Today, let us talk about Faith Based Rehab centers in Texas. Continuing my writing for Willow Springs Recovery and the faith based rehab information (https://www.willowspringsrecovery.com/drug/rehab/faith-based/), again let's discuss it.
Taking the Spiritual Road to Recovery. Sounds easy doesn't it?
Addiction not only weakens the person’s ability to control himself as chemicals from the substance (https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/drugs-brain) get in the way of the brain’s normal functions, but it also affects his emotions and his behaviors (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). These effects are doubly challenging for people of faith.
For one, addiction to a substance would create the feeling of guilt for people to be giving in to temptation over and over again. It will also make them doubt themselves and the people around them disrupting their relationships with their families, friends, and their communities.
Based on the latest Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape Study (http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/), the US has a Christian-dominated landscape with about 70.6% (Pew Research Center, 2015) Christians. The study also showed that among the 35,000 respondents from across the 50 states, 25.4% identify as Evangelical Protestants, 14.7% are Mainline Protestants, 6.5% are Historically Black Protestants, 20.8% are Catholics, 1.6% are Mormons, 0.5% are Orthodox Christians, 0.8% are members of the Jehovah’s Witness, and there were 0.4% who belong to other Christian groups.
With the seriousness of the substance abuse problem in the United States, persons of faith are not exempted. According to the Surgeon General’s latest report (https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-generals-report.pdf) on alcohol, drugs, and health, 66.7 million people have reported binge drinking in the past month, while there were 27.1 million who used illicit drugs or have misused prescription medications in 2015.
The effects of substance abuse are devastating. For instance, alcohol abuse currently contributes to 88,000 fatalities in the US every year, while there were 47,055 deaths linked to a drug overdose in 2014 (Surgeon General’s Report, 2016).
With this magnitude of a problem, a lot of people have also turned to faith to recover from drug abuse. There are Residential Christian faith-based substance abuse programs (RCFBSAPs) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2917843/) that aim to advance a healthier lifestyle by encouraging patients with alcohol and other drug problems to develop their spirituality (Windsor and Shorkey, 2010). While studies on drug rehabs that utilize the faith-based method in treatment are sparse, there are people who find hope in faith (https://www.courier-journal.com/in-depth/news/2018/12/12/opioid-crisis-pastors-journey-drug-addiction-faith/1947027002/) (Ungar, 2018).
When you know someone who is struggling with addiction, you can help them get help from a treatment specialist.
Faith-Based Drug Rehab:
Compared with the traditional programs in drug rehab, faith-based rehab programs focus gives primary importance to the spiritual element of treatment. However, these programs do not discount the need for the patient’s medical needs too and similar to other rehab facilities, they offer medically-assisted detox to patients and even utilizes behavioral therapies. These methods are found helpful in managing the patient’s cravings and withdrawal symptoms that are usually painful and can bring discomfort to patients. Detox is the first stage of treatment to addiction, but detox alone is not enough to achieve long-term sobriety. Faith-based rehab facilities may provide outpatient or inpatient detoxification depending on the severity of the substance abuse.
Here are some of the treatments offered in faith-based rehab facilities:
Detoxification
Group and individual therapy
24/7 monitored medication to help patients during the period of withdrawal
Life-skills training
Aftercare program
Among the many advantages of the faith-based drug rehabs are the presence of certified spiritual advisors that will help Christian patients talk to someone who has the same values. Even their individual and group therapy sessions provide patients with a safe community where they can exercise their faith. Christians experience different challenges as they tend to question their faith. A community of Christians can provide a welcoming environment for like-minded individuals.
How Does It Work?
Each individual has their own unique backgrounds, needs, and experiences. In a faith-based rehab facility, the patient will get the support that is customized to his needs and preferences. Counselors will work with the patient to assess his physical, mental, and spiritual needs to help him have a recovery program that will address those needs.
Faith-based drug rehabs are similar to what support groups like the Alcoholics Anonymous (https://www.aa.org/) and Narcotics Anonymous (https://www.na.org/) do. They gather recovering patients and provide them a community where they can engage in conversations with confidence. The close-knit groups are able to provide emotional support and helpful tips from other people’s experiences.
These faith-based rehabs offer a venue where patients can practice their faith. For instance, schedules for worships are included in the program for recovery. There are also prayer rooms while some offer spaces where religious gatherings can be held. Patients may join scripture readings and meditations making them feel comfortable while strengthening their spirituality. Ultimately, the aim of these support groups is for the peers to empower each person through support and acceptance.
Should You Choose Faith-Based Rehabs?
A study in 2015 (https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/22b3/7dec87e100c3e96542a7c0287dab6dba0157.pdf), found a positive correlation between recovery from substance abuse and faith-based recovery. The same study found that patients who attended faith-based therapy reported having a positive experience as they were able to have support from strong role-model who assist them in their recovery (Cook, Humphreys, and Stellard, 2015).
If you are someone who is looking for a support group that will provide you with programs to strengthen your spiritual foundation, a faith-based rehab facility is a viable option. It is not solely for Christians. Faith-based rehabs can help people even those who are not practicing their faith or non-believers so long as they believe the universal concept and power of forgiveness, healing, faith, and love, especially of a community.
One thing that will help patients in recovery remain sober will be the sense of belonging that they will feel in their community. This community will also help them in other problems they face aside from substance addiction, like homelessness, lack of jobs, or abuse.
Those who are practicing Christians will find a strong community that shares their beliefs and values in faith-based rehab facilities. Meanwhile, for those who are non-Christians, they may also find a welcoming community who will help them restore their faith in themselves and be introduced to the teachings of the Scriptures to deal with problems.
References:
Cook, Lydia, Brittany Humphreys, and Jennifer Stallard. 2015. “The Effects of Faith-Based Therapy Versus Secular Therapy on Substance Abuse Treatment. Cedarville University School of Nursing. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/22b3/7dec87e100c3e96542a7c0287dab6dba0157.pdf.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2018. “Drugs and the Brain.” Last updated: February 2018. Page accessed: January 11, 2019. https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/drugs-brain.
Pew Research Center. 2015. “America’s Changing Religious Landscape.” Published: May 12, 2015. http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/.
Ungar, Laura. 2018. “Once a Heroin Addict, Austin pastor finds a love greater than temptation.” Published: December 13, 2018. Louisville Courier-Journal. https://www.courier-journal.com/in-depth/news/2018/12/12/opioid-crisis-pastors-journey-drug-addiction-faith/1947027002/.
S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2016. “Facing Addiction in America: Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health.” https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-generals-report.pdf.
Windsor, Liliane Cambraia and Clay Shorkey. 2010. “Spiritual Change in Drug Treatment: Utility of the Christian Inventory of Spirituality, Substance Abuse.” Published online: August 3, 2010. 31:3, 136-145, DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2010.495650. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08897077.2010.495650.
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