A drug rehabilitation center can help you overcome physical problems, but it's unable to resolve your spiritual issues," explained a male believer surnamed Huang, who had been addicted to drugs for over two decades when reflecting on his rehab experience.
Despite having lost a thriving company that used to generate annual revenue of a million yuan due to the drugs, Huang has now started a fishing business after experiencing life transformation through faith in God.
"Others snorted drugs while I injected them," said Huang, adding that he used ten times more drugs than others. While the average person spent about 100 yuan per day on drugs, Huang spent thousands of yuan daily. He would remain awake during the night, snorting drugs until morning, and then be drowsy and lazy throughout the day with no desire to make a living. Eventually, he handed over his company to others as there was no motivation to earn money anymore.
Amid the trials of addiction, Huang lost count of the number of times he had been to rehab. "I went countless times," he said, acknowledging that he knew it was nearly impossible for him to quit completely, especially since he took an enormous amount of drugs. Huang added that the most challenging aspect of addiction was the struggle within the heart.
During one particular instance, Huang considered purchasing drugs but found himself without a syringe. The only one available was previously used by someone whose body was riddled with festering wounds. Huang knew the risk of contracting AIDS was high among drug addicts, but he ignored those fears and took the injection regardless, due to his addiction ruling his mind and heart. As a result, his mother advised his wife to leave him, as their family believed he would perish if he continued with that behavior.
During his most desperate moment in 2012, when he even attempted to commit suicide, Huang's mother advised him to keep the faith, saying "You should believe in God who will save you." Although many people had spoken with him previously, it was this time that he followed his mother to church and fervently prayed. Later, Huang discovered that his mother had believed two years before him and had been praying silently for his safety. His wife also accompanied him to church and prayed alongside him.
Miraculously, upon accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord of his life, the negative desires that once consumed him diminished instantly, leaving barely any craving for drugs. Huang realized that his addiction had controlled him because sin had taken dominion over him, leaving no escape. "When we believe, sin can no longer have dominion over us; it cannot tempt me, and I can overcome it; that is the new birth," Huang said. Through Christ's rebirth, Huang was ushered into a renewed life.
It was not an instant process for him to overcome his drug addiction, though. For more than six months, he took two pills for detox at a time, eventually reducing his dosage to just 1/16 of the original amount. On one occasion, Huang fought hard to stay sober until the next day, when his drug cravings became unbearable. At that moment, his wife pleaded with the Lord to spare him. "It was amazing - I was cured instantly," Huang said. From that day on, he has remained clean.
"If I had not fallen into drug addiction, I would never have found my belief in the Lord. That is what God allowed me to experience by destroying the self-confident and arrogant side in me gradually through my circumstances." Currently, the former addict leads a "renewal fellowship" at the church while also maintaining his personal work. The fellowship is a unique community where every member has confronted drug addiction and rediscovered the love of God.
-Translated by Nonye Nancy
“戒毒所可以戒掉你身体的问题，没有办法戒掉你心灵的问题”，曾吸毒二十余年的毒瘾者黄弟兄在回顾自己戒毒的经历时如此说。
黄弟兄目前在做渔船生意，他曾经营一家年收入百万的公司。93年，在二十几岁时，受同行影响开始吸毒，本是家破人亡，妻离子散的结局，却因为认识信仰一切有了转机。
“别人是吸毒，我是注射”，黄弟兄说自己的吸毒量是别人的几十倍，一般人吸毒每天花费一百左右，他一天要花费几千。晚上吸到早上，白天昏昏欲睡，变得很懒，什么都不做。最后根本没有了赚钱的欲望，公司也交给别人去打理了。
面对毒瘾的折磨，黄弟兄已经记不清戒毒的次数了，“戒毒所去了无数次”。最长的一次是戒毒停药三个月，痛苦的经历让黄弟兄知道自己完全戒掉是根本不可能的。他说，一些人吸毒量不是很多，一般很容易戒掉。但像他这种吸的量很大的情况，是很难戒掉的，最困难的是心里面的瘾。
一次，他去买毒品，没有了注射器，只有一支是其他人用过的，这个人全身溃烂，又不知道有没有感染艾滋病，因为吸毒的人得艾滋病的很多。彼时的黄弟兄被毒瘾抓住，管不了那么多，哪怕这一针打下去会得艾滋病也要打。他的妈妈都劝黄弟兄的妻子和他离婚。在家人眼里，他这样下去一定会死的。
