Bitter Pill

I have honestly not had much time to peruse the website like I desire to, but I found an interesting Indiana website about the epidemic and dangers of prescription drug use at

http://www.in.gov/bitterpill/

There are testimonies and great facts presented on this website like:

“Every 25 minutes someone dies from a prescription drug overdose.” As you browse the website, a timer tracks your minutes spent on the website to show how quickly 25 minutes passes.

“More people abuse prescription drugs than cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and inhalants combined.”

“1 in 5 Indiana teenagers have admitted to abusing prescription drugs.”

Most of you probably realize the significance of these statistics, and they likely do not shock you. Still, it is amazing to me how practical the Word of God is to speak to this issue in a heart-probing manner. Hebrews 4:12 highlights the Bible’s inquisitive side: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

The way the Bible probes the heart brings transformational change into the lives of those who surrender to Him by acknowledging the truth and then obeying it. Through His Word, God gives us the answer to lower these alarming stats of drug abuse in our community.

As God’s people rise up to be the church, more people will find answers provided by the Holy Spirit and the Bible. I love that Vision of Hope is a church ministry, reaching into the community to solve societal problems! What a testimony of God’s power and faithfulness!

-Pastor Mark Shaw (accepting the challenge to speak truth in love to a darkened world that desperately needs the light)

Mark Shaw
Mark Shaw has 22 years of counseling experience working in a variety of settings including faith-based residential programs, dealing with issues surrounding “addictions” of all types, and supervising staff positions. His experience in the biblical counseling field began in 2001. He has written 14 published works including The Heart of Addiction; Relapse: Biblical Prevention Strategies; Divine Intervention: Hope and Help for Families of Addicts; Addiction-Proof Parenting; and Hope and Help for Self-Injurers/Cutters. He also co-authored a chapter in Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling (2013).