How to Defeat Harmful Habits (Counseling Through the Bible Series) (16 page)
Your habits will either make you or break you, depending on your priorities. They will break the potential of what God has planned or make it possible for you to fulfill His plan. Be strong and you can’t go wrong when all your habits are right in God’s sight!
—J
UNE
H
UNT
Habits and Addictions: Answers in God’s WordQ
UESTION
:
“If we’re totally forgiven by God’s grace, can we go on sinning?”
A
NSWER
:
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”
(Romans 6:1-2).
Q
UESTION
:
“Is it possible to serve two masters—to be devoted to God, yet be mastered by money?”
A
NSWER
:
“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”
(Luke 16:13).
Q
UESTION
:
“I can do nothing about my habit—why try if I don’t have the strength?”
A
NSWER
:
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength”
(Philippians 4:13).
Q
UESTION
:
“How do I avoid all extremes—especially all bad habits?”
A
NSWER
:
“It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes”
(Ecclesiastes 7:18).
Q
UESTION
:
“As a Christian, my body is my own responsibility. Why be obsessed with a lot of talk about honoring God with my body?”
A
NSWER
:
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body”
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Q
UESTION
:
“Should I look at what society says is permissible for me or what is beneficial?”
A
NSWER
:
“‘Everything is permissible for me’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’—but I will not be mastered by anything”
(1 Corinthians 6:12).
Q
UESTION
:
“How can I not gratify the desires of my flesh and break the sinful habits that serve to meet those desires?”
A
NSWER
:
“Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature”
(Galatians 5:16).
Q
UESTION
:
“What if I don’t have the self-discipline to be faithful and to do what God calls me to do?”
A
NSWER
:
“The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it”
(1 Thessalonians 5:24).
Q
UESTION
:
“How should I pray in order to know if there is anything offensive in me?”
A
NSWER
:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”
(Psalm 139:23-24).
Q
UESTION
:
“Is there real hope that I can prepare my mind for a course of action and be self-controlled to conquer my habits?”
A
NSWER
:
“Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed”
(1 Peter 1:13).
THE WORLD OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
Breaking Free and Staying Free
I. D
EFINITIONS OF
A
LCOHOL AND
D
RUG
A
BUSE
B. What Are the Four Major Drug Classifications?
D. What Is the Downward Spiral of Dependency?
II. C
HARACTERISTICS OF
A
LCOHOL AND
D
RUG
A
BUSE
A. What Checklist Helps Discover a Chemical Dependency?
B. What Are the Warning Signs of Substance Abuse?
C. What Delineates Binge Drinking?
D. What Differentiates Men and Women Drinkers?
E. What Clues Are Characteristic of Children with an Addicted Parent?
III. C
AUSES OF
A
LCOHOL AND
D
RUG
A
BUSE
A. What Causes Chemical Dependency?
B. What Are the Influential Factors that Help Form an Addiction?
C. What Excuses Do People Give?
D. What Is the Root Cause of Alcohol or Drug Abuse?
B. Key Passage to Read and Reread
C. How to Discover Deliverance from Dependency
THE WORLD OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE:He was an all-American hero. Some say he was the greatest baseball player of all time.
1
Mickey Mantle had it all—fame, fortune, and millions of fans. On the day of his high school graduation, he signed with the world-renowned New York Yankees, a decision that began his road to stardom.
The statistics support his superstar status: 536 career home runs, three Most Valuable Player awards, career batting average of .298, seven world championships, and baseball’s Triple Crown—leading the entire Major League one season by having the highest batting average, the most home runs, and the most runs batted in.
But during the years that Mickey achieved all his accomplishments, more than adrenaline was pumping through his veins. Too often dangerous quantities of alcohol also coursed through his body, poisoning what God had uniquely made, and ultimately causing his premature death.
For Mickey, the cry of his heart—and that of every addict—could easily echo that of the psalmist:
“The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish”
(P
SALM
25:17).
