Faith Based Programs Aren’t Always Right, or Constitutional
Alternative to Faith Based Drug Rehab
When a person is dealing with a drug addiction, it is critical to find help that embraces them and ensures their individual needs are being met, while fighting the addiction. The problem some face is that there are very few non faith based drug rehab programs. With programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, the 12-step program tends to lean heavily on a belief in God.
The problem is that the courts have decided having faith based programs is unconstitutional for those who do not believe in God. This is where having a non faith based drug rehab center comes into play. Instead of adding religion into the treatment program, a person who is an atheist won’t find they are being forced into religious beliefs to find sobriety. After all, the long term goal is for a person to find a way to remain clean and sober rather than to choose a religious belief in that moment. By doing this, the patient no longer has the excuse of rejecting an inpatient drug rehab program because it has something to do with God either. Instead, scientifically proven steps are taken to help treat the patient, which increases the chance of sobriety when compared to no treatment at all.
Curing the Addict is of the Upmost Importance
When the treatment of an addict, it is important to understand that curing the addiction is far more important than helping them to define their spirituality. There is no denying that faith based programs like Narcotics Anonymous have proven to be successful with their 12 step programs. The problem is that therapy shouldn’t repel the addict. When you are preaching religion to a person who isn’t open and receptive to it, they will turn their attention to other things because they will feel like you are more concerned with the preaching and that doesn’t help to cure this fatal disease. In these cases, proven science and therapy are the best solution to help the addict kick their habit and to find positive solutions in their life.
Many Current Programs Now Use Therapy Over Religious Views
In society today, many inpatient drug rehab programs have started to step away from the traditional 12 step programs and placed them as aftercare solutions. In their place, they focus on therapy-based treatment plans that can help a person at their core, and then give them a series of options they can choose from to help them continue to take back their lives and ensure they are going to end up with the treatment they need. After all, therapy and counseling will be essential pieces to the recovery process for an addict and these pieces aren’t something that should be overlooked in favor of a 12 step program. In fact, many people don’t realize that a 12 step program only has a 40% success rate, while therapy has been shown to have a 56% success rate. Of course, if they are combined after a patient leaves an inpatient drug rehab program later on, the chances of success will increase even more. As part of aftercare, if a person is receptive to it, this can be another option they may want to consider.
What you need to remember is that the most important thing for any addict who needs help is to first get the help they desperately need. A non faith based drug rehab program might be the solution in some cases, so ensure you are open to the options out there. After all, the last thing you want to do is alienate someone to the point that they refuse the help they are in desperate need of.
January 26th, 2014 at 8:29 pm
Hello everyone, especially the folks running this page. I’m a born-and-strictly Catholic raised thirty-something single woman. My family is strongly anchored as well to the same religion, and so far, we’ve had it good for many generations, without issues of drugs and alcohol… until my younger brother (he’s 32) got hooked on drugs.
A short-lived but ferocious debate ensued in our family about which rehab to send him to, considering largely our faith. But I insisted that Mack hasn’t been to church for a long time, except traditional occasions. I also got concerned because in a few of his episodes and manifestations, Mack seemed to disagree with a lot of our Church’s teachings and doctrines. Thinking about it, why should we impose our beliefs on someone who doesn’t hold it in the same way we do?
Mack & me lost round one of the argument, he was sent to a faith-based rehab. He completed the stint for 60 days, and it was as long as that before he was back on the street again. I blamed my parents and the pushing of our whole “clan” to get him spiritual help more instead of scientific and medically-proven treatment. And there’s the whole truth in THIS article.
Mack just entered a non-faith rehab two weeks back. Hoping for the best. At this point, I just want readers to know, especially if they’re at a loss between rehab and religion, to choose non-faith rehabs. Faith is just a component of treating addiction – not the whole thing!
Thank you and God bless!
July 8th, 2014 at 8:04 am
There are many points I don’t agree with or are right about faith-based rehabs. But I totally respect the opinion here. However, let me explain. Most Christian rehab facilities offer a faith-based foundation and don’t just focus on the science. It strongly helps addicts regain or gain faith in God. These addiction treatments offer spiritual reflection and often use scripture as guidance through drug addiction along with traditional detox, individual counseling, and group therapy sessions. What is lacking in non faith based treatment is the opening or introduction of God’s role in one’s life. We emphasize God’s love, acceptance and faithfulness to individuals no matter how wrong they have been in the past. This way, recovering addicts find peace, as well as inspiration and motivation.