{"id":978,"date":"2010-01-01T11:33:11","date_gmt":"2010-01-01T17:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/?p=978"},"modified":"2010-01-01T11:33:11","modified_gmt":"2010-01-01T17:33:11","slug":"address-to-churches-for-drug-awareness-month-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/features\/commentary\/address-to-churches-for-drug-awareness-month-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"Address to churches for Drug Awareness Month 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/drugs.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-980\" title=\"drugs\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/drugs-300x300.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/drugs-300x300.gif 300w, https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/drugs-150x150.gif 150w, https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/drugs.gif 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Dearly beloved, we the Director and staff of the National Drug Abuse Prevention Unit count it a joy and privilege having to address you on this momentous occasion.\u00a0 As you already know, January of every year since 1997 is observed as Drug Awareness Month.\u00a0 This year\u2018s observance is under the theme, \u201cResponsibility is the key to being drug free\u201d!<\/p>\n<p>Responsibility is indeed the central theme of the bible as everyone is urged to take responsibility for their actions or for the lack thereof.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It was Joshua of old who said to his people, Choose ye this day who you should serve, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord\u201d, such a responsible young man!<\/p>\n<p>We are conscious of the fact that the church has a major part to play in the state of affairs in the wider society.\u00a0 This is so as the community of believers is thought of as salt, thus much of the preservation of our society can be directly attributed to the presence of the church.\u00a0 It is no wonder the bible states that, \u201cIf my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sins and HEAL THEIR LAND!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dear friends, we see a level of decadence in our society that goes up to the master as a stench.\u00a0 Substance abuse, crime and violence seem to be on the rise.<\/p>\n<p>A 2006 Secondary School Survey conducted at the nation\u2019s secondary schools with students of forms 2, 4 and with 6th form students of the Dominica State College of a 2369 sample reveals that about; 52% of those surveyed used alcohol, 31% marijuana, 1% crack\/cocaine and a much smaller percentage used solvents like glue.\u00a0 This data also suggests that our children begin to experiment with drugs as early as 12 years and that more males than females use drugs.<\/p>\n<p>Beloved, if we know anything about drugs we should know that they are a weapon of Satan against the peoples of the world.\u00a0 The bible equates him to a roaring lion seeking whom he may devourer and it is no secret that this is the \u201cmode of operation\u201d of substance use and abuse.\u00a0 Drugs have certainly come to steal, kill and destroy.\u00a0 In the words of former Prime Minister of Dominica, the deceased honorable Pierre Charles of blessed memory, in patois, \u201cDrugs ne trios L; Lajan, Lajol evec lamor\u201d! We all know by now that he remains incontrovertibly correct.\u00a0 Many of our youths see the \u201cglits\u201d and glamour associated with substance abuse, whereas they find it increasingly difficult to focus on the loss of opportunity through imprisonment, the misery, the erosion of values and the tremendous hardship it brings to loved ones who inadvertently become victims of their drug abusing or trafficking family member.<\/p>\n<p>Clearly, Drugs have a negative impact on the individual, his family and the wider society.\u00a0 This is not the time to pretend to be ostriches who when faced with eminent danger bury their heads in the sand only to fall prey to the attacker, it is time to take action!\u00a0 The church is hereby called upon to be proactive, remain constantly in prayer, for prayer changes people and things. It would be a mistake of the gravest kind if our churches fail to address this very serious issue in our midst, for the issue of substance use and abuse must find its place on our pulpits and not only during Drug Awareness Month.<\/p>\n<p>The church also has its role to play in the rehabilitation of substance abusers and also has a responsibility towards preserving the mental health of individuals particularly its followers.\u00a0 Like the National Drug Abuse Prevention Unit, you too must continue to promote programmes and activities that encourage the non-acceptance and non-involvement of our people in drug abuse practices, for this enhances the social and psychological well being of the congregation and wider community.<\/p>\n<p>No man is an island.\u00a0 The unit has over the years enjoyed a close working relationship with faith based organizations throughout the island.\u00a0 We kindly ask that you continue socializing your congregation especially the youth in a drug free environment.\u00a0 Ensure that members remain open and approachable especially the leadership, that persons feel free to vent as the lack of support and loneliness is a driving force towards substance abuse and mental illness by extension.<\/p>\n<p>Truly, responsibility is the key to being drug free and an essential pillar in character development, once again we call on every member of your congregation to make a personal commitment to be responsible, a decision that will please our master immensely.<\/p>\n<p>We take this opportunity to thank you for your unwavering support over the years and do wish you a bright and prosperous 2010.<\/p>\n<p>Thank You!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dearly beloved, we the Director and staff of the National Drug Abuse Prevention Unit count it a joy and privilege having to address you on this momentous occasion.\u00a0 As you already know, January of every year since 1997 is observed&#8230;","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":980,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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