• Drug abuse has become a significant concern in Nagaland, affecting individuals, families, and communities. The church and faith-based organizations have a crucial role to play in addressing this issue. By leveraging their influence, resources, and spiritual guidance, they can make a meaningful impact in the fight against drug abuse. Here are some practical suggestions for the church and faith-based organizations to consider:
1. Education and Awareness: The church and faith-based organizations can organize seminars, workshops, and awareness campaigns to educate people about the dangers of drug abuse. They can also collaborate with schools and colleges to reach out to young people and educate them about the harmful effects of drugs.
2. Counseling and Rehabilitation: The church and faith-based organizations can set up counseling centers and rehabilitation centers to help people who are struggling with drug addiction. They can provide counseling services, support groups, and other resources to help people overcome their addiction.
3. Community Outreach: The church and faith-based organizations can reach out to the community and provide support to families affected by drug abuse. They can organize support groups for families and provide resources to help them cope with the challenges of addiction.
4. Collaboration with Law Enforcement: The church and faith-based organizations can collaborate with law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking and distribution. They can provide information and support to law enforcement agencies to help them identify and apprehend drug dealers.
5. Prayer and Spiritual Support: The church and faith-based organizations can provide spiritual support to people struggling with drug addiction. They can offer prayer services, spiritual counseling, and other resources to help people find hope and healing.
6. Youth Programs: The church and faith-based organizations can organize youth programs to provide young people with positive role models and activities that promote healthy lifestyles. They can also provide resources to help young people resist peer pressure and avoid drug use.
7. Advocacy: The church and faith-based organizations can advocate for policies and programs that support drug prevention and treatment. They can work with local and national governments to promote drug-free communities and provide resources for addiction treatment.
• Preach against the corruption that fuels the supply by politicians, police and underground leaders. Stop accepting blood and black money for your churches and some pastors. Stop using the house of God for dirty puppet elections you know to be fraudulent. Stop sending your own children outside for indoctrination. The jail is full of such persons. Stop taxing the innocent public 10% tithe because it makes you another faction. No CEO of Facebook, Twitter, Tic Toc etc allows their own children to use antisocial media. David Ward
• Focus on the families.
• Open group discussion, counseling and awareness may be helpful.
• Personally, I think churches cannot be of much help against drug menace. The only one thing they should do is be spiritually strong and pray for it. Having said that, if they are truly serious than they can help by setting up new drop in centres and Rehab centres. Otherwise no matter how much the church or any organization or individual does awareness campaigns or counselling or so it's all upto the one who's addicted if they want to change and if there's a proper place for people who wants to change.
Because there's a lack of proper facilities where one can rehabilitate and slowly start the withdrawal process with proper medication.
Many think that counselling or so help, I am sure it's one of the method but that's only the secondary process, but those who are into substance abuse can never give it up without proper medication and medical help. For that there's a need to set up more NGOs dealing in this area. It is hard to withdraw physically just like that, rather impossible so they need medical help only then maybe slowly with counselling and so on they can completely be rehabilitated.
Thus if Churches can be open enough to spend money from their coffers to set up or help set up such centres than they can be helpful. Or else I would say they cannot be of much use, but maybe only pray for all of us.
Our churches can built crore and crore of Church buildings and other ventures with money from offerings and from compulsorily collected from every household no matter rich or poor, so I'm very sure maybe it won't be very difficult for them to spend some amount of money to do something which can bring people who are lost, which is the true Mission of Christ.
• First stop playing politics by the church. Secondly dedicate their lives to Jesus.
• By treating the Church as a hospital for the lost souls instead of a hotel for rich people
• There are authorities empowered by the Acts to take actions against the offenders. So direct role of the Churches or faith- based organizations do not arise here but they may open or run a rehabilitation centers and be a part of the efforts to eradicate the menace. We now don't have needed numbers of rehabilitation centers and the Government of the day also not in a position to create it. So I suggest that they (faith- based organizations) bridge the gap and rehabilitate those victims.
• Engage young people more into sports and music activity. Youth department bringing out innovative ideas pulling youths into church activities instead of having special service with nothing special inside, just the same old ways and same somasa refreshment hahhha
• Knowing how significant of a role the church plays in Nagaland, open discussions would do wonders as will de-vilifying users. But if possible, funding rehabilitation or counselling centers could most definitely help
• Churches are not doing enough. In other places churches are so involved in such issues. It is not always about spiritual counselling. They should be more practical, like running some rehabilitation centres, clinical counseling n help for people who can’t afford detox treatment. Addiction happens because of many reasons.
