Smash the Stigma

There is often a strong, negative stigma associated with those that struggle with addiction and mental health. A stigma of who or what someone should look like or act like that is battling addiction. A burn out, a drop out, a criminal, the bad kid, bad family, the "low life", the weak, the immoral, the sinner and so on. However the disease of addiction is an absolute epidemic and affects people from every walk of life and the loved ones around them. Addiction doesn't care if someone comes from a "good family" or a "bad family, it doesn't care about income levels nor education, the churched or unchurched. Addiction does not discriminate.

Unfortunately, this negative stigma can sometimes be even greater in the Christian community. People struggling can feel great shame for not measuring up to the expectations of those around them. People may feel they need to keep up the appearance that they have every thing together, life is perfect, and they are the perfect Christian. People may fear that they will be judged, looked down upon, and abandoned.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 23.5 million Americans are addicted to alcohol and drugs. That’s approximately one in every 10 Americans over the age of 12. Even more staggering is the fact that only 11 percent of those with an addiction receive treatment. Replicate those numbers across your family, your church, and your Community. How many people are silently struggling around you?

As a Christian community it is time to take a stand against this epidemic. It is time we open our eyes and our heart to the fact that this disease is impacting lives of everyone around us. Who better than us, the body of Christ, to take a stand and fight the battle of addiction.