The Effects of Spirituality on Substance Abuse Treatment - Research Paper Example

The effects of spirituality on substance abuse recovery Introduction Substance abuse is one of the most difficult disorders to recovery from. It involves various interventions which are meant to assist the patient in recovering from alcoholism or drug addiction. These interventions include various stages and elements which are meant to modify the patient’s behavior and make the changes necessary for an overall change in the patient’s habits and lifestyle. For the patient however, the will power involved in making the treatment process and substance recovery work is significant. For these patients, the success of their substance abuse recovery is largely based on how determined they are in eliminating their habit. Various mental health practitioners consider spirituality as an important part of the substance recovery process. Spirituality, for the most part, is a personal matter and is based on different preferences. Nevertheless, it is an aspect of the recovery process which is said to tap into the person’s core, guiding and supporting the patient in a more profound way towards the better choices in life – including substance recovery. This paper shall discuss the different favorable effects of substance abuse on the substance recovery process. It will specify the benefits gained from spirituality as a part of the therapeutic process for substance recovery patients and the improved outcomes that such spirituality can potentially bring to these patients. This paper is being carried out in order to establish a clear and comprehensive understanding of the thesis topic, how it applies to the substance recovery process, and how it can be used as a future reference for practitioners in handling substance recovery patients. Body Various studies have indicated that there is a strong relationship between spirituality and medicine. These studies express that majority of the US population believe in God and most of them believe that spiritual health is also as important as physical health (Anandarajah and Hight, 2001). Seventy seven percent of the population also believes that a patient’s spiritual beliefs must form part of the patient’s treatment. However, a good percentage of these believers express that physicians rarely discuss their spiritual concerns with the patients and this has prevented the inclusion of personal spirituality into the patient’s lives (Anandarajah and Hight, 2001). Religious commitments have been known to prevent illness, including mental health affectations like depression and substance abuse; they have also been known to assist the patient in his recovery and in coping with his illness. Some studies were also able to discuss how elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery who did not show strength or find comfort in their religion had a higher risk of death in the six-month period following their surgery (Anandarajah and Hight, 2001). Those who had more religiously commitments were twice as likely to survive longer after major surgeries with the strength and comfort their religion playing a significant role in their lives. Relaxation and meditation is also highlighted as a crucial element of spirituality and when applied to the medical practice, it is known to relieve a person’s stress, causing less strain to the person’s overall physical and emotional well-being. It provides a placebo effect which eventually triggers a favorable frame of mind which can provide more tools for recovery and restoration. Among substance abuse person, spirituality is a very beneficial addition because it basically provides emotional support and guidance to the person, arming him with the necessary emotional and psychological tools for recovery. Recovering from drug and alcohol addiction requires a significant amount of willpower on the part of the patient. The recovery, for the most part, is a purely emotional and mental process. Many recovering substance abuse patients are often forced to face their emotional demons which are often the causes of their addiction. Facing these demons requires a significant amount of willpower and emotional strength, and spirituality is an important element which helps support such willpower. In relation to alcohol dependence, the spiritual aspect of the disorder has been raised for academics and practitioners. However, integrating the spiritual in the treatment process is not always a comfortable process. Independence and cause and effect explanations of personal problems are often used as basis for counseling interventions among alcoholic patients (Chapman, 1997). Nevertheless, the value of spirituality in substance abuse recovery has provided enlightenment of self and of the presence of a higher power. Spirituality is described as a personal journey of enlightenment which includes other qualities of love, forgiveness, and kindness. It is also a journey which is devoid of rules (Chapman, 1997). It refers to the process of being aware of the presence of a higher power. Spirituality in alcoholic recovery also has the role of assisting the professional and the client in exploring the client’s global perception (Chapman, 1997). In the spiritual context, spirit refers to the contribution made to the recovery of a person’s favorable relationship with the environment (George, 1990). This is also based on the goals of AA recovery, which basically highlights the importance of establishing a sense of connection with self, other than self and of behaviors which support such a connection (Chapman, 1997). In other words, spirituality gives a sense of connectedness with other people. This spirituality is actually mimicked in other practices from the indigenous peoples around the world. The Native Americans speak of harmony and of respecting all creations. The aborigines also speak of divine oneness, seeing creation as an important principle and concept in their lives (Chapman, 1998). The Taoist doctrines also support a person’s individual relationship with his maker, and the importance of respecting the process of creation