DRUGS BRING USERS INTO SLAVERY

All these drugs, from marijuana to LSD to heroin, are either physically or psychologically addicting, or both. Researchers say: “Scientists . . . agree that signs of psychological addiction [to marijuana] are common.” True, certain drugs, administered under a physician’s care, may have some medicinal purpose. But marijuana users can find no such excuse, for, says the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, “unlike other drugs, it has no known use in modern medicine.”

The Christian, in carrying on the fight for the faith, is warned: “Keep your senses, be watchful. Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.” (1 Pet. 5:8) The person who relaxes vigilance, particularly when it is done for “kicks” and by something that incapacitates his normal processes of thinking and discernment, is opening himself up to attack by Satan and the demons. Such a person throws away self-control, and acts contrary to his devotion to God and Christ. The apostle Paul said: “I will not let myself be brought under authority by anything” (that is, that would put Paul at a disadvantage in serving God).​—1 Cor. 6:12; Gal. 5:22, 23.

Drugs weaken integrity to God. The U.S. Government brochure reports: “A person using marijuana finds it harder to make decisions that require clear thinking. And he finds himself more easily open to other people’s suggestions.” If they had been smoking marijuana to escape reality, would the three Hebrew companions of Daniel have been able to stand with firm decision, as they did, with death in a fiery furnace staring them in the face?​—Dan. 3:1-25.

COPING WITH “GROUP PRESSURE”

Parents must face the realization that probably the strongest force tending to promote drug use is “peer group pressure.” This is the desire to be “in” with the crowd and the fear of being called a coward or a “square.” Usually it is a “friend” who is the pusher. “The ‘peddler’ may be the boy next door,” says the New York Times. Often a pusher makes a gift of a “reefer” (marijuana cigarette) or a stronger drug to the individual to get him started toward becoming a profitable customer later. In an apparent effort to cause further addiction, some have sprayed marijuana with heroin before selling it.

How, then, will the youth who is constantly pressed by companions, at school, at work and elsewhere, successfully fight the use of drugs? The Bible rule is: “Bad associations spoil useful habits,” and, “Flee from the desires incidental to youth, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, along with those who call upon the Lord out of a clean heart.” (1 Cor. 15:33; 2 Tim. 2:22) Those who are learning to respect God’s laws are therefore the ‘clean-hearted’ ones whose companionship is valuable.

THE BIBLE VIEWPOINT

Does the Bible say anything relative to the subject of drugs? Does it give us help to resist use of them? Can we, with the Bible’s help, strengthen our children to resist?

Drugs were known in the ancient days of Bible writing. For what, especially, were they known? For their connection with sorcery, witchcraft, spiritism. But drugs did not bring their users into ‘communion with God,’ as some modern drug advocates claim. At Galatians 5:20, spiritism is classed, not as a fruit of God’s spirit, but as one of the “works of the flesh” that will prevent one from entering God’s kingdom. Here the Greek word used for “practice of spiritism” or “sorcery” is phar·ma·kiʹa, literally, “druggery.”

On this word, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words comments: “PHARMAKIA . . . primarily signified the use of medicine, drugs, spells; then, poisoning; then, sorcery, . . . See also Rev. 9:21; 18:23. . . . In sorcery, the use of drugs, whether simple or potent, was generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult powers, with the provision of various charms, amulets, etc., professedly designed to keep the applicant or patient from the attention and power of demons, but actually to impress the applicant with the mysterious resources and powers of the sorcerer.”

If one is led into the practice of spiritism he is open to all sorts of wrong practices that can bring demon influence and insanity, and will surely result in his everlasting death. God says: “But as for . . . those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and fornicators and those practicing spiritism [Greek, phar·ma·koisʹ, “druggers”] . . . their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This means the second death.”​—Rev. 21:8, Kingdom Interlinear Translation.