EFINITIONS OF
A
LCOHOL AND
D
RUG
A
BUSE
They call it “the good life”: the fun of swimming in a sea of booze, the fans always buying drinks for their heroes, the free wine bottles in all the hotel rooms.
“The Mick” and his buddies considered it “the measure of being a man.”
2
How well they held their liquor, drink after drink—without physical or emotional collapse—was their symbol of “manliness.”
Much later, however, Mickey recognized his warped view of life: “Baseball didn’t turn me into a drunk. I drank because I thought we were having fun. It was part of the camaraderie, the male-bonding thing.”
3
But what he called the
bonding thing
became more his
breaking
“thing”—breaking his health and causing his death, an unnecessary death solely due to alcoholism.
Although written centuries before, the Psalms reflect the sorrow in the life of this suffering hero:
“The cords of death entangled me
,
the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble and sorrow”
(P
SALM
116:3).
For Mickey, it wasn’t just
fun
that drove him to drink, but also
fear
.
Mickey’s father died of Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the young age of 40, and three other relatives succumbed to the disease before their fortieth birthdays. Afraid his life could also be cut short, Mickey decided to party hard because he might never see his sunset years. His drug of choice was alcohol.
A therapist commented, “Mickey is totally controlled by fear. He is filled with fear about everything.”
4
His father’s death was precisely what pushed Mickey over the edge—the critical turning point when his playful partying turned debilitating. Soon this baseball great slid into a self-made addiction, running from his fear instead of facing it.
With death all around, if Mickey had learned to yield his life to the Lord, he could have faced his fear and found comfort in knowing that God was with him, as the twenty-third Psalm says:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me”
(
VERSE
4).
•
Drugs
are chemical substances introduced into the body that produce physical, emotional, or mental changes. Some drugs are helpful, and other drugs are harmful.
•
Drugs
are used in three primary ways:
–
Ingesting
(swallowing pills, powders, liquids)
–
Inhaling
(breathing in powders, smoke, fumes, and other inhalants)
–
Injecting
(inserting a substance directly into the muscle or veins for a faster effect or injecting the drug underneath the skin—called “skin popping”—which allows the drug to be absorbed more slowly into the bloodstream)
•
Drugs
are obtained in three ways:
–
Over-the-counter drugs
(legal drugs acquired without a prescription)
–
Prescription drugs
(legal drugs prescribed only by medical doctors)
–
Illegal drugs
(drugs that are unlawful to purchase or even possess, although the legal status of certain drugs varies from state to state and from country to country)
One of the side effects of living in a world where evil abounds is that the very things God created for our good can be misused for our harm. Such is the case with drugs. Those who take what God intends for good but instead use for harm need to heed these words of warning:
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil
,
who put darkness for light and light for darkness
,
who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter”
(I
SAIAH
5:20).
What Mickey hoped would help manage his life ultimately messed it up.
He turned to alcohol to both stimulate him and soothe him—to rev him up during the day, then settle him down at night. But what once went down smoothly later left him with a bitter aftertaste.
“I couldn’t go on the way I was living, drunk and sick and depressed, covering up with lies, trying to remember where I was going or where I had been.”
5
Then the greatest switch-hitter of all time gave this gut-wrenching statement: “Don’t be like me.”
6
Mickey’s words of warning parallel the words of protection found in the very first verse of the Psalms:
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.”
Drugs are generally classified into four major groups, depending on their effect on the body.
7
(Note: Certain drugs can fit into more than one category.)
1.
Depressants
produce a calming effect and slow down the central nervous system.
–
Prevalent types:
alcohol, sedatives (sleeping pills), tranquilizers (Valium), barbiturates (“downers”), and organic solvents (fast-drying glues and adhesives, gasoline, and aerosols)
–
Psychological symptoms:
poor concentration, distorted thinking, lack of judgment, and aggressiveness
–
Physical effects:
drowsiness, slurred speech, lack of coordination, tremors, decreased energy, coma, impaired vision, decreased pulse rate and blood pressure, respiratory depression, and even death
Interestingly, Isaiah 28:7 refers to those who
“stagger from wine and reel from beer…and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.”
