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    The Drug Epidemic
    The Drug Epidemic
    The Drug Epidemic
    Ebook111 pages48 minutes

    The Drug Epidemic

    By Don Allen

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    About this ebook

    The Bible tells us that there is a roaring lion in the house, and the question is how do we stop him? The roaring lion (the devil himself) is destroying our families, communities, and even our churches. One of the methods he has continued to use since the beginning of time is drugs, including alcohol. We are facing a world-wide epidemic which if left untreated, will destroy our society as we know it. This problem crosses religious, ethnic, financial, and societal lines. As Christian parents, pastors, and church members, it is essential that we do not remain like the ostrich, with our heads in the sand. We must understand that addiction is not simply a moral failure, but a complex issue that must be addressed and overcome for the sake of the addict, along with the family and friends their addiction is affecting. The epidemic of alcoholism and drug addiction is not limited to just the community around us, or to the inner-city, or to just other families on our street. The problem of drug addiction and alcoholism is gripping young people, families, and churches around the world. Addiction has no respect for the individual; it does not care if you or your children are White, African American, Hispanic, or Asian, nor if you are rich or poor. It knows no age limit, social or economic level, nor denominational affiliation. With over 25 years of experience in the substance abuse field, I have personally counseled hundreds of individuals and their families. Some of my clients became addicted as early as seven years of age. Heads Up! If I hear one more pastor or church leader tell me, there is not a problem in our community and especially not one in my church, I am going to scream. There is no greater denial for a pastor, children’s pastor, youth pastor, or parent. Our children and teenagers face the same challenges of drug addiction and alcoholism that all other children face. The only desire that addiction has is to get the individual hooked, and when hooked (as one teenager so eloquently put it “your hit") life slides downward in a horrific spiral. Hopefully, men and women are becoming increasingly more aware of the need to get involved in helping the addicted find new life. As a counselor, I look for certain signs that tell me alcohol or drugs are causing problems for the individual, their families, and their friends. The following five questions (criteria) can generally provide a clear idea of where the individual stands in addiction. If the answer to one of the following questions is yes, I’m confident alcohol or drugs are having an impact and the individual is addicted. Have drugs or alcohol: 1. Caused you problems with the legal system (DUI, paraphernalia charges, drug possession, or trafficking)? 2. Caused you problems with family and friends? 3. Caused you problems with your finances? 4. Caused you problems with your health (either your physical or mental health)? 5. Caused you problems with your housing? Remember a yes may not mean addiction, but certainly the person is heading down a dangerous path. I have been in pastoral ministry for over 35 years working as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor in both faith based and secular programs. Sadly, I have counseled more than my share of good, church attending kids and adults. They didn’t mean to get hooked on drugs or get in trouble, but they made bad choices and it happened. Yes, I Think We Have a Problem! The goal of this book is help to you as a parent, pastor, friend, spouse, child, or sibling understand the complexity of this problem (epidemic), and develop a plan of what you can do to help. Throughout this book, we are going to use the old newspaper methodology of getting information: WHAT, WHY, WHO, WHEN, WHERE & HOW I hope you will take the time to explore this problem gripping our world. It could mean the difference between life and death for you or someone you love. Don Allen

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDon Allen
    Release dateSep 24, 2017
    ISBN9781370533008
    The Drug Epidemic

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      Book preview

      The Drug Epidemic - Don Allen

      The Drug Epidemic and the Impact on our Families and Churches!

      There is a Roaring Lion in the House!

      How Do We Stop Him?

      Rev. Don Allen, Jr., PhD, LICDC-CS

      Copyright 2017 by Don Allen

      Vision Publishing

      P.O. Box 1680

      Ramona, CA 92065

      1-800-9-VISION

      www.booksbyvision.org

      All rights reserved. No part of this ebook can be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the author except in brief quotations embodied in critical articles of review.

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Acknowledgements

      I would like to acknowledge several people that have made significant contributions to this book. First, I would like to acknowledge my wife of 31 years, Lee, my two children Meghan and Ethan, as well as my friend Pastor Robert Harper. Without the wisdom and support of each of these individuals, this book would not have been possible.

      I also want to thank the Substance Abuse Counselor that has invested in my life, making me the counselor that I am today; as well as the thousands of patients and clients that have shared their story and allowed me to be a part of their recovery.

      Table of Contents

      Foreword

      Introduction

      Chapter 1: What is Drug Abuse?

      Chapter 2: What Does the Bible Say About Alcohol and Drugs?

      Chapter 3: Why Do I Have to be Honest About My Family History?

      Chapter 4: Why is Addiction Among the Elderly on the Rise?

      Chapter 5: What are the Current Drugs of Choice?

      Chapter 6: Why Do Individuals Use Drugs or Alcohol?

      Chapter 7: What Things Should We Watch Out For?

      Chapter 8: Who is Using?

      Chapter 9: Who is Affected by the Use?

      Chapter 10: Where Are They Using?

      Chapter 11: When Do People Use?

      Chapter 12: Table of Recovery

      Chapter 13: What Can We Do to Stop the Trend?

      Chapter 14: What Are My Tips for Parents? Be a Good Listener

      Chapter 15: Where Do I Get Help?

      Chapter 16: How Can We Help?

      Chapter 17: What Type of Treatment Programs are Available?

      Chapter 18: What Organization and Support Groups are Available?

      Appendix: A

      Appendix: B

      Appendix: C

      About the Author

      Foreword

      Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Don Allen fully understands the motivation and passion with which he approaches the subject of addictions. Through his years as a pastor and professional counselor he has, as they say, seen it all and what he has seen further fuels the drive to shout from the house top that there is, a lion in the house!

      Dr. Allen is not afraid to draw a deep line in the sand and call us out. Call us out of our closets of denial and challenges us to regain the high ground of biblical authority over our lives and that of our families. He lays down the gauntlet to our church and community leaders not be seduced by the influence of a post-Christian culture.

      Not only is Dr. Allen descriptive with ample information about the various addictive substances and the consequences of their abuse, he is also prescriptive, on what each of us can do to aid in prevention and recovery.

      This is one of those books that you will want to always have several copies on hand as a ready resource. It could very well be the life line to someone being drawn under by the power of addiction.

      Now let me finish by leaving you with an antidotal admonition given to me by a friend.

      "I loved you when you were born

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