What We Heard: 

A salvation experience as a child and the subsequent call led Stan to pursue what he thought would be a career in ministry, but after a chance encounter with a Metro Police ride-along led he found his calling in law enforcement. After completing his new major, criminal justice, Stan launched his career as a police officer and eventually worked his way to the DEA, where he just celebrated his 20 year work anniversary.

There is an opioid epidemic in our country. Heroine is on the rise nationally and here in middle TN, it is brought into our lives by over-prescribed narcotics. It’s no longer the stereotypical drug dealer we imagined from television shows but doctors, pharmacies, and big businesses engaged in criminal activity prescribing and providing drugs for profit.

What It Means:

So how do we protect ourselves? Stan’s personal story about managing his own son’s pain level after a sport’s injury gives insight. At one point or another, we may be prescribed an opioid or narcotic for pain management, and in many cases, it takes someone else helping us be conscious of the potential for harm.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” An uninformed person, particularly an uninformed parent, is no excuse. Utilizing the resources provided on the DEA website is an immediate win. Much like conversations about teens abusing technology, engaging in underage drinking and sexual activity; parents have a responsibility to know what is out there in the world seeking to destroy our kids. Opioid use is a preventable, diagnosable and treatable disease. We can offer protection but it requires information and education.

Since, we don’t understand is the sheer power of a single microgram of manufactured opioid within a prescribed medication, we should not take these drugs lightly. Professionally, Stan contends that the legalization of marijuana has only lessened the fear-factor associated with drugs, particularly those found in or related to prescriptions. We simply cannot afford to underestimate these drugs.

What We Do Next:

For those that this crisis has hit personally, it’s a tragic, unfortunate platform that must be leveraged. Stan sees moms who are open and vocal after tragedy. They share their stories to engage the fight for others. It creates levels of prevention and protection. He rarely sees men or fathers who have been impacted by the opioid crisis do the same. Men who have experienced this need to stand up and speak up. In whatever arenas of influence and leadership they have, particularly over young men. We as leaders need to make that investment. Information can lead to transformation, especially when it involves drug prevention.

Note of Encouragement and Leadership Application:

Stan is able to deal with large scale devastation because of his commitment to Christ and ongoing connection to his local church. Your biggest leadership crisis as a man may be a financial bottom line or a market share. Just because your daily stress-points might not be life or death, does not diminish your need for constant connection to Jesus and His body in this world, the church. Be more committed and more connected.

Your First Step to Celebrate Recovery: How God Can Heal Your Life by John Baker, Introduction by Rick Warren The book is a great place to start. Learn more.

Celebrate Recovery is also a faith-based healing program rooted in Christ and committed to scripture. There are opportunities to engage Celebrate Recovery right in Williamson County. There are programs at:

Harpeth Christian. Learn more.
Church of the City. Learn more.