Substance Abuse: Sin Or Disease?

[seer]

I was listening to a local Bishop recently, he was saying that substance abuse was a disease not a sin. But scripture clearly defines drunkenness as a sin (the main substance abuse of the time). I get why some do not want to put this in moral terms since they fear that the resulting guilt may prevent recovery, but a Bishop (or Christian) should know better.

[Sparko]

I think it can be both.

Addiction is a disease, but not all substance abuse is addiction. And even with most addictions, there is a time before you are actually addicted where you are making a conscious decision to give in to the addiction or avoid it. Nobody makes you take that first hit of heroin but yourself.

[Christianbookworm]

Who says it is mutually exclusive? The poor choices that lead to addiction is the sin. The physiological/psychological need to keep abusing the drug is the disease part. But it is still the person's choice to seek help.

[seer]

I think it can be both.

Addiction is a disease, but not all substance abuse is addiction. And even with most addictions, there is a time before you are actually addicted where you are making a conscious decision to give in to the addiction or avoid it. Nobody makes you take that first hit of heroin but yourself.

Exactly that is a moral choice that will eventually lead to addiction. Which makes it a sin.

[Sparko]

Exactly that is a moral choice that will eventually lead to addiction. Which makes it a sin.

I do think sometimes something that is not a sin in itself can sneak up on someone to become substance abuse. Like drinking. If someone has an addictive personality, drinking could start out as a normal social behavior, having a brew with your friends, but slowly turn into an addiction till one day the person is locked into the addiction and can't get out. In such cases I don't know if it is a sin or not. They are abusing the substance but they didn't start abusing it on purpose and they ended up where they are because of their genetics or whatever caused them to become addicted where others would not be.

They still need to recognize they have a problem and stop, but I don't know where the sin begins. Maybe they know they need help but refuse because they like the substance?

[Mountain Man]

I was listening to a local Bishop recently, he was saying that substance abuse was a disease not a sin.

I think he's wrong. Addictions and compulsive behaviors (such as seeking out pornography) do not simply begin on their own. It takes a willful act of sin to get that ball rolling. Yes, people can get to the point where they may not be able to control themselves, but they bear full responsibility for the sin that got them there.

[lee_merrill]

Drunkenness and gluttony are both sins in Scripture, yet Jesus said those who are whole do not need a physician, but those who are sick (Luke 5:31). So indeed, it does seem to be both.

Blessings,
Lee

[Thoughtful Monk]

They still need to recognize they have a problem and stop, but I don't know where the sin begins. Maybe they know they need help but refuse because they like the substance?

Probably with human eyes we can't see when this occurs. I think it's when their substance becomes their god.

[Sparko]

Probably with human eyes we can't see when this occurs. I think it's when their substance becomes their god.

good point.