Pastor Can't Offer Needles To Drug Addicts: Police

CANTON, GA — A Cherokee County pastor known for his unconventional approach to religion and faith wants to take another bold step in an effort to reach people in the grips of drug addiction, but the law may not be on his side.

In a public Facebook post made Wednesday evening, Gary Lamb of Canton-based Action Church said his institution "lost its edge" in 2017, as it got comfortable and lost what made it unique in the community. So during last Sunday's sermon, Lamb challenged his congregation to come up with ideas that could unite its group around its mission to reach the masses.

One of the ideas floated to Lamb? Providing clean needles to addicts if they show up to Sunday services or check out the church at 271 Marietta Road. Lamb admitted this was the first idea he's heard that made him "really uncomfortable."

"My first instinct was not just no, but hell no," he said. "But after Sunday, I convicted myself and I think we are going to end up doing it. Bottom line is they are going to use so at least let's keep them disease free but more importantly let's get them in church on Sundays to see that church doesn't have to suck and that Jesus is the answer."

Action Church is probably best known for its operation of an emergency warming shelter for those who need a place to crash when temperatures in Cherokee County dip below freezing. The church partners with local restaurants to provide food for those in need at the shelter, and also holds other fundraisers in the community.

"We have always been the church that accepted everyone," he said. "We don't worry about social standing, skin color or even sexual preference. We just love people and do whatever we can to point them to Jesus."

Of course, the backlash from Lamb's post has drawn scores of comments from Facebook users, ranging from those expressing disapproval from a religious standpoint to those who worry about the impact his actions could have on the rise of heroin use in the community.

"The opioid crisis is deep enough in Cherokee County without this kind of influence," one person said. "Will it draw addicts to church? Probably. But it will also have them coming to the church for a fix as opposed to for the Lord. Similarly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it draws addicts to the area, thus worsening an already terrifying epidemic."

Some residents also question whether it's legal for Action Church to pass out needles and if the institution would be liable if someone overdoses while on their property. They also accused Lamb of only focusing on bringing attention to Action Church.

On Thursday, Lamb said he had to remind himself that those who are "in an uproar" about his suggestion are actually referring to .002 percent of what Action Church is about.

"Therefore I need to get focused on all the other things we do to impact those in our community," he said. "Clean needles is easy compared to the other stuff."

Providing addicts with clean needles isn't an uncommon practice in metro Atlanta or around the United States. For example, the Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition offers a syringe and needle exchange program to its clients.

Fellow Action Church member James Hatfield also chimed in, adding the church would provide counseling and meetings for addicts who wish to get help.

Another person, who said she is a recovering addict, said she would welcome the idea, adding the move would not enable addicts because they will quit when they want to quit. Another recovering addict, who said she's been sober for seven years and five months, said needle users addicted to their respective vices will "shoot up" regardless.

"If you prevent ONE person from contracting a disease, you've done your job," she added. "You are also bringing these people in to your church and offering them a family; a support system. This is the first steps they need to take for recovery, even if they aren't ready yet. When they become ready, they'll remember ya'll (sic)."

Aside from the blowback he received from some on social media, Lamb faces a legal issue with his plans, law enforcement states. Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad Commander Phil Price said Lamb's idea would not be legal under current Georgia law. Price cites Georgia code 16-13-32, which states “it shall be unlawful for any person or corporation, other than a licensed pharmacist, a pharmacy intern or pharmacy extern as defined in Code Section 26-4- 5, or a practitioner licensed to dispense dangerous drugs, to sell, lend, rent, lease, give, exchange, or otherwise distribute to any person a hypodermic syringe or needle designed or marketed primarily for human use."

Price said he contacted Lamb to make him aware of "this potential issue with is well meaning idea," and informed the church it could come up other programs that would be within the law and would reach those in the community battling addiction. Working with pharmacists or pharmacy technicians on this proposal, Price said, would bring the project in line with state law.

“Speaking for CMANS, it is positive for any community to have leaders who look outside the box,” Price added. “However, it is the role of law enforcement to work with the community to come up with new ideas which are within the law, or to provide information to our leaders so that they can make informed decisions on public policy. We look forward to future dialogues with Pastor Lamb, or any other community leaders who might help use focus resources on this serious problem.”

Late Thursday afternoon, Lamb said in another Facebook post that he still believes in the benefits of a needle exchange program, as it's the only program that can help keep addicts alive "before they are willing to get help."

He also said he had numerous conversations on Thursday with the Cherokee County Health Department, Canton Police Department and CMANS, and commended leaders of those organizations for leading "incredible departments that are doing all the can to fight the war on drugs."

"I'm still committed to exploring avenues that will allow us to legally do this at a later time," he added. "At the end of the day, Action Church will continue to think outside the box, push the envelope and do whatever it takes short of sinning to reach those far from God. I don't apologize for the idea at all. I actually welcome the dialogue it created. In the end it was a win for our vision. Those who struggle with addiction were reminded yet again that we exist as a safe place for them. I have received close to 100 private messages from those struggling with addiction today. That is why we do what we do. We will go back to the drawing board and see if we can come up with another way to accomplish the same thing."

(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)