Different cultural groups understand drug addiction and recovery generally from within a context if their cultural beliefs and values. For instance, people from different cultures view alcohol drinking as an immoral and forbidden behaviour whereas others embrace it as a social drink that is even used for various occasions. Cultures differ in the manner in which they view and perceive addiction while individuals have different reasons for engaging in drug abuse.
Causes of Drug Abuse
Poverty and Social Inequality
The conflict theory explains how social aspects such as social inequality would negatively affect the society. When the society is characterized by inequality and prejudice such as racial and ethnic prejudice or discrimination, the affected population result in abusing illegal drugs to feel much better or forget about their sad situations. The illegal drug market is also easy to join since there are no qualifications and governmental certifications needed therefore even uneducated people can join. Studies indicate that the regions or places that are highly affected by poverty are the main sources of drug cartels and addicts (Edelfield and Moosa, 2012). They engage in the vice as they seek social stratification and as a way of protesting against their nation’s leadership that they believe do not govern in the just and fair way.
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Bonding Experience
For a majority of the youth who have at some point in life abused drugs admit that they were influenced by their friends or schoolmates. The contemporary youth has many individuals struggling to relate to their peers and made do whatever it takes just to remain attached to a certain peer group (Edelfield and Moosa, 2012). This stress of socializing is a key reason that makes individuals turn to illicit drugs as they strive to curb social anxiety.
Relief from Stress
Different individuals have a different way of handling difficult situations. When faced with life challenges, a significant number of people has resulted in alcohol and drug abuse. People are unable to face and accept situations that come away and as a way of escaping from or avoiding them, they get into substance abuse. This has especially happened to some individuals when they lose their loved ones such as a child or a parent. Some need up getting depressed, and if they are not accorded the necessary support and intervention, they find solace in substances that stimulate them and make them for a while forget about their tribulations (Verster, 2012). The daily habit gradually becomes an addiction that they can hardly quit or abandon.
Allure of Rebellion
Substance abuse is found to create the sense in abusers that they are rebelling against the societal norms. Adolescents have particularly been affected this factor where they feel that when they turn to drug abuse, they are acting out against their authoritative parents or other limitations that the society imposes on them. They substance abuse as a platform that helps them derive their self of identity.
Lifestyle Appeal
Some individuals have ended up abusing substances simply because they admire the lifestyles of other known abusers. As stated earlier, illegal drug trade is conducted in the black market and is therefore untaxed making the traders or the cartels seem to live lavish lives which is not necessarily true (Edelfield and Moosa, 11). They admire petty aspects such as the manner in which these people dress, their favourite music and such things without considering the negative measures that it also comes with.
Christian Response to the Aspects Causing Drug Abuse
The Christian life is guided by the scriptures. I Cor 6:10 states that “nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” Christians are also called to draw sinners to repentance and salvation. Drug abuse is disobedience to the civil law while disobedience to civil law is also disobedience to God. While speaking against drug abuse in the society, Christians should also seek to advocate for a just society to eliminate the factors that result in social inequalities that further trigger social misbehaviour. The Bible also teaches that Christians should bring up their children in the way of the lord. Children brought up in the ways of the Lord, and the truth would hardly desire to rebel against their parents and teachers considering the Bible in Ephesians 6:1 advises children to obey their parents in the Lord. Other than not engaging in drug abuse, Christians have an additional duty to save the society by being ambassadors of Christ and spreading his teaching across nations (Goodall and Goodall, 202). This should be done both in prayer and in action. Without social injustices, the majority of the social problems would be solved.
Making Low-risk Choices Regarding Drug Use v. Advocating against Drug Use
Making low-risk choices would not be a more realistic approach for drug moderation but saying no to drug use would. With the low-risk choices, the negative effects that drug use has had in the society would not change. Research states that most of the harm done by drunkards and people who use drugs is not necessarily done when they are addicted. The moment they introduce the drugs to their bodies they negatively influence their behaviour. Additionally, it would not be possible to regulate the intake of the low-risk choice for the drugs since abusers are normally beyond reason and can abuse not only the illicit but also the other drugs that are prescribed by health professionals (Goodall and Goodall, 2005). The low-risk choices would also seem like the government has finally accepted the use of illegal drugs. From a Christian view, drugs should be avoided and not used on the low-risk basis. Moderating drug use would may involve addressing the causes of drug abuse as well as effectively applying the rules and laws of the land.
Creational Design and Addiction Definition
God’s creational design addresses the realms of human life as well as culture. He, therefore, desires that humans shape all their words and deeds towards him. Obedience to God involves not only talking about Him but also showing through the human life. This should happen not only in churchly activities but also in the cultural and worldly activities (Wright, 2013). The corruption of humankind, however, nullifies God’s creational design which to God is acting perversely. The corrupted ways have been used to define and justify drug use to some extent causing theories such as the low-risk drug use while drug abuse is unbiblical.
Drug Interactions
Drug interactions occur when an individual takes two or more types of drugs. Some of the interactions could be intended and desired such as when the drugs are combined to treat illnesses such as hypertension. When drugs interact, three different outcomes may occur which makes the interaction either beneficial or detrimental. One of the drugs may intensify the effects of the other drug, reduce the effects of the other or the combination may bring about the new response. If an illicit drug is combined with another and it intensifies the effects of that other drug, then that is detrimental as it will cause more harm than the one that already existed. Beneficial interaction will occur if one drug is used to reduce the effects of an illicit drug such as cocaine or heroin. A combination of heroin and cocaine may yield new, unpredictable response that may yield either beneficial or detrimental result. For instance, Fluoxetine and Phenelzine interaction can result in central serotonin syndrome which results in agitation, change of mental status and may even cause death (Piscitelli et al., 2011).
Conclusion
Drug addiction has been a major social concern in the modern world. This is as a result of drug trafficking and drug cartels leading to increased drug addiction and abusers. While different individuals have different views about drug addiction and reasons for drug abuse, the negative impacts on the society are the same. All stakeholders including Christians should assume their respective roles in curbing addiction through conducting anti-drug campaigns.
References
Edelfield, B., & Moosa, T. J. (2012). Drug abuse . New York: Rosen Pub.
Goodall, W. I., & Goodall, R. (2005). The battle . Lake Mary, Fla: Creation House. Bottom of Form
Piscitelli, S. C., Rodvold, K. A., & Pai, M. P. (2011). Drug Interactions in Infectious Diseases [recurso electrónico] . Estados Unidos: Humana Press.
Verster, J. C. (2012). Drug abuse and addiction in medical illness: Causes, consequences and treatment . New York, NY: Springer.
Wright, C. J. H. (2013). Salvation belongs to our God: Celebrating the Bible's central story . Carlisle: Langham Global Library.
