Several approaches can handle minor drug charges in the midst of the
ongoing illegal drug use problem in the United States. First and foremost,
the public must recognize that a substantial number of individuals who
decide to participate in illegal drug use or the usage of prescription
medications are covering up some form of trauma in their lives. If
someone is sending people to jail as an alternative to rehabilitation, they
must first be checked to ensure they're not a threat to the community.
Also, the screening process is meant to ensure that each participant is
truly driven to achieve in a program. To ensure that they fully
comprehend what they will be expected to do during rehabilitation.
According to McQuilken and Copan, Christians have a duty to have a role
in law enforcement by strengthening the one critical element that can aid
recovery —rehabilitation by encouraging folks to accept personal
responsibility is the first step to influencing them.[1]-People are broken
vessels, and they make awful decisions because of that. One argues that
in trying to deal with different kinds of criminal activity, the focus should
be on getting offenders to reintegrate into society. McQuilken and Copan
said something interesting when they remarked, “Christians have the only
proven method of changing criminals and helping them become decent
citizens. Not only of this world, but also of the next.”[2]
We must base our recovery program around Christianity to solve minor
drug offenses. A personal example might be someone in my family. After
suffering for years in an abusive relationship, he has dealt with the
anguish of abuse but not the actual torture. When he experienced
brokenness, he returned to drugs to try to compensate for the emotional
pain he refused to confront. She was convicted of vehicular homicide,
which led to her incarceration. He finally was able to undergo personal
counseling for the difficulty she overcame while she was in jail. It was due
to this that he was able to overcome his drug addiction. And then, when
he was released, it was only God that remained! In a faith-based program,
he went to a gradual pace to help him re-enter society. Only if the
individual is prepared to put in the necessary effort will faith-based
therapy work. You may never know if you don't attempt because every
situation is different, and every instance is different.
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[1]-Paul Copan and Robertson McQuilkin, “An Introduction to Biblical
Ethics: Walking in the Way of Wisdom, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press, 2017), 432.
[2]-Ibid.,441.
