• Consider the different possibilities and Christian responses in this
chapter, and defend, in your initial post, a possible way to deal with
minor drug offenses that might be more effective than jail terms.
As I reflect on this question, I cannot help but to think about my experiences as a
police officer and the many lives that I encountered who were affected by addiction. I
have taken enforcement action against hundreds of people, some of which, were arrested
and others were simply cited. I have seen overdoses; abuse and neglect which resulted
in placing the addict's children into state custody; countless thefts, robberies, burglaries,
and other property crimes because of the stranglehold that addiction has on the lives of
its victims. I responded to overdoses on more than one occasion where an opiate addict
was unconscious and unresponsive, but we were able resuscitate them with Narcan only
to have them turn combative because we "stole" their high. In the latter, criminal
charges were rarely filed, but in many other situations, charges were filed which
sometimes resulted in lengthy prison sentences.
Maybe, it is the cynicism of a career in law-enforcement, but I tend to believe that
treatment and rehabilitation are mostly ineffective when dealing with addicts. I believe
that in order to see successful results, there must be "buy-in" from the addict. In other
words, he or she must be willing to change their lifestyle choices. In my opinion, too
many people use treatment or rehabilitation plans to manipulate something or someone,
and once they get their desired results, it all gets pushed aside and they fall back into
their life of addiction that leads them to a much more dangerous and reckless lifestyle.
Conversely, there were many others, who did not belong in jail because it would only
make their situation worse. As a police officer, those were the ones who I really wanted
to help. c
Christian Responses
"The greatest contribution the Christian and the church can make toward deterrence is to
faithfully teach God's holy standards and God's holy judgment" [1]. Therefore, as a
Christian, my job is not to ridicule, reprimand, or remind the addict that what they are
doing is wrong because in most cases, they already know they are wrong. My job is to
love and teach them what it means to have a relationship with Christ--it is the Holy
Spirit that will transform and renew them.
As believers, we have all seen the meth-addict who was radically transformed by a
relationship with Christ because he surrounded himself with believers who showed him
love and encouragement; instead of, ridicule and shame. However, that does not mean
that a Christian should or will condone the unhealthy lifestyle of an addict. Sometimes,
we must demonstrate "tough love" and stand firm towards "right and wrong." According
to McQuilkin, acting from a posture of love can include reporting crimes to the police
[2].
Furthermore, as a police officer, my job was to enforce the law, and until the laws
change towards drug use, addicts will continue to go to jail. At some point, there will
come a time when they no longer want to be in the justice system, so they will either
change their lifestyle, or they will get better at not getting caught. Of course, society
would prefer the lifestyle change, but several things need to happen first including
changing their belief systems about themselves. Those addicts that I know who have
changed their behavior started by changing their beliefs about their identity. Their
identity is now in Christ and not in the substance that controlled them.
____________________________________________________________
[1] Robertson McQuilkin, An Introduction to Biblical Ethics (Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 2014), 442.
[2] Ibid., 442.