12年是他最绝望的时候，甚至想要自杀，黄弟兄的妈妈让他信仰，“相信上帝，上帝会拯救你”。之前很多人和他讲过，但这一次他跟着妈妈去了教会，做了决志祷告。后来他才知道，妈妈早他信了两年，且一直在为他默默祷告。他的妻子也和他一起去教会做了决志祷告。
很神奇，当他接受耶稣基督为他生命的主，那一刻里面不好的欲就减少了，几乎没有吸毒的欲望。他认识到了自己之所以会被毒瘾控制，是罪在他里面做王，让他没有办法挣脱出来。
“当我们信了之后，罪不能再辖制我们，诱惑不了我，且可以胜过他，这就是重生”，黄弟兄在基督里面迎来了重生的生命。他并不是瞬间就摆脱了毒品，吃了半年多的戒毒药，每次吃两粒，最后药量减到十六分之一。一次硬撑着到第二个晚上，难受到无法想象，疯狂想要冲出去买毒品的时候，“我老婆说主啊你救他，很奇妙，一下就好了，”从这之后黄弟兄就戒毒成功了。
“如果我没有陷入吸毒，陷入无法自拔这种状态，我是一定不会信主的，这也是上帝允许，让我去经历的，上帝透过环境一步一步把我里面的自信、高傲拆掉。”目前，黄弟兄一边做着自己的工作，一边在教会带领“更新团契”。这个是一个特殊的团契，组成团契的成员曾经都有吸毒的经历，他们每个人都在神的爱里重新找回自己。
吸毒二十余年 认识信仰后看到罪的捆绑
A drug rehabilitation center can help you overcome physical problems, but it's unable to resolve your spiritual issues," explained a male believer surnamed Huang, who had been addicted to drugs for over two decades when reflecting on his rehab experience.
Despite having lost a thriving company that used to generate annual revenue of a million yuan due to the drugs, Huang has now started a fishing business after experiencing life transformation through faith in God.
"Others snorted drugs while I injected them," said Huang, adding that he used ten times more drugs than others. While the average person spent about 100 yuan per day on drugs, Huang spent thousands of yuan daily. He would remain awake during the night, snorting drugs until morning, and then be drowsy and lazy throughout the day with no desire to make a living. Eventually, he handed over his company to others as there was no motivation to earn money anymore.
Amid the trials of addiction, Huang lost count of the number of times he had been to rehab. "I went countless times," he said, acknowledging that he knew it was nearly impossible for him to quit completely, especially since he took an enormous amount of drugs. Huang added that the most challenging aspect of addiction was the struggle within the heart.
During one particular instance, Huang considered purchasing drugs but found himself without a syringe. The only one available was previously used by someone whose body was riddled with festering wounds. Huang knew the risk of contracting AIDS was high among drug addicts, but he ignored those fears and took the injection regardless, due to his addiction ruling his mind and heart. As a result, his mother advised his wife to leave him, as their family believed he would perish if he continued with that behavior.
During his most desperate moment in 2012, when he even attempted to commit suicide, Huang's mother advised him to keep the faith, saying "You should believe in God who will save you." Although many people had spoken with him previously, it was this time that he followed his mother to church and fervently prayed. Later, Huang discovered that his mother had believed two years before him and had been praying silently for his safety. His wife also accompanied him to church and prayed alongside him.
Miraculously, upon accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord of his life, the negative desires that once consumed him diminished instantly, leaving barely any craving for drugs. Huang realized that his addiction had controlled him because sin had taken dominion over him, leaving no escape. "When we believe, sin can no longer have dominion over us; it cannot tempt me, and I can overcome it; that is the new birth," Huang said. Through Christ's rebirth, Huang was ushered into a renewed life.
It was not an instant process for him to overcome his drug addiction, though. For more than six months, he took two pills for detox at a time, eventually reducing his dosage to just 1/16 of the original amount. On one occasion, Huang fought hard to stay sober until the next day, when his drug cravings became unbearable. At that moment, his wife pleaded with the Lord to spare him. "It was amazing - I was cured instantly," Huang said. From that day on, he has remained clean.
"If I had not fallen into drug addiction, I would never have found my belief in the Lord. That is what God allowed me to experience by destroying the self-confident and arrogant side in me gradually through my circumstances." Currently, the former addict leads a "renewal fellowship" at the church while also maintaining his personal work. The fellowship is a unique community where every member has confronted drug addiction and rediscovered the love of God.
-Translated by Nonye Nancy
Testimony: How Christ Delivers Me From Addiction
