The first inkling came in the 1960s, when high school teens began to use and abuse alcohol. Abuse was more likely when teens found professional musical entertainment.
In 1973 I signed up for Yale University Medical's week on alcohol and drug abuse, aiming at seminary students, guidance counselors, etc. That led the head of the program to praise cocaine for being so effective and non-addicting - !?!?!? I went back to the Yale Divinity apartments and asked Christina, "Guess what the next addiction is going to be?!"
I was appalled, given the useful week of practical and medical information. Some of them were police officers. Others were detox veterans. Efforts to quash drug abuse only seemed to increase the problem and and create a giant market for all ages. As I have told many, the use of doctors' prescriptions have promoted more difficulties.
The "I'll be safe" people have told me how they started in high school and still battle the marijuana addiction (by no means safe but so addicting). Being hauled into the hospital with painful heaves (hyperemesis syndrome) is no fun and neither is the next episode, and the next.
One pastor told us at a group clergy picnic, "I can get a better high if I mix the two prescriptions together, or one with alcohol." He did not hesitate, even when I mentioned the obvious bad effects. Evil came of it, and so did much sorrow.
When I think of Luther and Melanchthon, both had serious health problems, and both lived only 63 years. Both had an enormous volume of Scriptural interpretation. They suffered in many ways, but it was because of devotion to the Truth, to the Scriptures, and the great scholars.
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| Melanchthon (left) was a great balance to Luther's own style. Both had the highest regard for the other. |
