b'Gary is president and CEO of Adult & Teen Challenge USA. Sarah is director of ministry intelligence and research of Adult & Teen Challenge USA. reality and just enjoy the high without ever intending to become addicted. They want to party, feel good, cover up trauma or pain, or just let their hair down. These decisions have a direct impact, and accountability belongs to the individual making such choices. Still, we cannot dismiss the sci-ence in the brain and body that shows marked physical changes due to continued heavy alcohol or drug consumption. Nor can we ignore the growing data and research that shows health-care professionals were pressured to prescribe opiates and fell into the trap of perpet- and immediately begins to help him. He pours uating substance abuse. Sometimes its not awine and oil on his wounds (antiseptic and pro-direct choice; its disempowerment by our cur- tection) and takes the man to an inn, where he rent health-care systems. Our encouragementtells the innkeeper that he will cover all costs to all involved is that according to the biblicalwhile the victim recovers. Whats fascinating worldview, Jesus Christ came to earth to forgiveabout this story is that, at the time, the Jews and sin and heal diseases. This is excellent news.Samaritans hated one another. Religion (priest No matter your view of how an individual fallsand Levite) walked by while a hated ethnicity into A/SUD, Christ is the source of strength andstopped to help. healing for anyone suffering. His redemptionJesus closes the story with a question asking is available to all of us. who was the real neighbor of the man who fell among robbers. The lawyer to whom he was Where do we go from here?speaking replied, The one who showed him I n the gospel of Luke, Jesus tells a story of amercy. Jesus then issued a command: You go Samaritan who comes to the aid of a Jewishand do likewise. man who has been badly beaten by bandits.Suppose we are to make a real difference in The road between Jericho and the great city ofalcohol and substance use disorder and other Jerusalem was a dangerous place. Bandits oftenforms of addiction. In that case, we must work attacked the weak, the lost, and the vulnerable.together to go after every person and do so holis-In the story, Jesus tells how, at different times,tically. Lets throw off the stigma, the religiosity, a Jewish rabbi and a Levite walked by the beatenand the fear of reputational impact, and help our man, intentionally crossing to the other side offellow human beings see their value as such, and the road to avoid him. Thats when the Samaritanlets introduce them to the One who can forever man enters the picture. This man sees the victimchange their lives. Jesus, go before us. \x03JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG 17'