By Tony Garrow, D. C.

Over 100,000 Americans die each year due to bad reactions to prescription and over-the-counter drugs and more than 2 million people are seriously injured. Even President Clinton acknowledged this issue and took steps to investigate this situation.

There is a very obvious drug problem in the United States today. The pharmaceutical industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and has a strong hold in politics, media, and our lives. The most common drugs today are taken to cover up symptoms. For example, many people take Advil or Tylenol every day to decrease headaches or other pain. Unfortunately they are just covering up the symptoms and not addressing the real underlying problem that is causing the reoccurring symptoms. Certain drugs do save lives at times, but problems arise from the everyday abuse of drugs to cover up symptoms.

What can we do as Christians? God gave us an incredible healing power within our body ("the light is with you"-John 12:35). Our hearts know exactly how much blood to pump, our lungs know exactly how much oxygen to absorb, our stomach knows exactly how much acid it takes to digest certain foods, and more. Many scientists have said that we still only know less than 10% of everything there is to know about the human body ("For with you is the Fountain of Life"-Psalm 36:9). Do we really have more faith in a pill than the awesome power of the spirit within us ("it is the spirit that gives life"-John 6:63, "trust in the Lord with all your heart"-Proverbs 3:5)? God gave us the tools and ability to find the source of our problems and not just cover up the symptoms resulting from the problems. For example, if your headaches were coming from tension in your neck, then you could seek out a Chiropractor, massage therapist, yoga instructor, etc.. These professionals are trained to address the cause of the problems rather than the symptoms.

God said "remember I am with you always" -Matthew 28:20. Prayer has amazing healing potential. Many have been cured of their diseases from prayer and meditation. It is our strong faith and belief in God and our bodies that will heal us ("your wounds I will heal"-Jeremiah 30:17; "Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace, and be healed of your disease"-Mark 5:34; "Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water" - John 7:38). Healing comes from above-down-inside-out (ADIO). When we pray, God sends his healing power down through our bodies and then our bodies can heal its problems from the inside-out. Drugs are and outside-in attempt at healing and that is why they may not help rid of the body's ailments. I will leave you with a saying that you may have heard before: "God's gift to us was our life, and our gift back to him is what we do with it."