Episode 4 Summary
Just because something is legal doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe to take however and whenever we want. The number of accidental overdoses from painkillers is proof of that.
The American conversation about drugs has been going on for a long time and recently, there has been a shift from openly condemning drugs to, in many cases, openly celebrating them. The problem is, just because something is legal still doesn’t mean we should just use it whenever we feel like it. As drugs are becoming more accepted throughout our culture with the legalization of marijuana and the prevalence of vaping it is important for Christians to have an understanding of what drugs are, what their purpose is, and how they should be used.
Discussion Questions
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Do you think the tactics used in the Public Service Announcements were effective? If so, why? If not, what would be a better way to prevent people from using drugs?
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Why do you think that popular musical artists write songs about drug culture so often? Do you think this might make drug culture seem cooler to people who otherwise would not be interested?
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Have you personally been able to see the shift in attitude toward drugs over the past few decades? Share with your teens the positive and negative outcomes you have seen from the War on Drugs in contrast with a more open policy on drugs.
Diving Deeper
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 ESV
The next time you hear a song where the artist is bragging, look beneath the surface and ask, “What motivates this kind of bragging?” Consider starting a discussion about this with your teen. Check out this TED Talk by Lecrae where he discusses the influence that hip/hop and rap have had on drug culture and how that influence could be used for good: https://youtu.be/BFas9cd8ZZ8