Substance abuse disorder (SUD) is a complex disease that affects millions of people worldwide. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 20.4 million people in the United States were diagnosed with SUD in 2019 alone. Nowadays addiction is viewed as a treatable brain disorder. It’s important to remember that one can recover from their addiction.
There are different types of addiction treatments available: drug detox centers, drug rehab centers, alcohol treatment programs, and support groups, to name a few. While medical supervision and evidence-based treatment protocols are essential for a successful recovery, they might not be enough for some individuals. Research shows that 73% of addiction treatment programs in the U.S. encourage individuals on the journey of recovery to rely on God to stay sober.
In this blog, we will take a closer look at why treatment programs that integrate Christian principles and beliefs can be more effective for some individuals.
Sense of Community
Addiction is an isolating and harsh experience for anyone to undergo. It causes people to withdraw from their loved ones and the world around them. Christian-based recovery programs, however, provide a sense of community and support that can help individuals overcome this isolation. In these programs, people can connect with others who share their faith and values, creating a supportive and encouraging environment.
Research emphasizes the importance of social intervention and social support for recovery from substance abuse disorder. Unfortunately, many Christians are ashamed of substance abuse and try to hide it, which leads to isolation and makes coping with addiction harder. Therefore, receiving inpatient treatment might be the most beneficial type of treatment.
At Christian’s Drug Rehab, we offer inpatient treatment as part of our treatment services. Inpatient treatment is when the patient stays at our facility for the duration of their treatment. During this time, our professional Christian addiction counselors work with the patient, helping them acquire the necessary skills to manage their addiction as well as embrace the teachings of Jesus Christ to improve their chances of success with their recovery journey. Inpatient treatment is a perfect way to help those Christians who are struggling with an addiction renew their sense of belonging and hope in the success of their recovery.
Accountability
Accountability involves taking responsibility for one’s actions and being accountable to oneself and others. Christian-based recovery programs emphasize accountability through regular meetings, support groups, and mentoring relationships. This accountability can help individuals stay on track and make progress in their recovery.
Sometimes, a substance abuse intervention might be necessary to convince a person who is struggling with an addiction to seek treatment. Therefore, at Christian’s Drug Rehab, we also offer substance abuse interventions that are an opportunity to approach the addicted individual in the presence of friends and family. A certified counselor, social worker, or skilled interventionist should carefully organize and conduct substance abuse interventions.
Normally, a substance abuse intervention takes place in a quiet, neutral setting where participants feel free to express their thoughts and worries. It is important to lay out the facts and how one’s addiction affects other people. Guilt trips are inappropriate during an intervention. Instead, the intervention is intended to share the group’s desire for the addicted person to make positive changes. Defining the negative consequences of addiction will increase a sense of accountability and make the process of recovery more effective.
Spiritual Healing
Addiction is not just a physical or psychological problem but also a spiritual one. Christian-based recovery programs recognize this and seek to address the spiritual aspect of addiction. They offer chances for people to delve into their spirituality, make contact with a higher power, and discover meaning and purpose in their lives. This spiritual healing can be a powerful force in addiction recovery, helping individuals find the strength and resilience they need to overcome their addiction.
According to research, faith-based treatment programs are more effective than secular programs. Therefore, at Christian’s Drug Rehab, we emphasize the importance of letting go of feelings of guilt and shame with the help of a 12-step program. These steps include admitting one’s powerlessness over alcohol and drugs, assembling one’s moral inventory, admitting the nature of one’s wrongful actions, making a list of individuals whom one has harmed, and making amends to those people whenever possible.
Forgiveness
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32
Forgiveness is a core principle of Christianity. It involves choosing to extend grace and compassion to oneself and others while letting go of anger, resentment, and bitterness. Forgiveness is also an essential part of addiction recovery. It involves forgiving oneself for past mistakes and transgressions and seeking forgiveness from others. Christian-based recovery programs emphasize forgiveness, providing individuals with the tools and support they need to let go of their past and move forward in their recovery.
At Christian’s Drug Rehab, we help our patients let go of guilt, shame, and self-punishment by learning that addiction is a disease. We also encourage them to offer forgiveness to those who have hurt them and make amends for the harm they have done to others when possible, except when doing so would harm them or others.
Hope
Hope is a powerful force in addiction recovery. It gives people the courage and inspiration they require to get over their addictions and build better lives for themselves. Christian-based recovery programs convey a message of hope by highlighting the fact that healing is possible and that people can experience wholeness and healing through their faith. For those battling addiction, this message of hope can serve as a source of motivation and support, giving them the self-confidence they need to face their obstacles.
In the spirit of hope, we encourage our clients to earnestly believe that God exists, that they matter to Him, and that He has the power to help them recover. We also help them yield themselves to God to be used to bring the Good News to others, both through their actions and words.
