Breaking Addictions Through a Relationship With Christ
Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous preach that once an addict, always an addict. People can spend years—sometimes decades—sitting in circles, lamenting how powerless they are against their addictions. This includes those who may have abused substances for a time but have been clean and sober for years, even decades.
If gathering in a circle with others who share a history of substance abuse helps you stay sober, then by all means, embrace it. But let’s be clear: this belief that you are powerless and you will always be an addict is a lie—one that contradicts the promises of God and dismisses the transformative power of His Word.
You’re selling yourself a falsehood, straight from the pit of hell.
I was once enslaved by alcohol and drugs, but today is a new day. Yesterday is behind me, and it’s time to wave goodbye to it. Today, I am free from that addiction.
I choose to focus on God’s promises, not on the lies of Satan. God’s grace can strip away addictions as if they were nothing. His Word has the power to heal and restore; it’s alive and active.
My first love was alcohol—a passionate affair that burned with intensity. Good days, bad days, long days, busy days—alcohol was always there. In moments of loneliness, sadness, or even joy, alcohol was my constant companion. It scratched that itch and became my crutch.
I was psychologically and emotionally dependent on it, gripped in a chokehold so tight that envisioning life without alcohol felt like imagining life without air or water.
In my twenties, before prison, I spiraled into bingeing on cocaine and Adderall alongside my alcohol habit. During a dark chapter of my life while incarcerated, I found myself enslaved to synthetic opioids. They were my only escape from the drudgery of a long, bleak 30-year sentence. Without them, life was colorless, dull, and devoid of hope. I was hopelessly addicted.
But that was then; this is now. At 18, 21, 25, and 30, alcohol held dominion over me. But as we move into 2025, alcohol has lost its grip. I didn’t go through rehab repeatedly or follow the 12-step program. By God’s grace—poof—my addiction vanished. The desire evaporated.
One of my favorite preachers, Tony Evans, says that everything in the physical realm has a spiritual root—be it addiction, depression, or any other struggle. The Word of God, coupled with His grace and prayer, can do the impossible. While it’s vital to acknowledge the physical realm, you must start with the spiritual because that’s where the root cause lies.
I’m not suggesting that you can simply wish away your addiction with positive affirmations or empty rituals. If you struggle with sexual immorality, don’t put yourself in environments that tempt you. If gambling is your vice, Las Vegas might not be the best vacation spot. Similarly, if alcohol or drugs are your challenges, take proactive steps to remove temptation from your daily life.
The idea that once an addict, always an addict is a flat-out lie. Some people who once struggled with alcohol may not be able to drink in moderation, while others can. For me, after immersing myself in God’s Word and developing a consistent prayer life, alcohol and drugs lost their power.
Let me be clear: I’m not engaged in a constant battle to “stay sober.” Temptation is no longer an issue for me—it's simply vanished. I used to chase that overwhelming itch, but now? I don’t even feel it.
However, this reality can be hard for others to accept. Many staunch proponents of AA/NA insist that everyone shares the same story and that we’re all forever chained to our past substance abuse, labeling it a disease. That notion is fundamentally flawed.
They want to point fingers and label me as a no-good, powerless individual who will always be an addict, needing to sit in a circle and recount the tales of my past misdeeds. But that’s untrue. I am 100% free from those “addictions.” The powerful grip that once held me captive has dissipated.
Yes, I’m in prison, but let’s not kid ourselves—prison is rife with opportunities for addiction. I’m not isolated from alcohol and drugs; they’re everywhere. Yet I want to emphasize: I am not struggling to stay sober. There is no struggle. I could be surrounded by alcohol all day and night, and the desire simply isn’t there. If I wanted to enjoy a drink, I could. No problem.
God’s Word doesn’t say anything is possible… except overcoming addiction. It declares that nothing is impossible with God. Renew your mind with His Word, and watch as the strongholds that have plagued you for a lifetime are obliterated.
Get out of that AA/NA mindset. Forget the vague discussions about a “higher power.” There is only one true higher power, and His name is Jesus Christ. Any program that relies on individual interpretations of a higher power—especially one with a 95 percent failure rate—is bogus.
Instead, immerse yourself in God's promises. Discover what He says about your struggles, because there is a promise for every problem known to humanity. Stand firm on those promises.
Pursue spiritual growth. Dedicate time to prayer and dive deep into God’s Word. This isn’t just about avoiding substances; it’s about transforming your entire life through a relationship with Christ.
People fall for lies—my grandfather and dad were alcoholics so I'm an alcoholic. Another lie—I just have an addictive personality.
The mantra of "once an addict, always an addict" is a deceptive narrative that can hold you back from the freedom God offers.
If you need help with drug and alcohol treatment, seek it out. If AA or NA works for you, then by all means, use those resources. But always prioritize God’s Word and His promises. When you do, the results will follow. God’s grace is far more powerful than any substance or addiction.
So, please, don’t buy into the lie that you cannot overcome your addiction.
Religion and church don't hold any power. But the Holy Spirit is alive and can change hearts. And through a relationship with Christ, the Holy Spirit will help you.