2.
Stimulants
excite bodily functions and speed up the central nervous system.
–
Prevalent types:
cocaine, crack, meth, and amphetamines (“speed” or “uppers”)
–
Psychological symptoms:
excitability, increased energy, exaggerated self-confidence, heightened sexual drive, temporary exhilaration, irritability, apprehension, and intensified emotions
–
Physical effects:
hyperactivity, restlessness, insomnia, loss of appetite, dry mouth, bad breath, itchy nose, dilated pupils, rapid and unclear speech, perspiration, headaches, dizziness, elevated blood pressure and heart rate, psychosis, and even death
The book of Proverbs describes those who walk outside of wisdom, those who are victims of sudden disaster—similar to those who die after taking stimulants:
“Disaster will overtake him in an instant;
he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy”
(P
ROVERBS
6:15).
3.
Hallucinogens
distort and alter a person’s perception of reality.
–
Prevalent types:
LSD, marijuana, PCP (“angel dust”), and mescaline
–
Psychological symptoms:
hallucinations, heightened sensitivities, anxiety attacks, lowered inhibitions, and out-of-body experiences
–
Physical effects:
vary with the drug—for example, LSD acts as a stimulant and marijuana acts as a depressant; reactions differ with each individual: sleeplessness, loss of appetite, increased energy, increased pulse rate and blood pressure, eyes fixed in a blank stare or rapid involuntary eye movements, slurred or blocked speech, higher rate of accidents and violence, disorientation, and even death
Although the Bible does not directly mention hallucinogens, it does address the hallucinogenic effect of alcohol, which can be disturbing and frightening.
“Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine
confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high
seas, lying on top of the rigging. ‘They hit me,’ you will
say, ‘but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up so I can find another drink?’”
(P
ROVERBS
23:33-35).
4.
Narcotics
reduce pain and elevate a person’s mood.
–
Prevalent types:
opium, morphine, codeine, heroin, methadone, and meperidine
–
Psychological symptoms:
temporary euphoria, dulled senses, lethargy, and confusion
–
Physical effects:
relief of pain, droopy eyelids, constricted pupils, slowed reaction and motor skills, drowsiness, lack of coordination, depressed reflexes, dry mouth, constipation, scars or abscesses at injection sites, and even death
When you are in pain, ask for the Lord’s wisdom and direction for relief of your pain. Rather than abusing drugs, begin the journey toward freedom with dependence only on the Lord.
“I am in pain and distress;
may your salvation, O God, protect me”
(P
SALM
69:29).
Drug Abuse Without AddictionQ
UESTION:
“Is it possible to abuse drugs and alcohol without becoming addicted?”
A
NSWER
:
Yes. Just as every drug is different, everyone’s physical makeup is different.
• Some people become addicted with small amounts of a substance.
• Others consume greater quantities before becoming addicted.
Because of the destructive risk of addiction, using unnecessary drugs is dangerous. Substance abuse is like playing Russian roulette—it can cost you your life! Our bodies are not our own to abuse—they belong to God. First Corinthians 6:19-20 says,
C. What Is Substance Abuse?“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
,
who is in you, whom you have received from God?
You are not your own; you were bought at a price
.
Therefore honor God with your body.”
Mickey Mantle not only abused alcohol, he also abused the people around him.
His children spoke of his increasing inattention to the family while they were young. He became more depressed, more irritable. When the Yankees lost a game or when Mickey struck out, the children knew to leave Dad alone. The entire family walked on eggshells, hoping to prevent the inevitable verbal attack. Not only was Mickey in denial about his alcoholism, but his wife also minimized the problem.