Values-Based Approach
Christian-based recovery programs are values-based, emphasizing the importance of honesty, integrity, and moral character. They provide individuals with a framework for making ethical and moral decisions, helping them to develop a strong sense of right and wrong. This values-based approach can be especially beneficial for individuals who struggle with addiction, helping them to make positive choices and avoid negative behaviors.
Understanding Christian ethics can be achieved through reserving time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer to know God and His will and to gain the power to follow His will. According to the Bible, anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. At Christian’s Drug Rehab, during our pastoral counseling sessions, we help our clients leave their old life behind. Romans 12:2 reads: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
One of the factors that can cause addiction to alcohol is the social acceptance of drinking. By helping our clients let the Holy Spirit enter them, we facilitate shifts in their thinking patterns. They no longer need to sustain their self-esteem through substance abuse. Instead, they can find fulfillment through altruistic deeds, which are the cornerstone of Christianity.
Integration of Faith and Recovery
One of the primary benefits of Christian-based recovery is the integration of faith and recovery. Christian-based recovery programs recognize that addiction is not just a physical or psychological problem but also a spiritual one. They provide individuals with the tools and support they need to integrate their faith into their recovery, helping them find meaning and purpose in their lives.
Faith-Based Coping Strategies
Christian-based recovery programs also provide faith-based coping techniques to support people in managing stress, anxiety, and other difficulties that come up during the healing process. These strategies may include prayer, meditation, scripture reading, and other spiritual practices that can help individuals find peace, strength, and resilience in their faith.
Prayer is much more than merely asking God for things. The word for prayer is derived from the Latin word “precarius,” which means “to acquire through entreaty or pleading.” Prayer can make it simpler for individuals to feel God’s presence, lessen the strain of control, express gratitude, and keep their attention on sobriety. Even those who are recovering from addictions can use prayer to keep them from relapsing. There are many other advantages to prayer, such as better emotional stability, stronger emotional health, a lessening of stress and sadness, better memory and learning, and higher levels of happiness.
Holistic Approach
Christian-based recovery programs often take a holistic approach to addiction treatment, addressing the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects of addiction. They provide a comprehensive range of services, including medical care, behavioral therapy, counseling, and spiritual support. This holistic approach can help individuals find healing and wholeness in all areas of their lives.
At Christian’s Drug Rehab, we offer detoxification services to take care of our clients’ physical needs. Detoxification or withdrawal treatment is the process of clearing the substance from the body of an individual who is struggling with an addiction. Tapering is a preferable method for detoxification over an abrupt stop that could lead to dangerous withdrawal symptoms. In fact, it can be life-threatening to abruptly stop using such drugs as the following:
- Opioids, such as OxyContin (oxycodone), fentanyl, and heroin
- Benzodiazepines (or “benzos”), such as Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam)
- Alcohol
Throughout the detoxification process, clients get prescription drugs that act in the body like drugs to ease withdrawal symptoms. The taper period varies depending on how long and how much the client has been using the drug. The dose could be gradually lowered over a period of several weeks or a few months. Most alcohol detoxes take a few days.
In cases of heavy addiction, abrupt stops are dangerous and might lead to dangerous withdrawal symptoms, such as rapid heart rate, hallucinations, and seizures. Therefore, it is not recommended to go through detoxification on your own. It is highly recommended to seek expert help at a rehab center to ensure the success of the recovery process.
Long-Term Support
Christian-based recovery programs offer long-term support to individuals in recovery. They recognize that addiction is a chronic condition that requires ongoing care and support. They offer a variety of services, such as support groups, mentoring relationships, and follow-up care, to assist people in keeping sober and achieving long-term recovery.
Because long-term support is essential for a successful recovery, our clients get the chance to participate in Celebrate Recovery®, a Christ-centered ministry for individuals in recovery at the adjacent Saddleback Church. The meetings are based on the New Testament principle that encourages us to intimately collaborate with and share our sufferings with others when we encounter challenges like addiction. As a result, Celebrate Recovery® sessions are based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and assist individuals in overcoming challenges like alcohol and drug addiction, harmful behavioral habits, or psychological scars.
Final Words
Christian-based recovery can be a powerful force in addiction recovery for individuals who share Christian faith and values. It provides a sense of community, spiritual healing, accountability, forgiveness, hope, a values-based approach, the integration of faith and recovery, faith-based coping strategies, a holistic approach, and long-term support that can help individuals overcome addiction and find healing and wholeness in their lives. However, it’s important to note that Christian-based recovery may not be suitable for everyone. Individuals should carefully consider their personal beliefs, values, and preferences when choosing an addiction treatment program that best meets their needs.
At Christian’s Drug Rehab, our mission is to help Christians on their journey to recovery from substance abuse. Contact us if you would like to know more about how we incorporate a Christian-based approach into our addiction treatments.
