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Addiction Recovery. & Spirituality. Spirituality. The Missing Piece In Addiction Recovery. Why is spirituality an essential component in relapse prevention, or recovery programs?. Why is recovery a difficult term to understand?
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Addiction Recovery & Spirituality
Spirituality The Missing Piece In Addiction Recovery
Why is spirituality an essential component in relapse prevention, or recovery programs?
Why is recovery a difficult term to understand? • There are thousands of recovery programs professing to be the best; however there is not ONE answer. • a term with “no complete consensus on the definition even among those in recovery.”
Recovery…. • Recovery is defined as a voluntarily maintained lifestyle composed characterized by sobriety, personal health, and citizenship. What is re covery? A working definition from the Betty Ford Institute The Betty Ford Institute Consensus Panel
Recovery… • Cancer survivor- • After 5 years the risk of cancer returning “relapsing” is significantly reduced • Proudly displayed pink ribbons that the public recognize • Public discussion of survival rates has increased the proportion of individuals willing to get early screening for the illness and to take preventive measures (CDC 2004)
Spirituality is often the missing piece in treatment programs for addiction.
Spirituality is a • Vague concept • Personal • Complex
Spirituality is not a religion. • Religion refers to an institution and a system. • However: • Terms are often used interchangeable • Frequently intertwined
A concise definition: • Spirituality emphasizes an inner quality that “facilitates connectedness with the self, other people, and nature.” • Spirituality is fundamentally an ideographic aspect of the person.
A more complex definition: • “Spirituality is a distinctive, potentially creative and universal dimension of human experience arising both within the inner subjective awareness of individuals and within communities, social groups and traditions. It may be experienced as relationship with that which is intimately 'inner', immanent and personal, within the self and others, and/or as relationship with that which is wholly 'other', transcendent and beyond the self”. (Cook , 2004)
“Collectively, it is clear that there is an enormously large number of different definitions comprising a relatively small number of common themes.” (Cook, 2006)
13 recurring themes: • Relatedness: interpersonal relationships • Transcendence: recognition of a transcendent dimension to life • Humanity: the distinctiveness of humanity • Core/force/soul: the inner 'core', 'force' or 'soul' of a person • Meaning/purpose: meaning and purpose in life • Authenticity/truth: authenticity and truth
7. Values: values, importance and worth 8. Non-materiality: opposition of the spiritual to the material 9. (Non)religiousness: opposition of spirituality to, or identity with, religion 10. Wholeness: holistic wellness. wholeness or health 11. Self-knowledge: self-knowledge and self-actualization 12. Creativity: creativity of the human agent 13. Consciousness: consciousness and awareness
Outcomes of integrating spirituality into substance abuse counseling programs
Positive Physical Health Outcomes • Lower rates of morbidity • Lower mortality from cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and cancer • Long-term sobriety
Positive Mental Health Outcomes • Lower levels of depression • Decreased levels of suicide • Higher levels • self -esteem • life satisfaction • personal adjustment
Positive Mental Health Outcomes Higher religious faith and spirituality was associated with increased coping, greater resilience to stress, an optimistic life orientation, greater perceived social support, and lower levels of anxiety. (Carol, 1993)
Negative Outcomes of Spirituality • No relationship between spirituality and stress levels • Increased length of sobriety is not associated with greater contentment, nor with lower stress levels • Social and cultural factors may impact abstinence • Cohesiveness and emotional closeness among family members
Outcomes of integrating religion into substance abuse counseling programs
Positive Religious Outcomes • Protect against substance use • Less likely to use tobacco, alcohol & illicit drugs • Promote pro-social activities • Anti drug norms • Form peer groups • Less likely to engage with deviant peers
Positive Religious Outcomes • Strong faith makes traumatic events easier to bear, even allowing them to be viewed as opportunities for spiritual growth. • Church attendance, prayer, and scripture reading were associated with lowered risks of a clinical disorder. (Ellison ,1991)
Negative Outcome of Religion • Individuals who are affiliated with a religious group and use substances may become MORE isolated!Study by National Center on Addiction & Substance Abuse (2001) • Increased feelings of guilt and shame
Gender Differences • Women • Higher spirituality was associated with higher contentment and lower stress levels • Internal factor of spirituality • Men • Relationship between contentment and stress is stronger • External, environmental factors E.D. Poage et al.,(2004) (Further Research Needed)
Ethnic Factors • Latinos • Religion offers support during stressful times • Religious affiliation deters drug use • Deterrents not universal • Stress of acculturation places them at risk • Intravenous drug users or gang members attend church • Church attendance does not affect drug use • More drug using church friends
African Americans • Higher social connectedness • Higher spiritual support • Frequent practice of one’s religion or faith lead to greater abstinence • 76.2% v. 38.7% • 5x’s more like to be abstinent 3 months later • Finding a purpose and meaning in life was higher • Stewarta,Koeskeb, and Pringlec, (2005)
Living a healthy lifestyle of recovery means a balance in all aspects of life - mentally, physically and spiritually…
Health:PhysicalMentalSpiritual Unbalanced Lifestyle When life is unbalanced the path to recovery is difficult with many struggles and more challenges. It often feels like an uphill battle.
Health:PhysicalMentalSpiritual Balanced Lifestyle There are still dips in the road but life is balanced. Obstacles are easier to overcome when the proper maintenance and care.
Spirituality Gives Hope