Mickey made excuses for his absences (which often included time spent with other women). His increasing dependence on alcohol was a desperate attempt to boost his self-esteem. More and more, alcohol became necessary for him to function during the day. Then it became more and more necessary for him so he could fall asleep at night.
Mickey later reflected, “I am embarrassed by what I did when I drank: the foul language, the rudeness, having to face people the next day that I didn’t remember insulting the night before.”
8
The first verse of Proverbs chapter 20 confirms alcohol can prompt such behavior:
“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”
•
Substance abuse
refers to the use of a chemical—legal or illegal—to the extent that the usage causes physical, mental, or emotional harm.
9
•
Substance abusers
are identified in five ways:
–
Experimental users
try drugs simply out of curiosity.
–
Recreational users
get high on drugs on special occasions (parties, celebrations).
–
Regular users
abuse drugs habitually while attempting to live a “normal life.”
–
Binge users
misuse drugs uncontrollably for a brief period of time and then abstain until the next binge.
–
Dependent users
are emotionally, physically, and psychologically hooked on drugs. They are continually obsessed with getting drugs because of their all-consuming addiction.
While the following verse accurately describes everyone before they yield their lives to Christ, it especially illustrates the lifestyle of a substance abuser:
“All have turned away, they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good, not even one”
(R
OMANS
3:12).
Recreational DrugsQ
UESTION
:
“What’s the harm in occasionally using recreational drugs with my friends in a safe environment—as long as I don’t become addicted?”
A
NSWER
:
The wrong use of any drug constitutes
drug abuse
. Likewise, there is no “right use” of illegal drugs or illegally acquired prescription drugs. And there is no “safe environment” for drug abuse because no situation exists where drug abuse doesn’t cause physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual harm. By its very definition,
drug abuse
is harmful whether controlled or uncontrolled, chosen or compulsive, regulated or unregulated.
A true friend, a wise friend, does only what helps another friend. Ask God to give you genuinely wise friends and to help you become a wise friend yourself.
“He who walks with the wise grows wise
,
but a companion of fools suffers harm”
(P
ROVERBS
13:20).
If only the downward spiral of Mickey’s dependency had been diagnosed sooner.
If only Mickey had acknowledged his alcoholism and received help earlier, his titles of
champion
and
hero
wouldn’t have been marred by years of drinking.
If only he had processed the pain from his past—his childhood agony and his fear of death—then the downward spiral of dependency could have been deterred.
If only he had only found a meaningful way to spend his free time, rather than downing yet another drink. But because Mickey spent so much time waiting in airport lobbies and hotel rooms, boredom and binge drinking became his constant companions.
If only he had learned to live without alcohol, his four sons might not have also become alcoholics. If only he had learned to heed these words:
“Do not gaze at wine when it is red
,
when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!
In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper”
(P
ROVERBS
23:31-32).
L
EVELS OF
S
UBSTANCE
A
BUSE
10
•
Intoxication
occurs when the influence of a substance in your body causes changes in your behavior, including mood changes, faulty judgment, slurred speech, poor coordination, unsteady gait, sexual impropriety, aggressive actions, and impaired social functioning. Intoxication can result in a coma or even in death.
–
Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary
defines intoxication as “poisoning; the state of being poisoned” and “the condition produced by excessive use of alcoholic stimulants.”
11
– How interesting that thousands of years before this writing, Moses said, “Their grapes are filled with poison…Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras” (Deuteronomy 32:32-33).
•
Abuse
occurs when your use of drugs causes you to:
– Act irresponsibly
– Fail to maintain healthy relationships
– Put yourself or others at risk of harm
– Break the law
•
Addiction
occurs when you experience these three leading indicators:
–
Drug tolerance
—needing increasingly more of a substance to obtain the same effect
–
Physical dependence
—suffering from chemical withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shaking, and anxiety
–
Intense craving
—developing a pattern of compulsive substance use
Other common indicators include:
–
Loss of control—
failing at attempts to decrease or stop the substance abuse
–
Targeting activities—
choosing events only where alcohol or drugs are available
–
Continual substance abuse
—continuing to use despite negative ramifications
•
Withdrawal
occurs when the distress caused by a lessening or lack of the drug:
– Severely disrupts your daily life
– Renders meaningless normally meaningful activities, such as work and relationships
– Drains the emotions until all joy is gone
The prophet Isaiah describes such a time when
“no longer do they drink wine with a song…In the streets they cry out for wine; all joy turns to gloom, all gaiety is banished”
(I
SAIAH
24:9,11).
