Op Ed

Iara Fernal
English 102
Christy Vance
The Benefits of Religion
It is a fact that our modern society has drowned in the problem of drug abuse. For the past 25 years illicit substance use has been a major issue in the United States (Office of National Drug Control Policy), and a large portion of society – 30%, agrees that this is the biggest current problem which for some reason we cannot find the solution to (Cornwall et all, 118).
In my opinion the solution for such a major problem is right in front of our eyes, and it is increasing faith and Church membership. With the rapid rise of science secularization of countries began to happen and religion started to lose its importance in people’s lives (Human Religions).
Religion can decrease the amount of drug use in several ways. It helps individuals to deal with peer pressure – which is the idea that a group influences a person’s decisions and encourages he/she to engage in behaviors which he/she would not normally engage on (Buzzle) – by creating a social network which consists of other church members who share the same values and morals and who will not lay pressure on a specific individual into doing something that he/she does not want to do, such as drugs.
Religion can also help individuals by giving them a lot of different activities to do and keeping them busy. Many people claim having an unexciting life and being bored and use that as an excuse to try drugs for the first time (National Education Association).
Those individuals who are members of a specific church are way less likely to use such a terrible excuse since they have the chance to engage in many activities provided by the institution which he/she is a member of. Churches can offer a wide variety of activities, such as bible study groups, women’s and men’s focus groups, discussion groups, social activities, bicycle outings and gardening clubs (Essortment).
Finally, religion creates an attachment between individual and society by teaching against drug use and by encouraging its members to be productive and committed citizens of the world. As a consequence the chances of an individual who often goes to church and who participates in their activities getting involved in illegal substance use is a lot lower than those who have no faith (Doris Chu, 665).
Religion can have a very positive impact in people’s lives; however it is very important to state that for such an impact to be possible there must be a commitment between religion and individual. The reasons why a person decides to go to church must be genuine and must come from the inside. If someone just goes to church to impress society or to not be judged against then such benefits will not apply (Doris Chu, 669).
As a conclusion, after analyzing all the data I have decided that Religion is a very powerful weapon in combating drug use. It can help individuals in many ways that nothing else can. It gives people motivation, it creates attachment and it keeps people busy. Religion needs to be brought back into our lives if one day we hope to live in a drug-free world.