itself. These belief systems help provide support to spirituality. In alcoholism, spirituality involves more than the consideration given to religious principles. In includes the belief that human beings form part of a bigger reality and they are charged to participate, and not dominate such an existence (Chapman, 1998). However, even as religion is a crucial part of a person’s life, it is only one aspect of a very complex process to recovery. Most people have considered faith as a source of strength and emotional support, especially during times of trial. Research within the clinical practice has acknowledged the role of spirituality within the treatment process. In the past twenty years, various researchers have established instruments to evaluate the aspects of religion and spirituality in the clinical practice. These studies were able to establish the importance of making sense out of any experience, and how crucial this part is in assisting in a person’s recovery (Fetzer Institute, 1999). Having a sense of coherence can help a person cope with difficulties. Finding meaning is a crucial part of the spiritual experience. Studies support the concept of spirituality in improving health and the quality of life. These studies also indicate that religious beliefs play a crucial role in adjusting and improving recovery (Culliford, 2002). The impact of religiousness and spirituality in resolving stressful situations have also been seen in different studies and in these studies spirituality has been seen as a means of protecting factors which moderate the relationships between life and the quality of one’s life (Culliford, 2002). Among substance abuse patients, utilizing spiritual beliefs have been known to give hope, strength and meaning (Laudet, et.al., 2006). Literature has also been strong on the relationship between recovery and spirituality, with a weak spirituality often causing exacerbation of symptoms and difficulties in dealing with stressful situations. In addition to improved quality of life, spirituality has also assisted in ensuring resiliency during stressful situations, especially among substance abuse recovery patients. A huge amount of evidence has also been seen proving support for religion and the likelihood of substance abuse in life, with those having a stronger religious presence in their life, being less prone to involvement in substance abuse (Johnson, 2001). Spirituality seems to offer protective mechanisms through religious involvement and avoidance of drugs. It provides social support which advocates the non-engagement in drug use; it promotes social values through religious beliefs which promote a drug-free life (Morjaria and Orford, 2002). The relationship between spirituality and decreased substance use has renewed interest in addiction and how religion can assist in eliminating the addiction (Morjaria and Orford, 2002). Various studies have also considered the importance of spirituality in enhancing the possibility of sustaining the recovery from addiction. The increased involvement of former addicts has been seen among individuals who have included spirituality and religion as part of their recovery and rehabilitation process. Moreover, proof has also been seen on spirituality increasing in the post-recovery period and that higher levels of faith has been known to create favorable health outcomes, more optimistic views in life, improved coping with stress, decreased levels of anxiety, and better coping skills (Pardini, et.al., 2000). In effect, there is a strong support for the positive role which spirituality plays in reducing substance abuse and there is also strong evidence proving that spirituality can better sustain the recovery from substance abuse. Kendler, et.al., (2003) discuss that an intrinsic religious motivation may be considered one of the protective devices against depressive and substance disorders. Measures which relate to unvengefulness and thankfulness often linked with spirituality tap into the innate attitudes which eliminate the risk for major depression and substance abuse. The 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous is spiritually based and integrates psychological ideas into patient recovery (Robison, 2000). The spiritual ideas of the program are very much diverse and are based on the principles of Eastern spirituality – that of letting go of control. The process of restoration is integrated within the depths of this recovery program and it helps integrate deficits in the self-development process which may have occurred throughout the person’s childhood. In the process, the alcoholic is able to reassess his life and the possible causes of his addiction (Robison, 2000). The 12-step process implements a changes in a person and spirituality provides the necessary images which can assist in the person’s recovery process. The integration of God and of spirituality into a person’s life, especially one who is a recovering from substance addiction allows the person to work through toxic shame, pain, and the anger of abuse (Robison, 2000). In effect, the 12-step program helps the patient temporarily transfer his pain and shame onto God and to confront his issues in order to transition into a better emotional place. This program has managed to provide different benefits for patients undergoing substance recovery and the preferences of these individuals have largely been based on their emotional and spiritual wellness (Robison, 2000). Guiding the patients through their emotional turmoil has assisted them in facing these emotional issues and in manifesting their anger or bitterness in less self-destructive ways. For the most part, the 12-step program has gained much success because of its spiritual nature, allowing the recovery process to transcend physical recovery from substance addiction. Various experts have suggested that substance addictions are actually spiritual diseases; in other words, it is a disease which is caused by the presence of the spiritual void in a person’s life or from a person’s search for connectedness (Ringwald, 2003). For some alcoholics or drug