Something Has Happened to Me: Addictions (Part 1)
We know additions are often misunderstood. For example, one individual can become addicted to a substance quickly, while another may experience an addictive tendency that covers a prolonged period. For most, these addictions happen over an extended period as the substance slowly takes over. Often people who suffer from drug and alcohol addictions do not know what is happening until it is too late.
Growing up in a small town, drugs and alcohol infused house parties were all we cared about. By the time I was a junior in high school, alcohol addiction had already begun to set in, and then, while in the Army, drug addiction had taken over. By the time I got out of the Army in 2009, full-blown drug and alcohol addiction had taken over, and I found myself often lacking self-control.
At the time, I did not know what the signs of addiction were, nor what to do about it, but there were others in my life who would have done something had they known. We need to better understand the causes and characteristics of addiction, especially if we want to help others before it is too late. So, I have listed out four areas that impact the addiction process to help us to recognize addiction before it takes total control of a loved one’s life.
1. Spiritual: When we think about the spiritual aspect of addiction, we can see that there has been an estrangement of God, as the addict is in a state of continual sin. Sometimes, the addict feels as if God does not care enough to fix the problems they have faced, so the next best choice for them is to run back to the substance that numbs and brings temporal joy. For sinful humanity, it is almost natural to run to something else for comfort when we do not perceive God as the one we should run to (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
2. Emotional: Addicts may suffer from varying ranges of emotional abuse. Emotional abuse can be defined as any non-physical form of abuse, such as manipulation, intimidation, belittling, humiliation, and aggression. Emotional abuse is a widespread problem, and it can happen at any time and in any place. It happens to children as well as adults. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the tongue has significant power to bring about life or death in an individual. Psalm 103:6 provides hope that God will bring justice for all the oppressed.
3. Physical: Sometimes there is a physical ailment, such as chronic pain, which can drive a person to find relief in a substance rather than finding relief in God, who heals. I suffer from chronic pain due to an accident. Doctors have prescribed several different medications for the pain, but my ultimate relief and hope must be found in Christ alone. Chronic pain or other physical ailments can be one of the biggest causes of addiction today. But we must remember that one day, Jesus will come back, and we will be healed. This is not to say that medications are wrong and that we should stay away from them, but we must be careful since we are to ultimately find our healing and relief in Him. If we are not careful, the medicine itself will become our (little “g”) god.
4. Social/Relational: Relational issues are a big problem that leads people to find comfort and identity in a substance. Often, when we want to be part of a group more than we want to be a part of God’s people, substance abuse can spring up very quickly. When this happens, the addiction can take over quickly, and the person finds themselves constantly in need of this substance to heal the ailments of their relational problems. Relational and social issues at work, home, and even church can all drive a person to find comfort and identity in their substance of choice.
All of this has an impact on the cognitive and behavioral aspects of life. For someone who may experience bouts of forgetfulness, especially if they forget their identity in Christ and their position in the creation as the Imago Dei, substance abuse can be a preferred method of finding that identity. Someone suffering from irrational and/or illogical thinking may find comfort in the substance rather than God. Likewise, those with unrealistic expectations about others and themselves often find comfort in a substance instead of dealing with those issues.
Substance abuse is prevalent because the substance typically distracts us from our spiritual issues, and numbs the feelings caused by abuse or other emotional, physical, social and/or relational problems. As we experience these problems or notice that someone else is experiencing them, we must be ready to direct their hearts to the God who cares for them more than any substance or person could.
In conclusion, while this is not an exhaustive list of what would be viewed as causes of addictions, it is a framework for the types of things that lead people into substance abuse. We will inevitably run to something else when we do not find our identity, comfort, relief, and protection in God alone.
