Addiction, Grace, and Safe Injection

Moss Park, Toronto

Through my years of ministry there were "game-changer" theological books, volumes which opened my eyes to new ways of considering what might have seemed set in my thinking and acting as a Christian. One of the those books was Gerald May's Addiction and Grace, published in 1988. May, a psychiatrist and spiritual director offered that we all have a deep desire for love yet are often inclined to attachments in our search for love that lead us away from what we desire most. He frames these attachments in terms of addiction, and maintained that all of us experience addiction in some form. 

Some of those addictions may be relatively benign (I want to put my tendency to acquire books in that category!) while others are more obviously destructive. Our desire for control in everyday circumstances, or the destructive attempts at control over the lives of others can be evidence of addictive behaviour. May then explores how we can address addiction honestly, through the love of God and the grace of Christ.

We stigmatize and criminalize some addictions in our society for a variety of reasons, and the use and abuse of both alcohol and drugs have resulted in tens of thousands being shunned, punished, incarcerated for their crimes. I've had parishioners who sat in pews on Sunday mornings looking "respectable" while dealing with the demons of addiction in their own lives. Many more felt helpless and alone as they watched loved ones sinking into self-destructive behaviour.

At this point in time one of the most pressing medical issues is the use of opioid drugs which are killing North Americans in droves. Opioids include heroin and morphine, oxycodone, and the even more deadly fentanyl and carfentanyl. Figuring out how to address the use and addiction to these illegal and deadly drugs is confounding health authorities around the globe. 




 At then end of last week the Ontario government announced the end of funding for several supervised or safe injection sites in the province. These are clinics where those who use drugs can inject them under the supervision of medical professionals. It seems counter-intuitive because of the illegality of the drugs, but the evidence is that these sites are saving hundreds of lives and helping those who use them address addiction in many cases. 

I have never used drugs and probably never will. I admit that I am regularly baffled by the desire of people to use them, especially those who put others at risk by doing so, including children. I came around, though. on the importance of safe injection sites and consider the Ford government's decision as one more dumb decision.

If we are all come to Christ "just as I am, without one plea" then surely we must explore all aspects of how we extend grace to others who are desperate and vulnerable.