths per year than any other single factor (thousands of innocent people die each year because of drunk drivers). Drug abuse is a serious problem!
People abuse drugs for a number of reasons. Some have become addicted to drugs in the course of legitimate medical treatment. Without wanting to, some patients have become addicted to various drugs which they were given to relieve severe pain. But, this is the small minority of drug abuse.
Some began abusing drugs because of curiosity. They just wanted to see what it was like, so they experimented with some marijuana, a few pills, some alcohol, or crack cocaine. Sometimes after only one use, they were hooked (addicted). What began as seemingly innocent curiosity turned into a roller-coaster nightmare!
Others abuse drugs as a way of escape from the problems of this world. Their desire is to drown themselves with alcohol or escape reality by using other drugs. While “under the influence” they feel free from tension, frustration, anxieties, and authority. The problem with this kind of drug abuse is that it takes more and more to escape, and the “high feeling” becomes shorter and shorter. When the affects wear off, the problems are still present.
Some began to use drugs because of “peer pressure,” to “fit in with the crowd,” or “to be one of the boys.” Drug abuse is a high price to pay in order to be popular, or to conform to what your friends are doing. Regardless of why people abuse drugs, it is time to begin to take drug abuse seriously! Next time, we will look at the solution to the problem.
Send your questions or comments to: Dabass1962@bellsouth.net or mail them to: 8997 Hwy.
231; Rockford, AL 35136. Visit with us at the Rockford Church of Christ Sunday morning at 9:00 for Bible study and 10:00 for worship. We are located on Highway 231 near Dollar General.
