"In Whatever You Do, Be Moderate"
(Sirach 31:22)

The obvious virtue that must be exercise to combat excesses in the use of food and drink is the virtue of temperance (moderation) It demands that we take an honest look at our drinking and eating habits and that we exercise self-discipline over them.  It is all too easy to drift into destructive patterns in these areas and gradually to abandon any real discipline over them.  We will readily find excuses for these excesses (stress, worry, fun) but never any good reasons.  The life-giving virtue of temperance enables us to take charge of our lives, to practice moderation and responsibility in these matters.  With honest effort and the grace of God, the life-giving virtue of temperance can be attained.

Non-therapeutic drugs are used not for reasons of health but for the purpose of pleasure, self-transcendence, recreation, and the like.  There are many reasons for the widespread use of drugs in our society but one dimension of the problem that often casually is dismissed is the spiritual dimension.  When the Holy Spirit of God is received into our lives, the Holy Spirit gives us a sound mind, a will to be self-disciplined, a knowledge of when to say no to excess, and a deep conviction when we violate His standards.  Temperance is nothing more than the willingness to surrender to the guidance of Holy Spirit that His presence, whether it be with food, alcohol, drugs, or anything else that be used to excess. 

Our problem with temperance is wanting to do what we want to do.  Our solution with temperance is to want what God wants, not to give ourselves over to the god of our stomach or to the pleasure centers of our brain.  God desires a sober mind, not one that is dulled by being over filled with food or drunken with a chemical.  He desires a sober mind that we might follow Him and know the joy and peace that comes within a relationship with Him.