Tackling addiction spiritually

WHILE addiction may have prominent biological or organic
causes, we can not and should not forget that it too has spiritual
causes. Man is a unity of body and soul. How the bodily organism is
certainly conditions one’s spiritual soul. And vice-versa: the state
of one’s soul affects the body in some way.

            We need to tackle the problem of addiction on both sides,
using the means and methods appropriate of each human dimension. We
should not focus on one without considering the other.

            While we can recommend some medicine, emotional and
psychological counseling, physical therapy and exercises, and others
for the bodily aspect of addiction, we should not forget to recommend
the proper spiritual means to combat it: prayer, sacrifice, ascetical
struggle, recourse to the sacraments, etc.

            We should be clear, however, that of the two, the
spiritual dimension has greater weight, because it is there where the
whole global picture of addiction is found—its causes, prevention and
cure. The bodily dimension only captures a limited part of the whole
picture. Addiction is a spiritual and moral problem more than just a
medical one.

            The spiritual dimension goes further beyond material,
biological or organic causes. It goes further than just probing the
attitudes and motives that lead to addiction.

            In fact, it tries to identify the evil spirit behind such
problem. It goes to the root cause and the ultimate cure, rather than
just dealing with the symptoms and other inconvenient elements. It
goes beyond merely giving palliatives.

            I believe that the crisis that we are having today with
respect to drug addiction only shows us that we are lagging behind in
giving due attention to the spiritual aspect of this problem.

            More than that, what we are having is the accumulated
effect of decades and even of centuries of neglect insofar as our
spiritual life is concerned. If not neglect, then some anomalies
besetting our pursuit of the spiritual life.

            We are suffering the effect of separating God from our
personal life and temporal affairs, or of treating him as irrelevant,
a bother or at best a mere ornament in our personal lives and earthly
affairs. We are suffering from the effect of a secularized world
culture.

            We now need a lot of making up and of doubling time to
cope with the rapidly increasing challenges of our times. We have to
look into how we can infuse the proper spiritual nourishment to
persons, families, schools, offices, etc., as well as to our
institutions, structures and systems—social, political, economic,
police, legal and judicial, medical, etc.

            It does not mean that by relating things to God we would
be completely freed of problems in our life here on earth. We should
never forget that we cannot avoid problems, since these are
consequences of our condition that is weakened and wounded by sin.

            But at least, when everything is related to God, we would
still find meaning and purpose in our problems and sufferings. We
could still find hope in the worst of scenarios. Our suffering becomes
redemptive, rather than just destructive.

            Obviously, this spiritual attitude toward the problem
should in no way undermine or compromise whatever human care we ought
to give to this predicament. But the human aspect, like the medical,
police, legal and judicial aspects, etc., would not be truly human if
not infused with the proper spirit.

            I believe this is where most of the problem with regard to
this issue arises. Our spiritual leaders may not yet be up to the
challenge. Most individuals and their families are still awkward about
this matter. Our civic and political leaders find it hard to blend
spirituality in their field of competence.

            We have to start somewhere, and that means that each one
of us should just find ways of how to enliven his spiritual life in
such a way that it can effectively grapple with this drug problem of
ours.

            Toward this end, we all need to pray, and start to study,
make consultations, come up with certain strategies, each one doing
his best according to his competence and possibilities.

            Those who are good in leading this campaign and in
organizing things should do so in their own initiative. We should all
work in solidarity, united in spirit and purpose while organically
blending our different competencies and possibilities.

            This is how we can break loose from the grip of fear,
uncertainty, anxiety, and political divisiveness and conflict that so
far mark our attitude toward this particular problem.