Addiction: How Can Christians Help?

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 21.5 million Americans aged 12 and older battled a substance use disorder in 2014[1]. In a survey conducted by 5 family psychologists, 34.6% of participants cited substance abuse as a contributing factor to their divorce[2]. But addiction doesn’t just affect marriages. Just like abuse, addiction also has an effect on children.

According to The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, parental substance abuse interrupts a child’s normal development, which places these youngsters at higher risk for emotional, physical and mental health problems[3]. Because parents who abuse alcohol or other drugs are more likely to be involved with domestic violence, divorce, unemployment, mental illness and legal problems, their ability to parent effectively is severely compromised. There is a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, eating disorders and suicide attempts among children of addicts than among their peers. In addition, children of addicts are 3-4 times more likely than others to become addicted to alcohol or other drugs themselves. And according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, every 25 minutes, a baby is born suffering from opioid withdrawal, a result of drug abuse during pregnancy[4].

So what do we do?

We can’t control other’s actions and decision. And addiction is clearly not something that only affects the addict; it also affects his/her family. We can hold interventions, encourage rehab, have tough conversations all day long, but are they actually effective? Or do they just alienate the person we love?

We can only control our own behavior and our own prayers. So maybe we start by praying for our loved ones who are suffering from an addiction. By monitoring our own actions. Are we a stumbling block? Is there anything that may hurt our loved one’s recovery? But most importantly, we need to offer love. I think sometimes we confuse love with enabling, but it’s different. God loves us yet holds us accountable. He offers support and encouragement but isn’t afraid to point out where there’s room for improvement. So, I think not only should we pray for them but also for ourselves. That we’re who they need to encourage them without enabling them. That we’ll allow God to use us to positively influence our loved ones.