Fishing in the Dark

Psychoactive drugs include antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and painkillers. Abuse of these drugs continues to increase, and as a result, the drugs excreted in urine and feces are making their way through waste water and into our rivers and estuaries. This drug migration into our coastal areas is causing shrimp and other marine life to become drug users too.

A recent study investigated changes in shrimp behavior when they were exposed to various psychoactive drugs at the same levels found in waste water. The results of the study were astounding and showed that shrimp behavior was dramatically affected. In fact, the shrimp were five times more likely to swim toward light following exposure to the drug. According to these findings, drugs make shrimp swim toward light, thus making them more likely to be eaten by fish or birds.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the light of the world. He said that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). In addition, the Bible often uses the sea to represent humanity. Jesus was using this symbolism when He said, “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt 4:19) We know that there are people lost in a sea of darkness. So, how can we as Christian use this information in conjunction with the research?

Just like the intoxicated shrimp who swim toward the light, drug abusers seek a seemingly lighter life that’s free of cares, and this make them more likely to be swallowed up by death. Every day, folks are drowning in the sea of humanity; they are being poisoned by toxic waste waters. We need to give these people something other than drugs – something that will draw them to Jesus instead of death. We need to turn on His light in us and fish them out of their darkness.