This magazine is all about addictions. Addictions to drugs, tobacco, buai, alcohol, gambling, sex, and other addictions are destroying the lives of many in PNG. I don’t need to show you the statistics, because you can see it every day for yourself in your block, settlement, village, and community. Maybe at this moment an addiction is destroying your life too. This can happen quickly, as in the case of some drugs and excessive use of alcohol, or it can happen slowly, as in the case of smoking and chewing buai. But in either case, addictions destroy lives.

Addictions are a tool of Satan. He is the person that the Lord Jesus speaks about in John 10:10 who, “only comes to steal and kill and destroy.” He wants to destroy your life. He loves it when you continue to drink beer, smoke drugs, and play bingo because he knows that these things will never bring you true happiness. Instead, they will slowly suck the happiness out of your life, your body, and the lives of those people who you love.

Your addiction is killing you. But how will you fight against it? How will you get rid of it?

One of the most powerful thoughts you have when you are addicted is that you cannot live without your addiction. You think:

“I need a smoke.”

“One more drink will be so good.”

“I am dying for some marijuana.”

Often, these strong desires are coupled with head or body pain, brain fog, tiredness, and irritability if you don’t have that smoke, beer, or joint. It can be so hard to resist. It is so easy to give in.

Plus, after trying to quit but failing, you feel so powerless. “How will I ever be able to quit? It is so hard. It feels impossible.” These are exactly the kinds of lies that Satan loves to have us believe.

But here is the truth of God’s Word and the good news for addicts:

It is not impossible.

It is not too hard.

You are able to quit.

You don’t have to give in.

You are able to resist.

You can live without your addiction.