A:  Thanks so much for writing to us with these questions. First, I do have to tell you that I am not qualified to give you any medical advice. If you feel you NEED medical help, or if you are feeling so desperate that you may harm yourself, please seek help immediately. You must try to stabilize yourself mentally and spiritually.

Affliction is not a curse nor a punishment from God. God does not act in this way. Sin is a conscious and deliberate decision to be disloyal to God. Only you can determine whether sin is involved, but I suspect that, at this point, you are using simply to maintain yourself. But there is a way out…

You are addicted because your body and/or mind have become accustomed to whatever substance it is that you are addicted to. Addiction is a physical problem…although getting off the drug is largely a spiritual problem, and can be accomplished through spiritual means. Spiritual power can overcome material problems. God CAN and WILL help you…recovery is a process of replacing bad habits with better habits, growing in spiritual strength and experience as you go. One of the more harmful aspects of addiction is that it can paralyze the will…but it can’t wipe it out. You still have a will, which can be newly activated by your desire for healing. Strengthening your connection to, and reliance on God is the surest way of overcoming this problem.

Although I cannot give you medical advice, I can tell you that I have some experience with addiction. So, I feel that your best avenue right now may be the program of AA…simply because I know that it works.

If you are familiar with the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, you know that its success is phenomenal. It is not only for addiction to alcohol. There are groups for many kinds of addiction, and that program may be a good starting point for you. But, I would suggest that you look in your local phone book, or do a Google search for help in your particular city. When you call your local AA office, they will be able to steer you to the right meeting places for your particular issue.

And HERE is a link to a 21-step Urantia Book-based take on the 12 steps program. It will be of great help to you also, as it delves further into the need for spiritual awakening and how to get there.

The Urantia Book does not say that much about the problem of addiction, although there is this quote which comes to mind:

I put this in here—not to make you feel bad—but just to give you a good reason for going forward with your recovery. I hope it will inspire you to do what it takes to become your best self—a powerful co-creator of a spirit-filled, joy-filled life with God as your partner.

One of the things that you can do immediately is to sincerely ask God to remove your desire for the drug. You cannot do this on your own, as you may have discovered. But God can do it for you. You must trust God to help you, and give your life over to him. You must surrender…go to these sites I have linked above and read the steps.

If these simple steps sound good to you, and you are ready to be the victor over your self, the process is very doable with the help of God, and of others. The best-case scenario is one where you meet with others who are afflicted as you are. Find a meeting near you. Learn from those who have recovered. Trust the process. Trust God to do for you what you are unable to do for yourself. Surrender yourself into God’s care.

The fact that you appear to be familiar with The Urantia Book is a huge BONUS! For, in The Urantia Book, we find the perfect “higher power”—a loving Father who knows you better than you know yourself—who can guide you into paths of righteousness and sobriety, if you are only WILLING to do what is necessary. And the steps are the necessary part. Each step must be taken in order, with an open and trusting heart. When you find a suitable meeting, find someone to sponsor you—someone who is recovered. This is how it works. Again, we don’t do this all alone—our chances for recovery are greatly multiplied by association with recovered persons.

Keep reading The Urantia Book—immerse yourself in its truths—read and re-read the Religion Papers (starting HERE ), the Thought Adjuster Papers (start HERE ), and Jesus’ discourse on Self-Mastery …these will help you stay grounded and inspired as you learn a better way of living. Learn to gain a broader view of yourself and your reason for existence. The Urantia Book can be your best companion during the recovery process, as its teachings parallel the program of AA, and it will help you to gain this broader view. Come to our site often and enjoy the features there, which will engage your mind and spirit.

It could be that a tendency for addiction might be a inherited trait—it could be a chemical imbalance in you, and it could be that addiction in general is a legacy from the default of Adam and Eve. This kind of problem might have been eradicated in us had they been more successful in their mission…but these are just speculations on my part. The most important thing right now is that you need to heal from this. And you CAN! If you feel ready to recover, your battle is half-way won, and only by your continued willingness will you be able to do the difficult parts of recovery.

You are a beloved child of God—you carry within you his Spirit, and you have all you need to recover because of this fact. Stay close to God during this process, and you can emerge from it victorious—with a strong spiritual grounding born of personal spiritual experience with God. You can start fresh again, and take your rightful place as a progressive child of the universe, in turn helping others who suffer as you do through your experience. This is a vital part of recovery—serving others—and it is also something you can start doing immediately…find someone who needs help, and who cannot repay you, and do something for them that they need done. It will immediately boost your self-respect.

I wish you the best in your efforts. I know you can do it, and I will add you to my prayer list for the next days and weeks. Please write back and let us know how you are doing…

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