As we have seen, adolescent drug abuse is seeping into our youth community. We live in a world filled with greed, hate and violence. If only our society turned to theology, a more peaceful planet could be restored. The Bible and Catholic Social Teaching act as a resource to help end addiction, and advise people to never engage in substance abuse whatsoever. 

Regarding the Bible, this text explicitly states that the Lord is not accepting of those who chose not to be in a sober state of living. “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (1 Thess 5:6-8). This passage encourages people to take advantage of life, and not to live their days on earth as sluggish or disconnected from a prospering society. Those who are in good health, or even just living on our God given earth should see their life as an opportunity and refrain from purposefully harming God’s creation, your body. 

It is said in Catholic Social Teaching “we are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God's creation”, therefore advising us to protect one another which serves as a tool for ending addiction or standing in solidarity with those who abuse. Being in solidarity with those who abuse substances can make a huge difference in that person’s journey to recovery. Even before someone engages in substance use, maybe someone who struggles with mental health, that assistance can prevent the person from turning to drugs.  A very powerful line in Catholic Social Teaching said by Pope Francis, On Fraternity and Social Friendship [Fratelli Tutti] is “Solidarity means much more than engaging in sporadic acts of generosity. It means thinking and acting in terms of community.” Recognizing that everyone in this world is a brother or sister of ours in communion with the Lord, or if someone is not a Catholic it is important for them to recognize that we are simply all human beings, living on one planet together, so might as well work together. Building relationships and having an open mind would create more peace in our world.

Although the Bible does not accept those who abuse drugs or alcohol, such stated in Galatians—“occasions of envy,* drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:21). The holy book still serves as a very helpful guide that can prevent people from using substances, and help bring abusers back to sobriety. A seminal 2-year study by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (2001) at Columbia University, directed by Joseph A. Califano Jr., who is the former US Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in the Clinton administration, found that the teens who did not consider religious beliefs important were almost three times more likely to smoke, five times more likely to binge on alcohol, and almost eight times more likely to use marijuana compared with the teens who strongly appreciated the significance of religion in their daily lives. Implementing faith into more people’s daily lives could help reduce the number of substance abusers.