Recovery Based on Spirituality in Substance Abusers in Iran

Abstract

Background and Purpose:Spirituality is an important factor influencing the decrease of substance abuse severity and maintenance of the recovery phase. This research, investigates the effect of spiritual experiences in the recovery of substance abusers.Material and Methods:Qualitative data was collected from 16 men and 6 women, selected through purposeful sampling to ensure an equilibrated gender representation and data from different recovery periods. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews.Results:Data showed two main categories: “Mutual relationship between spirituality and recovery,” divided into four subcategories: religious background, religious teachings, experience exchange, and support of family and society; and “A new perspective toward life” subdivided into access to calmness and spiritual development. A factor “spirituality meaning religion” arose repeatedly throughout the study.Conclusion:The results of this study can be useful for policy makers, care providers, families, and drug addicts. The promotion of spirituality in substance abusers can help in their struggle with temptation. Effective strategies to ensure drug abstinence and maintenance of the recovery phase are encouraging substance abusers and their families to participate in spirituality-based psychotherapy sessions held in addiction treatment centers, multi-disciplinary cooperation among the organizations involved in the addiction phenomenon, and training the families regarding the importance of spirituality in the mental health of their children through mass media.

Ups and downs of drug rehab among women: a qualitative study

“…These results are also in line with the results of Chang (2017) (29). In this regard, Stensma (2005) also argues that drug users should be mentally engaged with their problems to figure out their negative conditions and try to escape from it (30). Doing so, women drug users can gain selfconfidence and knowledge, and come to a deep understanding of their conditions to get on their way back to life.…”

Ups and downs of drug rehab among women: a qualitative study

“…Another finding is that, at the pinnacle of helplessness, believing in God's mercy and resorting to spirituality was a way to return from addiction to life. Research has confirmed the positive role of spirituality at the start of the rehabilitation process and reducing the likelihood of relapse to drug use [31]. In a study, the findings showed the positive results in those who paid attention to proper nutrition, exercise and spirituality in their rehabilitation process [32].…”

The family strengths in the context of psychoactive substance dependence

“…The data infers it is through prayers that the family pleads and thanks the Superior Being for the recovery of the drug dependent. Studies show that prayer constitute a therapeutic instrument or resource [15][16][17] both to the ill relative and to the family, as it promotes tranquility, inner peace, minimizes suffering, provide confort 18 and hope in the recovery. 14 The relatives taking part in this study recognized that the religious environment facilitate the access to messages of Christian content, transmitted through its representatives, which Family strengths and the chemical dependence Claus MIS, Zerbetto SR, Gonçalves AMS, Galon T, Andrade LGZ, Oliveira FC provide strength, tranquility and teachings.…”