get them into recovery where they learn that God loves them, that they're special and unique, and that God has a plan for their lives that is not living in the gutter.
OK, if people are so bad they need some medications to help stabilize them for a time then so be it. But it shouldn't be a endless situation. That's merely switching their addiction from one chemical to another. They're still dependent on a drug! Renovation from the inside out is the only way to permanently change lives.
You think telling them God loves them cures mental illness?
No, it's not that simplistic. Decades of addiction, illness, and physical and mental abuse isn't erased overnight. But merely switching their dependence from one opioid to another isn't the answer.
I remember reading about methadone in the 1970's. It was great for getting heroin addicts off of the heroin but then there were stories of getting addicted to methadone. I don't recall what they did then, but obviously going from one "drug" to another isn't the answer.
People finding God is the realization of part of what we humans were designed for. When God created us He made this special part deep inside of us that only He can fill. We all have it, we all know it's there, we all have this yearning to "fill" that empty space. We can't exactly describe it, but we all feel it's presence. (I'm sure any of you who are reading this can understand what I'm saying). And we try EVERYTHING to fill it - except God. It's why people get addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, work, careers, adrenaline, groupies, you name it. Complusive disorders - even dangerous and lethal ones - fill volumes. We're not fulfilled and complete until that space is filled. Just look at how focused druggies are on getting their fix. It's a chemical and biological drive to get that object, whatever it is. There's an almost religious fervor about it. They don't care what it takes, if it's legal or not, if it's poisonous or not - they just have to get it! I think a large part of religious cults and false religions zero in on this truth. I mean, how else do you get Muslim young people to strap a bomb to their bodies and blow themselves up along with hundreds of innocent people?
Well, when people turn to God, He supernaturally comes in and fills that space. Our journey, our efforts to fill that void, finding our place in the world, finding fulfillment and completion are all answered. Does that mean all of our problems just vanish? Nope. Does it mean we can just sit back and enjoy the ride? Nah-a. Does this one act totally undue everything destructive we've done up to that point? No, though in some cases it can. Our lives become a time of serving God and helping others, rather than just satisfying our own needs.
And this process shows visible results. Just like you can read the tell-tale signs of a drug addict, you can almost always tell a soul that is consumed by God. Drugs and compulsive behaviors have effects on the body. So does spiritual devotion.
Part of the program depicted in the video touched on some of these points. Counseling, group discussion, chemical stabilization, re-training and community connection are solid, helpful techniques. I'm just skeptical of the lasting results if they don't address the spiritual components.