Connecting the Hope of the Gospel With the Heart of Addiction: theaddictionconnection.org
2021 article [1] analyzes these 2014 American statistics. Benzodiazepines; "z-drugs" (or sleep aids); anti-depressants; psycho-stimulants; and anti-psychotics are some of the drugs addressed in this analysis of the dangers of overdoses and death as compared to heroin. Death rates from overdoses rapidly increased as prescriptions for these drugs increased. What horrible side effect is a result of some anti-psychotics? What is the origin of suffering and corruption in our world? What is the latest on Fentanyl-related deaths and counterfeit pills?
2 Corinthians 3:1-6 says, "Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life..." ESV [2]
"12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
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Are you reaching out to the people in your area who are struggling with addictive lifestyles? You can use this discipleship care group study called Next Steps: Be TRANSFORMED in your local church or ministry theaddictionconnection.org/next-steps-be-transformed-addiction-discipleship-program/
[1] Kenneth Anderson, "Psychiatric Medications Kill More Americans than Heroin," American Addiction Centers, June 24, 2021. Accessed October 31, 2021, found at rehabs.com/pro-talk/psychiatric-medications-kill-more-americans-than-heroin/
[2] Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.