addicts, drugs or alcohol is their way of gaining a spiritual experience, and the drink or the drugs is their “counterfeit god” (Ringwald, 2003). Among substance abusers, merely stopping their use of the substance does not give adequate protection for future temptations of drugs and alcohol (VanWormer and Davis, 2003). Fully recovering from addiction can only be possible through a dramatic change in one’s life, in one’s thought processes and in how one feels about himself and the world in general (Zemore and Kastukas, 2000). Such a transformation calls for the help of other people and of a greater spiritual power. Psychologists express how their clients often use religion and spiritual language in order to specify and understand their personal experiences. Many patients prefer their doctors to consider spiritual concerns with them, and to pray with them. Moreover, substance addiction patients and those suffering from mental health issues have placed more value on the spiritual elements in their counseling as compared to other health providers (Snead, 2008). As such, more support for spiritual processes in the care of substance addiction patients seems to be a more beneficial trend for psychologists and mental health professionals to consider. Spirituality has been seen as a favorable means of improving a person’s mental health process, including his feelings of satisfaction with his life, on his feelings of depression, and on the length of his hospital stay (Baetz, et.al., 2002). Psychologists also note how spirituality serves as a protective factor against substance dependency; it helps support pro-social values which further support a substance-free living. Leading a spiritual life has been seen as a positive means in gaining full recovery because it seems to provide the patients with an effective way of dealing with stressful life events (Baetz, et.al., 2002). Improved emotional coping is important in substance abuse recovery because many recovering alcoholics or drug abusers have also an elevated suicide risk. About 18% who have not gained treatment have been known to eventually commit suicide and 25% of suicides are caused by alcohol dependence (Harwitz and Ravizza, 2000). Many studies have also established that substance addiction is highly linked with a decreased sense of purpose in life. Spirituality assists the patient in gaining a deeper sense of purpose in life, providing him with spiritual tasks and goals which are meant to lead him away from his tendency towards chemical use (Miller, 2003). Such purpose in life can be associated with the reprioritization of values which is seen among individuals who finished substance abuse treatment. A review of these patients indicates that they have found a way to reduce their current and future worries (Jarusiewicz, 2000). Spirituality seems to provide a way out of emotional suffering and pain; moreover, it seems to add richness and depth to the lives of these people suffering from chemical dependence. Spirituality also seems to add hope to the lives of those suffering from chemical dependence. Hope is the feeling that goodness is eventually going to emerge in the world and uplift things, make them better. For many alcoholics and drug abusers, they often feel hopeless and helpless, and turn to drugs and alcohol to escape their deplorable thoughts (Asher, 2001). Spirituality provides hopefulness to these abusers and it supports the belief “that a loving Higher Power is in control and has one’s best interest at heart” (Snead, 2008, p. 11). In effect, it helps the patient unburden his hopelessness to someone else whom he believes would carry the load for him. Alcoholics and drug dependents also often suffer from guilt and shame. As a result, they often hurt the ones closest to them, including their spouse, their children, their parents, and their friends (Snead, 2008). As such, these recovering individuals sometimes feel much guilt and shame over their actions. However, inasmuch as many of them seek to unload their feelings of guilt, they desire to seek forgiveness first from the people they have hurt. The process of forgiveness is however filled with an internal process on the part of the people who have been hurt and on the part of the patient himself. Spirituality provides a means to get past the anger and resentment (Murray-Swank and Pargament, 2005). It helps enlighten the people who have been hurt, making it easier for them to offer forgiveness with the knowledge that the patient is less likely to return to his habits. Conclusion Spirituality has a significant impact in the recovery of substance abusers. It helps the abuser reassess his emotions and his habits on a spiritual level and to begin the recovery process based on an improved notion of self and of his life. Spirituality is also the dominant feature of the 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous Program, providing a sound basis for deeper changes into a person’s life, as well as his mind and soul. Spirituality is basically a healing practice as it assists a person in finding himself and becoming whole. It also leads to an awareness of love and care from other people for oneself. It helps relieve a person of his anger, guilt, and shame, prompting him to forgive himself and for others to forgive him. Spirituality allows for a personal and emotional healing process, one which has a better hope of preventing relapse and of lasting into the future. Works Cited Anandarajah, G. & Hight, E (2001). Spirituality and Medical Practice: Using the HOPE Questions as a Practical Tool for Spiritual Assessment. Am Fam Physician, volume 63: pp. 81-89 Asher, M. (2001). Spirituality and religion in social work practice. Social Work Today, volume 29; pp. 15-18. Baetz, M., Larson, D., Marcoux, G., Bowen, R. & Griffin, R. (2002). Canadian psychiatric inpatient religious commitment: An association with mental health. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, volume 47; pp. 159-166. Chapman, R. (1997). Spirituality in the Treatment Of Alcoholism: A World View Approach. 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