COVID-19 and the Dramatic Rise in Drug Overdose Deaths!
The weekend of April 10th – 11th, 2021 has been designated as the 31st Annual “Just Pray NO!” to drugs Worldwide Weekend of Prayer and Fasting for the addicted and their families.
Since April 7th, 1991 “Just Pray NO!” has united Christians from around the world in intercessory prayer on behalf of those bound by alcoholism, drug addiction, and destructive compulsive behaviors.
According to the University of Michigan’s Department of Psychiatry, COVID-19 related social isolation and stress can increase susceptibility to substance misuse, addiction, and relapse. Substance abuse can lead to immune system, respiratory, and pulmonary changes and may increase susceptibility to COVID-19 as well as complications.
According to recent data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 81,000 people in the United States died of a drug overdose between May 2019 and May 2020. The number of overdose deaths accelerated significntly during the pandemic, resulting in the largest monthly increases documented since provisional data calculations began in 2015.
While synthetic opiods, such as illicit fentanyl, continue to be the primary cause of these deaths, there has also been an alarming increase in the number of deaths involving illicit stimulants, particularly methamphetamine. Overdose deaths connected to meth increased almost 35 percent in 2020, exceeding the number of cocaine deaths.
Addiction in America is an ever increasing national crisis!
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16
Not only is substance abuse America’s number one health problem, the devastation of alcoholism and other drug addiction has impacted families and communities worldwide. Substance abuse has been directly linked to violence and sexual immorality and is a major source of income for organized crime and terrorist activities.
“For we do not wrestle aganst flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12
Make a formal commitment to join with believers in Christ from around the globe this coming April. Put on the full armor of God and fervently pray in spirit and in truth. We are seeking to enlist millions of prayer warriors fom around the world to join us in this battle!
“We are not only praying for the release of those bound by substance abuse, but also for people to be delivered from pornography, gambling, obesity and smoking,” said Steven Sherman, “Just Pray NO!” founder. Please join us with multitudes of other men and women of faith from around the world in prayer and fasting April 10th – 11th, 2021.
If you believe that God is calling you to intercede for the addicted, please contact us. To find help for addiction through prayer and Christian ministries, log on to our website. To learn how groups can participate in our annual prayer event, click on “Information on the Annual Worldwide Weekend of Prayer” or email: [email protected].
For a personal interview with “Just Pray NO!” Founder and Author Steven L. Sherman, in the U.S.A. call: (727) 647-6467 or email: [email protected]
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Contact:
Steven L. Sherman
“Just Pray NO!” Ltd.
(727) 647-6467
[email protected]
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Religion News Service or Religion News Foundation.