The Real War On Drugs
Author: Johnny DragonThe following post is a series of correspondence between a college friend and myself. (Yes, someone let me into college and it was the greatest seven and a half years of my life, and no I am not a Doctor…and no, I do not remember very much about it.) I get very tired of public service announcements, and the worthless lip service our Government offers as a solution for the problem of addiction. This post is just one interaction that happens in this country each day, that shows how the real War on Drugs works. It is one person working with one person, working with one person and so on. That’s the only true hope.
I have changed the names to protect the not so innocent.
Hey J.D.!
It is nice to be reconnected! I see you’ve got a cute new baby! Is that 5? We had two while I was at OBU and then added two more when we lived in Thailand.
We’re back in Arkansas now walking and waiting to see how God shapes up our next “phase” of life. Scary and exciting at the same time…
It is interesting how drunks and addictions can be threads that bind and reconnect people.
I am sure you know Brian. Through a friend I made and posted information about, Brian contacted me and that began a “friendship” over the past month or two.
I know there is a long list of people who Brian has woven into his saga but I refuse to be one of them. From the moment we began to talk, he began to do the cycle of cussing me and trying to push me away and make me hate him so as to confirm the demonic lies that he is worthless.
I have told him I would drive to help him with whatever to get him some treatment and he got to the point of asking me what the next step was. I called some friends and made some connections to get him into a local, free, christian program but he backed out. Then he “offered” for me to come visit him within 10 or 20 minutes but I couldn’t. That has given him the ammunition to be angry at me and he says he hates me now. I keep telling him I love him and that he can’t make me stop. He hates that the most! He says he wants me to hate him but I won’t.
Brian has some serious mental, emotional and chemical/addictive issues but he also has demonic strongholds over his life. I have prayed with him over the phone several times and the last time we spoke, I began praying for him as he was cussing and cursing me and I heard him say “no” and then he hung up.
I have said some hard things to him about being a drunk and needing to be so low as to admit it himself but he likes to think himself sophisticated and can’t see himself that way, at least not when someone else says it. He’ll run himself down but won’t take it from anybody else. Even so, I alway tell him that I love him and that God loves him even more and desires Brian to be free so he knows I love him and am willing to help him. I may be the only person within range with the willingness to help him and I think he knows that. So, I expect he will be calling me back soon, again…
I am just praying that God will help me see the enemies schemes and be able to help Brian get help for the physical issues of addition so that he can have some hope of getting help with the spiritual and emotional issues.
Sorry to unload on you but that is where I am with him.
Do you make it up to Little Rock ever? We haven’t been to TX since before we went to Thailand 10 years ago. If we did get down there, we’d be headed to Houston to visit my aunt and uncle so Austin would be within striking distance.
Let me know your thoughts about Brian if you have time.
Grace,
G.
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Dear G.
Brian has made contact with me as well, and needless to say I have offered direction and insight, but have refused to allow him to take me hostage. Brian had the same MO in college as he has now. Brian desperately feeds on attention and negative attention is just as good as positive attention. Brian uses alcohol to be ok with being Brian. Brian has a host of emotional and mental issues, and yes he suffers deeply from a spiritual malady. All addicts do. When the spiritual comes into check then so does the rest. Once in Recovery, the Addict is given a daily reprieve based on a fit spiritual condition.
G., I am not going to get into a discussion about possession of the demonic variety, but I will tell you that worst than that, in the most simplistic of terms, Brian is disconnected, and seperated from God. Alcohol allows this to be acceptable. I have spent 10 years in active addiction and 5 working on the frontlines of Recovery. The story seldom changes, but through the power of God the outcomes always do. God uses us to help them and they change, or God uses someone or something else and they change, or my least favorite, God just ends the misery.
You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink. You can, however, make him thirsty. It is apparent that Brian is weighing heavily on your heart, but you also cannot allow him to manipulate what your focus needs to be. Unfortunately, things often times must get very painful for people to see the light. I know this from experience.
Do not discount the value of secular Treatment Programs. God uses all things, and there is a posiibility that a Christian based Program could be a block rather than a positive. Brian is going to have to come to an understanding of God and it will have to be of his own understanding starting off. That does not mean compromise your stance. I love your passion and I love your faith, but Gods plan is Gods plan. You might want to start off by dragging him to an AA Meeting. You might be surprised what you find. No such thing as lost causes my friend, and no limitations on what God can do.
Do you make it up to Little Rock ever? We haven’t been to TX since before we went to Thailand 10 years ago. If we did get down there, we’d be headed to Houston to visit my aunt and uncle so Austin would be within striking distance.
Let me know your thoughts about Brian if you have time.
Grace,
G.
Is it cool if I post this on my blog? I think people would gain a better understanding of addiction through this correspondence.
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J.D.
I don’t mind you posting this stuff but for now I would think that it would be better not to use real names. I’m not worried about Brian getting pissed off or anything but I won’t want to add to his pile of stuff because of his perception that I betrayed his trust.
Don’t worry about him manipulating me. I know the main thing Brian needs is Jesus and a right perspective about Him, but the chemical dependancy is clouding his ability to perceive correctly. I agree that worse than demonic oppression is separation from God. However, the demonic influence I refer to isn’t so much the substance abuse as much as his internal struggles with hatred and sexual issues that have been passed down and that he has entertained and welcomed into his life. I agree that the booze is just “medication” for him to be able to live with himself, even though it really drives his self hatred and hopelessness even deeper.
I am not against secular treatment. I only mentioned those programs because Brian asked for christian programs and those are the ones the my counselor friend explored openings with. At this point, I don’t care what kind if treatment Brian gets into. The biggest hurdle will be him reaching a point where he is willing to do ANYTHING. And I agree for sure about there being no lost causes, that’s whey I’m still talking to Brian when he is willing. But, Even God won’t override a person’s choice to make the wrong choices. All I’m trying to do is lead Brian to water. It will be his choice to drink.
Thanks for the offer for help. It seems that helping folks with addiction is something that God has placed before us at least for a season. It doesn’t take a lot of searching to find addicts of any kind so it is likely to be something He uses us to help with for the long haul.
Grace,
G.
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That’s for sure. Please let me know when the season ends.:)
Also, so that you know what I meant about God and outcomes. God uses us to help the addict and one of two things happens. God changes them or God takes them. Those are the only outcomes.
J.D.
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If we are truly willing to even bother with “the least of these” in this life as we aught, I don’t think there will be an end… Maybe “season” wasn’t the right term huh?
That makes the “outcome” part clearer for sure! Thanks bro.
Grace,
G.
If you like following this blog please let me know. jd@reverendjohnnydragon.com I would love to add you to my distrubution list and send you updates when they happen. Please send your email address to the above link and I will make sure you are kept in the loop.
Tags: communicate, fear, Free, God, grace, judgment, love, meditate, pray, Recovery, resistance
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