Pubdate: Sat, 11 Aug 2001
Source: Winston-Salem Journal (NC)
Copyright: 2001 Piedmont Publishing Co. Inc.
Contact:  http://www.journalnow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/504
Author: Billy Graham

GOD WILL HELP YOU LEARN TO GET BY WITHOUT DRUGS

Q. I'm writing you from my drug rehab center (cocaine). Drugs have really 
messed me up, and I'm tired of hurting my family and myself. But I'm really 
afraid of what's going to happen when I get out of here and that I'll get 
back on drugs. Pray for me. Thanks. - K.S.

A. Thank you for your letter - and one reason I wanted to print it is 
because some people still believe that drugs are harmless, and if you 
become involved with them it doesn't really matter, because you can leave 
them any time you want to.

But almost every day I get letters from people like you who have discovered 
that it isn't true. Instead of your controlling them, drugs like cocaine 
soon will control you. Their evil power is almost beyond belief, and only 
God can deliver a person from such a strong addiction. What the Bible says 
about alcohol applies to every other drug as well: "In the end it bites 
like a snake and poisons like a viper" (Proverbs 23:32).

God has been with you in the past, whether you have realized it or not, 
sparing your life and leading you to help for your problem. Now realize 
that he is still with you, and will be with you even when you leave there. 
I know this because Jesus died for you.

By faith ask Christ into your life. Then turn to him every day for the help 
you need. In addition, think through now what you need to do to avoid 
temptations in the future - such as moving to a new area, or getting a new 
set of friends who love God and won't pull you down.

- - Write to Billy Graham in care of the Billy Graham Evangelistic 
Association, P.O. Box 779, Minneapolis, MN 55440, call 1-(877) 2- GRAHAM or 
visit his Web site at www.billygraham.org
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom