Overdoses versus deaths related to drugs

 By Leiv Holstad

According to Norwegian statistics on deaths related to drugs, more than 4000 young people died from overdoses on drugs between 1980 and 2008. When I produced the first Marita movie back in 1983/84, I focused on overdoses. In one of the movie scenes we fixed a drug addict’s funeral.

The coffin was lowered into the grave, and the song “Farewell Marita” could be heard while death notices with first name and age on many of my personal friends who died from overdoses were shown. To be sure that we had the right information I contacted the Police and was given access and permission to see the files on persons who at that time had became part of this tragic statistics.

That was a sad experience. I found the names of many I already recognized and knew about, but also names on more friends I still did not know had died. Among them I also found the name of the latest girlfriend I had when I was still on drugs.

When I came to my senses I asked the policeman: Are these all?

Yes, he answered. But I did not find “Jazzen” (The jazzy one) there? Well, I do not think he died from an overdose? The policeman said. No, he died from liver failure, I replied, but his liver was damaged by drug abuse. Neither did I find his wife, Sissel. She had been shot in a drug clash. Nils was not there either; the bus ran him down after taking some LSD. “Krølle” (The curly one) hanged himself in Oslo Prison when he was on a bad comedown. None of them died from overdoses, but they died due to other reasons, the policeman said. Therefore they are part of other statistics.

So what is my conclusion after all this? The deaths due to drugs are more than the statistics tell us. To even think about this could make us all lose courage, but actually we are quite many who survived! Through the effort of Marita Foundation and similar organizations, many have been helped out of a heavy drug abuse. In our web news you can find some stories concerning this.

In this way we have made this tragic statistics look a little less than it would appear otherwise. Thank you to all who join us in this battle!

 

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apr282011

David Wilkerson's last words

Posted on Dateapr 28, 2011 by AuthorLeiv O. Holstad

In his blog "Daily devotions" on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, David Wilkerson wrote:
WHEN ALL MEANS FAIL

To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen” (John 20:29).

Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.

Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.

That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”

Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: “Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!”

Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.
 Posted by David Wilkerson