Responsibility for Drug DependenceQ
UESTION
:
“How can I be held responsible for my drug dependence? After all, most drugs are addictive and cause the addiction.”
A
NSWER
:
Your drug dependence has been created both by your choice to use drugs and by the drugs themselves. Intoxication results from the makeup of the drug you choose to use and the way it is metabolized by your body. The only sure way to avoid addiction is to avoid addictive drugs altogether.
“How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine”
(1 S
AMUEL
1:14).
HARACTERISTICS OF
A
LCOHOL AND
D
RUG
A
BUSE
Now consider another all-American hero: In 2010 alone, he was selected as one of baseball’s all-star players, voted the American League’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), and Player of the Year.
12
During his growing-up years, the star outfielder for the Texas Rangers couldn’t have been more “squeaky clean.” Josh Hamilton never neglected to give his grandmother a kiss before each high school game. And while his teammates partied after each game, he was home with mom and dad.
Through all four years of high school, neither drugs nor alcohol entered Josh’s body, but that all changed in the spring of 2001.
13
Two major setbacks stalled his promising career in major league baseball, and the fallout almost proved fatal.
It’s as though Josh had written these words:
“When I expected good, then evil came;
When I waited for light, then darkness came”
(J
OB
30:26
NASB
).
14
The changes in Josh Hamilton’s lifestyle and behavior read like a checklist for discovering chemical dependency, with almost every box checked
yes
.
The new crowd of friends—found in a tattoo parlor—was a far cry from the fresh, innocent faces of his youth. In their company, Josh took his first drink of alcohol, which eventually culminated in drinking a bottle of whiskey every day. And in their company, he experimented with his first drug, which culminated in countless encounters with a crack pipe.
15
Josh Hamilton, the schoolboy pitcher who could fire off balls to the plate at 96 mph and who once swung a bat clocked at an incredible 110 mph—Josh Hamilton, the first high school player to be the #1 draft pick since Alex Rodriguez in 1993—became tragically addicted to both alcohol and cocaine.
“I never used one without the other,” Josh remembers. “When I’d get mad, I’d go use. When I’d get sad, I’d go use.”
16
Josh abused drugs and alcohol to numb his painful feelings, but later realized “they’d always be there the next day.”
17
This checklist will help reveal whether a person is chemically dependent:
C
Do you
conceal
your habit
from others?
H
Do you
hope
to get help
for your habit?
E
Is your
employment
affected
because of your habit?
M
Is your
memory
impaired
because of your habit?
I
Are you
intoxicated
periodically
?
C
Are you
criticized
unfairly
(in your opinion) because of your habit?
A
Do you
assume
you can avoid problems
by using the substance?
L
Do you
lose
relationships
as a result of your habit?
L
Do you
lower
your intake
but then return to your previous level of consumption?
Y
Are your
young
ones neglected
because of your habit?
D
Are you
defensive
or argumentative
about your use?
E
Are you
emotionally
unavailable
because of your use?
P
Is your
physical
health affected
by your use?
E
Do you
enjoy
functions only
if the substance is available?
N
Is your
need
draining
your finances?
D
Do you
deny
repercussions
from your habit?
E
Are you
exasperated
by fear
that your habit is abnormal?
N
Is your
need
affecting your life
because of your habit?
T
Is your
tolerance
level getting higher
for the substance?
If you answered
yes
to five or more of the above questions, you may have a serious dependency problem.
“Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks”
(I
SAIAH
5:22).
Change Can HappenQ
UESTION
: “If I am a habitual, compulsive drinker and drug user, can I really change and permanently stop?”
A
NSWER
: All habits, compulsions, and addictions are highly resistant and are therefore very difficult to change, yet not impossibly so.
• Repeating certain actions actually alters the brain, making it more difficult to bring about change.
• However, new patterns of behavior can be learned, which, in turn, will alter your brain.
• Replace bad habits and addictions with good, healthy habits and activities with supportive people.
If you are a true believer, you have
His Word
to change your way of thinking,
His church
—often with specialized community groups—to support your life change, and
His Spirit
to empower you from within to follow through and stop abusing alcohol and drugs.
“It is God who works in you to will
and to act according to his good purpose”
(P
HILIPPIANS
2:13).
On the day Josh Hamilton was drafted by a major league baseball team, the team’s scout commented on why Josh was chosen. “I think character may have been the final determining factor. You read so many bad things about professional athletes, but I don’t think you ever will about Josh.”
18
But then a dump truck sped through a red light and smashed Josh Hamilton’s entire life. The devastating blow resulted in twisted metal and a twisted back. Josh had been on the smooth road to success—drafted by Tampa Bay with a record signing bonus of almost $4 million and dubbed the top major league prospect in the minors—when the accident sidelined the 19-year-old with lingering back problems.
His parents, also hurt in the crash, were forced to return to North Carolina to recover from their injuries, leaving Josh alone for the first time in his life.
19
In the Bible, we read of another person whose life took an unexpected and dramatic turn for the worst. For Job, life was good. He had everything he could possibly want. Then, in the space of just a few traumatic hours, he lost everything.
“And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have seized me. At night it pierces my bones within me, and my gnawing pains take no rest”
(J
OB
30:16-17
NASB
).
Even in the midst of stressful circumstances, it’s possible to discern the warning signs that indicate a person has an addiction problem. For a substance abuser, a combination of many symptoms can be observed—symptoms that fall into five basic categories:
emotional, physical, behavioral, relational
, and
spiritual
.
Emotional Warning Signs
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fear of rejection
• Frustration over little things
• Guilt—“My choices are bad”
• Shame—“I am bad”
• Unpredictable mood swings
Because Jesus cares about our hearts, He gives us these words of warning:
“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap”
(L
UKE
21:34).
Physical Warning Signs
• Bloodshot eyes
• Loss of sexual desire
• Night sweats
• Poor general health
• Shaky hands
• Skin breakouts
• Tendency to look older
• Unhealthy looking complexion
• Weight gain or puffiness
The Bible describes those who are addicted as those who have sorrow in their hearts:
“Who has woe? Who has sorrow?…Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine”
(P
ROVERBS
23:29-30).
Behavioral Warning Signs
• Compulsive drug use
• Defensive about the addiction
• Denial that there is a problem
• Dishonest about usage
• Obstinate about change
• Rebellious toward those in authority
• Reclusive from those wanting to help
• Secretive about time spent on the addiction
Many a person has made an alliance with an addiction. God issues this warning to those who make choices that are contrary to His will for their lives:
“‘Woe to the obstinate children,’ declares the L
ORD
, ‘to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin’”
(I
SAIAH
30:1).
Relational Warning Signs
• Associating primarily with other users
• Attempting to hide addictive behavior
• Being too weak to stop and too stubborn to get help
• Deceiving others about money spent on the addiction
• Lying to others about frequency of use
• Prioritizing the drug over people and profession
• Refusing to act responsibly in relationships
• Shifting blame to others for problems
All close relationships are harmed when anyone struggles with an addiction. The Bible describes the warning signs of an abuser:
“This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious
.
He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard”
(D
EUTERONOMY
21:20).
