The 21st century presents disparate challenges for the Body of Christ in its continuous effort to be relevant to the communities that it serves. It currently exists in a climate that requires it to be multidimensional in ministry and adaptable in its methods to address shifts in sociocultural interests. Unfortunately, the Body of Christ, which has become synonymous with the church, has been an obtuse and apathetic observer in some of the most preeminent issues confronting contemporary culture. Issues such as unemployment, poverty, socioeconomic displacement, racial tensions, etc. have remained unaddressed in evangelical spaces in ways that at least encourage consideration and dialogue. This is also the case with drug abuse among youth.
Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to explore the spiritual and physical consequences of drug abuse among youth in the Body of Christ. As previously alluded to, this topic extends to a broader discussion and concern confronting the Body of Christ as well. As estimates of individuals identifying themselves as Christians continues to experience a downward trend, it is necessary to engage a discussion about the relevance of the 21st century church in sociocultural contexts, particularly as it relates to impactful substance abuse remedies. With these themes in mind, this project will serve as an analysis of the qualitative and quantitative implications of drug abuse among youth within the Body of Christ, while also suggesting approaches it should have in addressing this issue, and, hopefully, forging constructive conversations within Christian communities.

This project is necessary for the purpose of not only identifying the consequences of adolescent drug abuse on the Body of Christ, but it also holds significance for pursuing ways to arrive at solutions for at risk youth. Drug abuse at this critical stage of development can compromise cognitive development, endanger academic progression and disrupt career pursuits. All of these in the aggregate can lead to a life of struggle and, inevitably, spiritual, emotional, psychological and physical atrophy. Confronting drug abuse at this stage of development can redirect the life of a young person in a dramatic way. While the Body of Christ must be sensitive to drug abuse among all age demographics, it is imperative that their awareness of drug abuse among youth is substantial, due to the delicate nature of this stage of life.

This project will also address the fact that before the Body of Christ can responsibly engage this issue, it is necessary that it reconsider preconceived notions that inform societal perceptions of drug abuse and/or addiction. Drug abuse has been characterized as a byproduct of ethical deficiencies that warrant carceral forms of punishment, as opposed to investing in rehabilitative methods designed to encourage recovery. The Body of Christ cannot simply become an extension of normative societal approaches and practices to drug abuse and addiction, which desire to punish instead of treat. The approach to the issue will greatly determine the success in assisting youth in their recovery efforts, as their response, negative or positive, will be an artifact of whether or not they are treated like a criminal instead of a patient.

This project will be interdisciplinary in nature. It is necessary to engage branches of science and medicine that will expand existential knowledge of the problem and invariably sensitize the approach to arriving at rehabilitative solutions. Drug and substance abuse prevention and rehabilitation cannot be relegated to theological approaches that fail to engage physiological considerations. While the approach must be spiritual in nature, it must also display an acute awareness of scientific understandings of drug abuse and addiction.

The project will expand on this theme by addressing the need for the Body of Christ, or the church, to position itself as a conduit for soliciting the aid of institutions qualified in rehabilitation methodologies. It will also be instrumental for churches involved in this area of ministry to investigate if there parishioners are qualified in drug prevention methods and substance abuse treatment. Involving counseling centers, rehabilitation facilities, and substance abuse counselors as ancillary mechanisms to the spiritual support provided can only serve to increase the prospect of arriving at the desired conclusion of health and wellness. This will ensure that the Body of Christ establishes a network that addresses the individual holistically, through spiritual, therapeutic, and physical resources. The question that this portion of the project will seek to answer is, is the Body of Christ a reliable community capable of facilitating wholeness and engendering an environment that provides spiritual and physical healing?

Finally, this project will engage how addiction among this demographic can damage communities in epidemical ways. It will include solutions for comforting and restoring familial relationships that are potentially ruptured as a result of drug abuse by youth. It will seek to investigate the trauma or experience that led to the substance abuse. This project will also take into account addressing genetic predispositions to drug abuse, which may be the effect of previous drug use among family members.

For practical purpose, this examination will be limited to abuse among youth actively a part of churches. It will seek to address this demographic initially and create a model that is utilizable beyond the church environment and evangelical context. It is my hope that this research will provoke thought, create dialogue, and incentivize action on the part of the Body of Christ. If the Body of Christ is to continue to be the locus of our community, it must address issues such as this more vigorously. In doing so, the Body of Christ will experience significant gains for the Kingdom of God. Additional delimitations are also possible.