Nations are built on the strength of their youth. Today the single biggest block to development and social well-being is the problem of Substance abuse. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), substance abuse is persistent or sporadic drug use inconsistent with or unrelated to acceptable medical practice. Today, there is no part of the world that is free from the curse of drug trafficking and drug addiction. Millions of drug addicts/alcoholics all over the world, are leading miserable lives, between life and death. India too is caught in this vicious circle of substance abuse, and the number of addicts is increasing day by day.
Substance abuse could be primarily of 4 types: Prescription Drug Abuse, Illegal Drug Abuse, Alcohol Abuse and Smoking. Each of these is an entry point for devastation for young impressionable minds as young as 11 years. Society has been judgmental, and many addicts are put out as outcasts and no-gooders ensuring many ends up in crime-filled lives. How do we rise up to equip our own to fight this malaise seeping into our society and our churches? Do we flee or fight this evil?
For a generation looking to move from one high to the next, drugs offer the easiest way out. From OTC drugs like ganja to higher-end processed drugs like cocaine and heroin, the addict has no shortage of supplies from an organized crime syndicate in every city of the world. The dark web also has made this generation of inhalers, snorters, sniffers, fixers, and injectors with lost livelihoods devastatingly fashionable. For a generation that needs a large amount of dopamine, (a neurotransmitter that helps regulate our emotions, motivation, and feelings of pleasure to give a high,) to survive, getting a fix is the only aspiration for each day.
According to a UN study, one million heroin users are officially registered in India, with an estimated five million more using recreational drugs regularly. Drug misuse is a multifaceted phenomenon with social, cultural, biological, geographical, historical, and economic dimensions. The breakdown of the traditional joint family system, the absence of parental love and care in modern homes where both parents work, the degradation of moral standards, and other factors contribute to an increase in the number of drug addicts who use drugs to escape the harsh realities of life. They seem locked in a habit, they cannot get out. Almost like a one-way ticket- To hell!!
Is the nation’s moral compass so weak so as to not identify this problem, who will rise amongst its concerned citizenry? What role can the church play to mitigate the current situation and help counsel, provide medical support, and above all pray for the lost generation? Will those in the pew stand up and be counted and be a light on the mountain or a warrior at the gate? It’s a fight for the soul, the future- of the family, of the nation, and of society as a whole.
Can we say “cheers” to this kind of data – In 2005 the estimated number of people using alcohol in India was 62.5 million with 17.4 % of them (10.6 million) having alcohol use disorder and of all hospital admissions in India, 20-30% are due to alcohol-related problems.
Alcohol consumption in India is now 6.5 billion liters up 17% from 2017. Every year a new generation of kids watch their fathers (primarily) get trapped in this vicious cycle and enter into the very space that destroys them. Almost like a moth being drawn to fire!
According to various studies, the prevalence of alcoholism in India ranges from 23% to 74% in males in general, and while it is not as frequent in females, it has been proven to be widespread at rates ranging from 24% to 48% among women in some areas and communities.
Almost 10-15% of individuals with alcohol issues commit suicide, which is significantly higher than the overall population, and thus a considerable number of lives can be saved if it is identified and remedied early and effectively.
Alcoholism is commonly coupled with other drug use disorders, antisocial personality disorder, anxiety disorders, mood disorders such as depression, and bipolar disorder. The combination is typically complicated and difficult to control. Basically become a person whom God did not intend you to be… a difficult spouse, a poor parent, an unproductive employee, and a social outcast.
Who will stand in the gap for the next generation? Is the church ready to challenge this ever-present evil? How will the Good news reach every person uncorking a daily high? Will the next generation be one of hope and will the family of every alcoholic see the power of change?
Credits: Alcohol Use Disorder | National Health Portal Of India (nhp.gov.in)
The first step to many is a misstep in the demonic world of addictions. Smoking is always positioned as recreational and innocuous on campuses and workplaces across the nation. India is the world’s second-largest tobacco user and producer. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey India, 2016-17, about 267 million adults (15 years and older) in India (29 percent of all adults) use tobacco. Prevalent trends around tobacco consumption in India:
With increasing stress and lifestyle changes, an increasing number of working people are becoming addicted to smoking. Smoking hookah is popular among young people as a way to socialize with friends and is erroneously regarded as less harmful than smoking. Because smoking is frowned upon and is completely unacceptable in the church, most people would rather live two lives than seek help.
Will the church rise up to engage in battle in the spiritual realm against the forces of darkness? Will the pulpit and the pew together work to bring Good News at the frontlines?
Your chance to stand up and fight! Click here if you want to know how to be part of this movement.