If someone were to tell you that your relationship with alcohol and other drugs was interfering with "living an authentic life," or from living a life that was "balanced" with you being the "author of your own daily life," what comes to mind? Or better yet, who comes to mind? Dr. Phil? Dr. Drew? John Paul II? Wait… did she just quote the pope?
Yes, I did.
In a pontifical handbook published by the Vatican in 2002, John Paul II and the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care discuss alcohol and other drug use and abuse. Like college presidents, the Vatican realized that alcohol and other drug abuse and addiction were, and are, one of the greatest health issues facing people in the world today. The handbook shares the Church's point of view regarding how our relationship with alcohol affects our spiritual development.
John Paul II very clearly points out that a person who uses alcohol or other drugs, is not in control of their destiny or their relationship with themselves, never mind God. One of the main teachings of the Church regards the dignity of human life, and our duty to care for ourselves and those around us. By trying to find the answers in alcohol or other drugs, we don't seek the answers or lean on the resources of our spiritual life. "Real freedom comes from the mastery of self, thus not becoming a victim of an unrestrained search for pleasure."
One of the main points of this handbook is that alcohol and other drugs contribute to the "destruction of the integrity of the person." When faced with difficulties in life, if we turn to the use of alcohol or other drugs, not only do we not learn to overcome obstacles, but we also never develop our moral code that will enable us to make the best choices for ourselves in the future. By using a chemical, we are no longer making decisions guided by our own reason and will. I know many times when I see students who have done or said something under the influence of alcohol; they readily admit they lost control of themselves after a night of drinking. Almost 100 percent of the time, the student wishes he or she could take the evening back, to repair the harm he or she has done to himself/herself or others.
At this point you may be thinking, this sounds a bit overbearing for college students who like to have fun "once in a while" or even "once a week." The handbook also reminds us that we must take heed of the theological virtues, including Temperance. Temperance is "the moral value that moderates the attraction to pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods." Temperance also "ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honourable." Negative consequences of consuming too much alcohol, such as fighting, vandalism and sexual assault are clearly less than honorable.
Many of the points made by John Paul II and the Pontifical Council in this handbook are supported by scientific research as well. A study about to be released from Boston University in addictive behaviors found that higher goal meaning ratings are associated with lower levels of drinking and fewer high risk drinking episodes. In other words, the more a student identifies their life goals as meaningful, the less likely they are to drink. The researchers concluded that students who have set standards for health, behavior and performance appear to have less involvement with alcohol, as they are concerned about alcohol's potential interference with attaining their set goals.
College is a time of self discovery; however, one area many students overlook is their spiritual discovery. The misuse or overuse of alcohol, or other drugs, affects us spiritually as well as physically and academically. As your semester is drawing to a close and we head into winter break, I encourage you to take some time to consider how your relationship with alcohol is affecting your relationship with God. Perhaps you have done things you have later regretted while under the influence of alcohol, or maybe the time you spend partying does not leave much time for anything else. Whatever the case may be for you, examine your life. Is it balanced? Is it authentic? Are you the author of your daily life?
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