Drug and alcohol abuse is a growing problem in our country and throughout the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 114 people die every day due to drugs, though TIME Magazine reports even higher estimates than that. While there is no “one size fits all” method of recovery that works for everyone — hence why there are so many different types of drug rehabilitation centers available — many people find that a faith-based approach provides some of the highest rates of success.
Many inpatient rehab centers are built on a foundation of religion. Some may utilize religious, moral principles without emphasizing the need to belong to one specific faith. Other rehab facilities maintain a primary focus on religion and emphasize how faith has the power to heal. Whether you have a religious background or have had no real faith-based education to speak of, you may find that spiritual or religious addiction treatment has a lot to offer.
How Faith Can Prevent Substance Abuse
In some studies, religion has been shown to actually lessen the likelihood that a person may become addicted. Data reveals that those who attend church regularly and those who identify with being spiritual are less likely to use drugs or drink. But adults who don’t attend religious services may be five times more likely to experiment with hard drugs and seven times more likely to engage in binge drinking. A different study found that adults who don’t consider religious beliefs to be important are more than three times likelier to binge drink, more than 1.5 times more likely to consume alcohol or smoke cigarettes, more than six times more likely to use marijuana, and almost four times more likely to use illicit drugs than those adults who believe in the importance of religion. Children and teens who are not religiously inclined have even higher odds of drug and alcohol use and abuse.
The reasons for this are probably multifaceted. However, one study showed that because religion promotes a substance-free lifestyle, promotes moral guidance, and occupies an individual’s free time, those who are actively involved in religious services and/or study are more likely to abstain from the use of drugs and alcohol.
Religion’s Role in Addiction Recovery
Many turn to Christian rehabs in AZ when other attempts at recovery have proven unsuccessful. And there are many reasons to believe that a faith-based approach provides some of the greatest chances of recovery. A 2006 study found that recovering addicts whose treatment processes involved spirituality, religion, and life meaning reported that their recovery was enhanced — and their likelihood of recovery directly increased — as a result. The social support and religious activities these individuals experienced played an important role in their ability to change their lives.
A more recent study conducted in 2015 found that the higher a recovering addict’s level of spirituality, the more likely they were to continue their abstention from drugs and alcohol. It was discovered that those who attended religious services once a week had a 20% better chance of staying drug-free. Approximately 63.6% of those subjects believe that praying on a daily basis is important. And according to the 2016 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Substance Abuse, nearly two-thirds of all recovering alcoholics and addicts feel that their recovery has a spiritual component to it. In addition, other data shows that people in recovery who report higher levels of spirituality experience lower levels of anxiety, higher resistance to stress, higher levels of perceived social support, and a more optimistic life outlook.
For these reasons, it’s no wonder why many of those struggling with addiction (as well as their families) want to learn more about Teen Challenge Arizona or other faith-based drug rehabilitation centers. Not only do these programs address the physical symptoms associated with withdrawal and addiction, but they can also heal a person’s spirit. To find out more about how Christian drug rehabilitation centers can help you or someone you love, please contact us today.