• Sadly our churches can go to Jerusalem and built buildings and so on but yeah when it comes to all this it's like they are blind. Though I'm not saying don’t go to Infact i will become a Church member and start the idea to sponsor my trip to Jerusalem or so in the name of Christ.
• Legalise the illegal very simple
• The first thing our churches should do is first accept that it had failed in winning the souls of its congregation.
Where are the drugs coming from? Who is distributing the drugs? Who is consuming the drugs? The people dealing with drugs belongs to this or that church. The churches failed to bring them closer to God that is why the youth are indulging in drugs and its related activities.
Churches should first focus on winning souls. If this is achieved then whether it is Drugs or Alcohol, people will refrain from indulging in such activities.
• Spend lesser money on upgrading church's infrastructure and figure out ways by bringing in full time experts to mould the youths in different fields. The church has money but is too reserved. They recognise the problems, but do not address them as efficiently as they should. 1. Hire experts 2. Invest money in the future (youths)
• Help sponsor students for proper addiction counseling program to equip the church. Then set up a recovery program/ministry that address all levels of the problem. Should be long-term initiative.
• Practical Intervention by Church-Based Organizations to Reduce Drug Abuse:
1. Launch a statewide campaign addressing drug abuse and its impact on individuals and society.
2. Establish youth counseling centers within churches staffed by trained professionals in developmental psychology and cognitive behavioral therapy.
3. Implement leadership programs aimed at character development.
4. Initiate the rehabilitation of individuals struggling with drug addiction through church-operated vocational centers.
5. Conduct spiritual training sessions focused on self-mastery and personality development
• Have a holistic approach towards ministry. We can't afford to lose a generation by neglecting the youth of this vibrant generation. Walk through the lives of these precious people and ignite them with the love of God. A church is a hospital for Sinners and not feeling saints. Church needs to give career guidance and generate employment opportunities for all the youth. There should be no unemployed youth in the church. By love serve one another Galatians 5:13. Build career opportunities so they don't need to get into all sorts of things that destroy the future of the church and the society. Preach Bible not just as a Holy book for Sunday's but for every single second of their lives throughout the week. Churches should have multipurpose facilities to equip and empower every member of the church to be responsible and resourceful and respectable in the society. The vision of the church is to save the lost souls and the mission of the church is to equip and empower every believer wholistically to build the kingdom of God in their lives and society. Guide them to the call of God in their lives and fulfill them in their lives. Church must invest their resources in the youth adequately. Churches should identify the root cause of the problem and treat well instead of cosmetic treatments. Churches should teach practical theology more than academic theology. Churches should relate and be relevant with the youth of this time. Churches should preach and teach the relevance of the Bible in their lives. Church is the hope of the world.
• Drug abuse may not be as rampant in Nagaland in the injected form, but it appears to be quite prevalent in the tobacco form wherein the youths and adults alike abuse the consumption of such drugs in a casual manner. There is an argument for how much responsibility the government must take in the legal distribution of such harmful materials, but as the subject matter is restricted to the activities to be done by religious organisations, here's my personal two cents: Advocate for drug safety, spread awareness about the dangers of drug consumption, set up youth seminars, and most importantly, set up rehabilitation camps for the drug addicts that are already intoxicated. A social network and a helpful network of resources regarding drugs would no doubt, prove effective in restricting further addiction. Faith may also help the individuals in maintaining that last dictum of rationality in their head against the consumption of drugs. In any case, it is not the sole responsibility of any organisation, but the collective cooperation of all parties involved that makes a successful effort. Let us all play our part well.
• Addiction and drug abuse is a complex issue. Therefore a holistic approach is required to intervene in an addict's lifestyle. As a faith based organisation/Church, following points can be considered towards addiction/substance abuse therapy:
1. Member care: Church (Pastors, Church leaders) should know its members by name, visit homes, give counselling, pray for them. God is interested in us individually, this must be the approach of the Church. Reach out to their members (especially those addicts/ drug users).
2. Economic approach: Employ the addicts/users in possible capacity, to keep them occupied, and also ensuring their economic sustenance. When the addicts don't have money; they steal and lie, create antisocial atmosphere. Accept them, make them work, pay them, and in the process, reach out to them.
3. Support for the affected families: Most families treat addicts as unwanted member, but Church must emphasize on creating awareness on the need of integrating the addicts as one of us in the family. Also provide ways to earn for the addicts families.
4. Involve with centres/organisations working for the addicts: Dealing with addicts is dealing with their fluctuating mood/behaviour every hour, if not every minute. So behavioural change approach needs expertise, involve them in the process. Train some Church members and entrust them.
5. Invest practically: Start Rehabilitation Scheme by inviting and sponsoring interested addicts to undergo de-addiction therapy in designated rehabilitation centres.
