Does Being a Christian Help Recovery?
Christian Help RecoveryAddiction does not discriminate. It affects people of all ages, ethnicities, socio-economic statuses, professions, and religions – there is no one who is immune. Addiction researchers have concluded that addiction is a holistic condition that affects an individual’s body, mind, and spirit. So in many cases, treatment for addiction is based on those things and includes a combination of psychological, psychiatric, physical, social, and spiritual treatments.
Connections Between Addiction and Spirituality
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found the following:
- Over 80% of Americans believe in God or another higher power
- Teens and adults who regularly attend religious services are less likely to use drugs or alcohol
- Teens who have no religious affiliations are three times more likely to binge drink and four times more likely to use drugs
- Adults who have no religious affiliations are five times more likely to use drugs and seven times more likely to abuse alcohol
Many People in Recovery Acknowledge That Spirituality Enhanced Their Healing
There have been various studies done that support the belief that the use of spirituality in addiction recovery is beneficial. According to a study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, addiction treatment that uses spirituality as part of its program resulted in a 10 percent greater abstinence rate than treatment without it.
One reason that spirituality has played a part in recovery is due to the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. The program links the spiritual aspects of recovery with the mental and physical aspects. The program asks members to believe that a “power greater than themselves” must be relied upon for recovery.
Since being founded in the 1930s, Alcoholics Anonymous has been the basis for using spirituality in recovery. The model often brings up the belief that using drugs or alcohol is a user’s attempt to fill a spiritual emptiness.
These types of spiritual programs emphasize the following:
- Trusting in a higher power that is greater than an individual’s willpower
- Experiencing addictions as a spiritual “unfitness” along with mental, physical, and social aspects
- Examining one’s life purpose
- Encouraging hope of recovery from addiction
- Performing a thorough moral inventory of oneself
- Confessing an individual’s wrongs to oneself, a higher power, and another person
- Making amends to those who have been harmed by an individual’s addiction
- Using prayer and meditation to deepen relationships with a higher power
What Are the Benefits of Christian-Based Addiction Recovery Programs?
Most, but not all, of the spiritually-based recovery programs and treatment facilities in the U.S., are Christian. Though every program is unique, they do share some commonalities:
- A belief in God
- Prayer
- Turning over one’s will to God
- Admitting transgressions and sins to God and to others in the program
- Forgiveness of others, and seeking forgiveness from others
- Educating addicts about spiritual principles
- Depending on Biblical principles
- Having fellowship in a faith-based community
- Carrying the message to other addicts
- Addiction education and therapy
- Medically supervised detox
- Relapse prevention
- Life and coping skills
Along with traditional treatments and therapy, Christians in recovery report that utilizing their faith and religious beliefs is crucial to their continued sobriety and recovery. They also cite the following as benefits of a Christian drug rehab:
- More optimism and hopefulness
- A greater sense of fellowship and support
- Less stress and anxiety
- An increased resilience to stress
- A better understanding of their own role in their addiction
Christian rehab centers have a multipurpose modality – to treat addiction and deepen faith. By adding God into (or back into) an addict’s life, it fills the hole in their life that contributed to their addiction. Once filled, the urge toward addictive behaviors is decreased.
His House Rehab offers industry-leading Drug Addiction Treatment Programs. We were founded in 1994 and we base our Drug and Alcohol Treatment programs on five key principles: commitment, honesty, integrity, respect, and service. These five principles guide us in all that we do and all the care we provide. Contact us today to see how we can help you or your loved one.
