Cocaine is one of those drugs that often get overlooked. It isn’t because people are not aware of its problems; there are just so many hard drugs on the market that this one does not always get the attention that it probably deserves. Cocaine is highly addictive and very destructive. The most glaring problem to me though is the fact that 14.7% of all Americans who are older than 12 years of age have tried cocaine at least one time in their life. This means that nearly 15% of the people you probably work with have tried it. When you go to your child’s school functions like a basketball or football game, of those in the stands, 15% have tried cocaine at least once. Some of those may be existing addicts as well.

The number drastically increases when you look at adults between the age of 24 and 36. In fact, it is 25% of adults that fit that age range that has tried Cocaine. So the number goes exceptionally higher when you start talking about people who probably have younger children. To know that these are the types of people that our children are potentially associating with is something that makes me scared for what my children might encounter as they are going to school or go to spend the night with even those families that I know well.

So what does the bible say about cocaine addiction? Obviously, the word cocaine did not exist back when the bible was written. However, we can look at the addiction problems that were occurring during this time, and probably the most relative one would be the fact that many people were addicted to wine during the time Jesus walked the earth. Galatians 5:19-21 says this, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Essentially, drug addiction such as alcoholism could be compared to sexual immorality, envy, and even sorcery. Paul thought that all of these grouped together had one thing in common. Drug addiction is clearly sinful.

Paul also wrote in Ephesians this, ““All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything.” What is Paul getting at here? In my opinion, Paul is saying that there are probably many things out there that sit on the border of good and bad. It is a clear vision for me, but even if it isn’t for you, is what you are doing helpful in furthering your relationship with God? If not, should you be doing it? This is the biggest problem with drug addiction is that those who are seriously addicted will think about nothing else other than where to get their next high. The unfortunate part is that the drugs take the place in our mind of where God should be.