BLOG: Fentanyl Crisis Highlights Spiritual Need

Like many other states, we face the problem of drug addiction. In the state of Oklahoma, we have a serious drug problem. Many of our residents struggle with serious addictions, including prescription drugs, marijuana and fentanyl.

If you are unfamiliar with fentanyl, know that it is one of the most powerful drugs. The original purpose of fentanyl was to help treat people with severe pain, especially those related to cancer or with life-threatening injuries.

However, in a fallen world, many things that are supposed to be good often turn into something bad.

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, “From 2019 to 2022, the number of fentanyl overdose deaths increased 12-fold, from 50 deaths in 2019 to 609 in 2022. Fentanyl has been implicated in more than four out of five opioid-related overdoses. deaths in 2022, compared to about 10 to 20 percent per year before 2020. Before 2020, Oklahoma saw an increase in overdose deaths from illegally manufactured fentanyl, but not on the scale of other states. These numbers are only increasing as the drug finds its way into more hands across the state.

Why is this drug so powerful, you ask? According to the DEA, it is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as a painkiller; 42 percent of pills tested for fentanyl contained at least 2 mg of fentanyl, considered a potentially lethal dose. Drug trafficking organizations typically distribute fentanyl by the kilogram. One kilogram of fentanyl could kill 500,000 people.

Anyone can accidentally take a pill without knowing it contains fentanyl. It is also possible to take a pill knowing that it contains fentanyl, but not knowing that it constitutes a lethal dose.

For those in the know, the devastating effects of fentanyl are easy to see, but why should Oklahoma Baptists be concerned about this issue? The answer is very simple. Those who are exposed to these deadly drugs are our church members, our family members and friends, and those created in the image of God.

This year alone, as a pastor and chaplain, I have seen the devastating effects of fentanyl on the human body and mind. I have witnessed loss of life, separated families and funerals. I have counseled individuals and their family members with fentanyl-related issues and each time it becomes more apparent that continued awareness is necessary to be able to effectively care for individuals and families struggling with this serious dependence.

In the face of this tragedy, the local Church has a real opportunity to recognize the fractures in this world and minister to those directly affected by fentanyl during this time of great need. As serious as this outbreak is, I have seen first-hand the impact a local church can have. I have seen the Lord Jesus Christ do incredible things!

The real and lasting solution to this and every sin problem is the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are also various departments and agencies within the state of Oklahoma that are interested in helping people suffering from substance abuse. Here are some helpful resources I found available online:

Ultimately, God calls us to be a light in the midst of darkness. For us to be the light in the midst of this epidemic of addiction, we must first find a way to share the Good News that Jesus Christ saves not only from the punishment of sin and death, but also from all addictions.