Spiritual Warning Signs
• Aversion to Scripture
• Conviction by the Spirit
• Diminished prayer life
• Fear of God’s punishment
• Feel estranged from God
• Hardened heart toward God
• Lack of joy
• Withdrawal from church life
The Lord describes those who choose to turn away from Him and choose “new wine”:
“They do not cry out to me from their hearts
but wail upon their beds. They gather together for grain
and new wine but turn away from me”
(H
OSEA
7:14).
Josh Hamilton was placed on the team’s disabled list for a month, and other sports-related injuries were quick to follow, keeping the star off the baseball diamond more than on it. Separated from his parents and hampered by injury, Josh said, “The two things that I really knew in life, baseball and my parents, were taken away from me at the same time.”
20
The one-two punch sent Josh reeling, and before long the warning signs of severe substance abuse surfaced—at least four failed drug tests and eight trips to rehab.
A growing number of people today engage in
binge drinking
—that is, drinking an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time. While some cases of “overdoing” may be harmless, when it comes to alcohol, binge drinking is not only dangerous but it can also be deadly. Long before it was faddish to binge drink, the biblical book on wisdom gave this warning:
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge
themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons
become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags”
(P
ROVERBS
23:20-21).
According to surveys taken in the United States…
•
Binge drinkers
…
– Are more likely to be male
21
– Are 14 times more likely to experience alcohol-impaired driving
22
– Are 3 times more likely to binge drink when they consume alcohol mixed with energy drinks
23
– Are more likely to have unprotected sex, multiple sex partners, cause unintended pregnancies, and acquire sexually transmitted diseases
24
– Typically have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 grams percent or above, which generally occurs when a man consumes five or more drinks in a two-hour period and a woman consumes four or more drinks in a two-hour period
25
•
Binge drinking
accounts for…
– About 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21
26
– About 75 percent of the alcohol consumed by adults
27
– Over 50 percent of the deaths related to alcohol
– About 66 percent of the YPLL (years of potential life lost)
28
•
Binge drinking
contributes to numerous health and social problems, including…
29
– Alcohol poisoning
– Uncontrolled diabetes
– Liver disease
– Neurological damage
– Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
– Sexual dysfunction
– Unintentional injuries (car crashes, falls, burns, drowning)
– High blood pressure, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases
– Intentional injuries (firearm injuries, sexual assault, domestic violence)
The differences in when and how men and women begin drinking and fall into substance abuse is known as the “telescoping phenomenon.” Women generally begin drinking later in life than men, but they develop habitual patterns of drunkenness and dependence on alcohol at a faster rate than men. Women also tend to develop a drinking habit in an effort to manage stress, anxiety, or depression.
30
Women and Alcohol: Health and Pregnancy
31
•
Drinking alcohol excessively
increases the risk of…
– A disrupted menstrual cycle
– Infertility
– Miscarriage
– Stillbirth
– Premature delivery
– Cancer
•
Drinking alcohol while pregnant
increases the risk of having a baby with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), whereas refraining from drinking while trying to become pregnant and while pregnant completely prevents FASD. There is absolutely no safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The most severe result of drinking during pregnancy is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which causes…
– Emotional problems
– Mental retardation
– Birth defects
•
Drinking alcohol while pregnant
increases the likelihood of having a baby die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). This risk substantially increases when a woman binge drinks during her first trimester of pregnancy.
Men and Alcohol: Health and Sexual Function
32
•
Drinking alcohol excessively
can interfere with testicular function and male hormone production, resulting in impotence and infertility.
•
Drinking alcohol excessively
can significantly increase risk of injury or death due to…
– Driving recklessly while intoxicated
– Blood poisoning
•
Drinking alcohol excessively
results in increased aggression and impaired judgment, which in turn increases the risk of committing sexual assault and engaging in risky sexual activity. Such excessive drinking can lead to…
– Participating in sex without protection and with multiple partners
– Mistaking a woman’s friendship as sexual interest
– Misjudgments about one’s own strength and forcefulness
– Acts of violence, including rape
Gender Differences for Drinkers
33
