Spirituality in Treatment Programs for Addicts
Robert Y. O'Brien
Journal of Ministry in Addiction & Recovery October 19, 1993 DOI: 10.1300/j048v01n01_06 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 3 |
| Key points | Argues that the cultural divide between sacred and secular undermines addiction recovery when treatment staff are timid about spirituality, and that spirituality, understood as experiencing the transcendent, cannot be forced or fabricated. Proposes that the first three of the twelve steps provide a foundation for incorporating spirituality into recovery without adopting a particular theological or ecclesiastical bias. |
Abstract
The dichotomy of the sacred and sexular which pervades much of society has a delerious affect upon recovery from addiction when members of a treatment staff are timid and tenuous about the spiritual dimension of recovery. Spirituality is the experience of the transcendent in the recovery process and it cannot be either forced or fabricated. The first three steps in the twelve step program provide a solid foundation for incorporating spirituality into recovery without commiting to a particular theological of ecclesiastical bias.