Why People Fail in their Battle with Addiction?

Why do so many people fail in their battle with addiction?  Why do so many recovery programs and treatment centers staffed with smart, educated people with good hearts and intentions fail so often in helping people struggling with addiction? 

Programs alone do not work.  Treatment centers alone do not work.  Counselors alone do not work.  The only way anyone will have permanent recovery, freedom, victory over sin and addiction, joy, peace, and contentment is through Jesus Christ, God's Son.

John 8:32 You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

This is not to say that programs, treatment centers, and counseling do not play a part or are totally ineffective.  It is to say that it is not a program plus Christ, but rather Christ working through the individual while the individual is seeking help. 

In this article let us examine two reasons why failure occurs.

1.  Failure occurs when we try to change the behavior rather than the underlying belief that determined the behavior.

For true change to occur, one's thinking has to be changed.  The view of what is right and wrong behavior must be changed first.  You cannot look at your addiction as not being your fault.  If it is not your fault whose is it?  The decision to begin using drugs or alcohol or whatever must be viewed in the light of Scripture.  You choose to disobey God's Word.  It was your choice, and therefore you are responsible for that choice.  You cannot change the behavior until you change your thinking about what you did.  It is vital in recovery that we seek God and His forgiveness for our sins. 

The Bible says:  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9.  

God also has promised that our minds can be changed if we submit to Him and His authority.  Romans 12:1-2 (KJV) ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Please notice that the behavior of a person doing the will of God occurs after the renewing of their minds.  It is important that we allow the Word of God to dictate our beliefs.  God said it, I believe it and that settles it for me should be our motto.

2.  Failure occurs when we rely on our own efforts instead of trusting God and living by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Can you overcome your addiction in the flesh or by your own power?  I don't think so.  Many people attempting to overcome addiction in their own power end up exchanging one sin for another.  They end up as some call a dry drunk or one who experiences all of the pain, guilt, shame, and emotional trauma of alcohol addiction without drinking.  Is that really recovery?  Is that freedom from addiction?  I don't think so.

Others try fleshly methods available including accountability partners, methadone programs, etc.  Am I saying these programs are bad?  Of course not, but I am saying that it is extremely difficult to beat a fleshly problem with the flesh. 

Let us look at what God's Word says concerning the flesh. 

Galatians 5:19-21 (KJV) ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰ Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹ Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Study the list!  God is saying when we live life according to our own desires and the desire of our sinful nature inherited from Adam this is what it produces. 

Now let us contrast this if we live life yielded and filled with the Holy Spirit of God. 

Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
When we yield to God's Spirit we have victory and freedom over our sin. 

Galatians 5:16 (KJV) ¹⁶ This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

The victory is not in our power, but God's.  Our job is to know and believe God's Word,  and to walk daily in His Spirit.  The victory is already ours.  It is ours when we are in Christ. 

Conclusion:

Let me conclude by summarizing.  We must admit our sin and ask God to forgive us and cleanse us.  We must allow our thinking to agree with God's.  We must allow God's Word to dictate what is right and wrong.  We must stop trusting in our own flesh and in its place trust in God and walk in His Spirit.

Freedom and victory can be yours if you walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.