Christian Drug and Alcohol Rehab: What You Need to Know

Studies have shown that drug addicted individuals who choose faith-based treatment programs are more likely to avoid relapse. They are said to be more likely to stay sober. But these studies only account for people who are already religious. What we know for sure is that people respond better to treatment methods that are consistent with their own beliefs. What if a person isn’t religious? Do Christian addiction recovery programs still have the same effect? Is a drug addict likely to become sober under a Christian rehab if they do not have the same beliefs? In order to answer these questions, we need to put Christian treatment under the microscope. What does it do? How does it help? How is it different from regular forms of drug rehab? Christ-centered counseling certainly has its benefits. And today we are going to discuss the scope of its helpfulness, and why it is a viable option to consider when looking for an addiction treatment center. A patient may or may not decide to undergo faith-based healing entirely. They may decide that their religion has little to do with their success in getting sober. But before we can take a look at the relationship between addiction treatment and faith, we need to get a brief overview of what we are up against.

What is Addiction?

Understanding addiction can go a long way in making the right decision for addiction treatment. There are a lot of factors to consider, especially because addiction affects everyone in different ways. And religion is just one of the many factors that come into play. Addiction is the compulsive need to take a certain substance—even when your body is already suffering from its adverse effects. Many drugs out there can make you feel good. They will make you feel relaxed and euphoric. Some may even distort your perception of reality—literally making you unable to think about your problems. Those who seek to get away from it all can do so through the use of deadly and potent drugs. The fact that drugs, as well as alcohol, can make you feel good about yourself is what makes them so compelling. They prevent you from living a sober life by making you not want to quit in the first place. Why would you give up something that feels so good? But that’s the thing: drugs aren’t all good. They’re not good for your body at all. You may know that; you may not. But the truth is that drugs will destroy your body as you take them. They are not supposed to be in your system—let alone high doses of them. That’s why these substances can easily kill people via fatal overdose. It’s why drug addicts have failing organs. It also destroys the mind and alters a person’s behavior, to the point where they can’t make the right decisions anymore. They will have memory problems, they will have cognitive issues, and they’ll suffer from all sorts of psychological stress. They may become depressed, paranoid, anxious, violent, or suicidal. All these emotional burdens pile up on top of the various physical effects that drugs create. And the worst part is that the person will just want to take more. When a person’s body adapts to the drug’s presence, it becomes tolerant. This means they won’t get the same euphoric effects, unless they take the drug in higher doses, or they take it more frequently. In no time, they will become drug dependent, which means their body will no longer function properly without the substance. This is what makes drug addiction treatment so necessary. A person can’t just quit taking the drugs—the withdrawal will either be disastrously uncomfortable, or they will simply relapse. Not to mention that they will have extreme cravings for their drug of choice if they do try to quit. Self-regulating is an ineffective and dangerous way to deal with drug addiction. The truth is, drug addiction treatment isn’t so simple either. But it’s the patient’s best chance of recovery. There are many factors that have to be considered during the process of rehabilitation. The good news is that addiction treatments are staffed with medical professionals who can come up with a treatment plan based on a person’s specific needs. Will the treatment be inpatient or outpatient? How long will they be staying in the facility? What treatment methods will be most effective? The person’s drug habits will be considered. What drug did they abuse? How long have they been taking the substance? Have they been drinking or abusing other types of drugs? Do they have co-occurring disorders? Were they prescribed with certain drugs? How often did they take the drug and at what dosage? Other personal information may change the treatment plan too. A person’s age, gender, body weight, and health condition will be taken into consideration. And depending on the treatment facility, even their hobbies, interests, profession, and religion can have an impact on the treatment process. Christian rehab centers offer one specific type of treatment for a certain group of people. No doubt it is the best drug addiction program for Christians, because it offers spiritual guidance alongside the regular rehab program. But what exactly does that entail? Let’s have a closer look.

What is Christian Drug Rehab?

Christian drug rehab is for Christians who have substance abuse issues—but it’s not necessarily limited to those who have the same faith. Anyone can sign up for this type of treatment. But the approach itself is structured around faith, and so you need to have a degree of comfort with this method for it to actually work. Looking beyond its religious aspects, faith based drug rehab is essentially the same as traditional rehab. It aims to provide individualized care, as well as group therapy for their patients. It aims to treat the person physically, psychologically, and in this case, spiritually. Whatever your religion may be, it is known that your chances of recovering are improved when you are surrounded by people who are on a similar path as you are. How you define this similarity can be subjective, but it is up to you to decide whether this is a good type of treatment for you. For some people, spirituality can play an important role in their journey towards sobriety. Some even believe that their personal health care issues are not sufficiently addressed by modern medicine. But it is also true that some secular rehab facilities overlook the importance of addressing the emotional and spiritual turmoil caused by the overwhelming effects of addiction and alcoholism. When you’re trying to get rid of an addiction, there is a struggle to become a better person at the same time. And seeking God’s grace is an essential aspect of addiction treatment. Seeking forgiveness for these indulgences can have a positive effect on religious people, and even non-religious patients who want to become more religious. It is in this sense that Christian drug and alcohol rehab becomes a multi-layered type of treatment. This is something a secular rehab program simply cannot offer—because they are focused on something else. Studies suggest that 55 to 81 percent of clients in addiction recovery want to incorporate the spiritual aspects of treatment, because they it is part of their personal needs. These are important issues that need to be tackled before the patient can truly begin to reform. In contrast, only 20 percent of people do not wish to discuss spirituality during the entire rehab process. This is a personal decision that people make. And ultimately, it works out either way—depending on the patient’s determination to succeed. If a person is motivated to become better, then they will have a higher chance of succeeding. Whether they need spirituality to achieve that depends upon their faith. Christians with substance abuse issues often have it harder. On top of the physical, emotional, social, and financial problems caused by addiction, they also need to deal with the spiritual repercussions of self-indulgence. They can only heal with the help of other Christians who are suffering from the same dilemmas. They can create a bond between themselves that can help them get through their moral problems, as well as all the physical ones. A Christian drug rehab is a great choice for those who want to place the focus on Jesus Christ as the “higher power” throughout their rehabilitation. A personal relationship with God or Jesus Christ can underscore the quality of life issues such as acceptance and purpose. It can give them a clear way to view the world surrounding them, through the help of their values and morals. It opens them up to the possibility of healing and forgiveness. You can expect Christian drug and alcohol rehab to offer Bible study, lectures, and Church attendance. They may also involve the help of a pastor, working alongside the regular medical staff. This, and the community of recovering Christians, can create a safe and comfortable environment for the patient. This reinforces the fact that drug addicts and alcoholics are more likely to recover within a community of people who have similar backgrounds, beliefs, and dilemmas.

How is Christian Drug Rehab Different from Regular Secular Rehab?

It is important that we discuss what rehab entails beyond the spiritual aspects of Christian drug rehab. Christian Drug Rehab is mostly the same as regular, secular rehab—except all the other faith-based benefits we mentioned above. Faith is very important, especially for religious people, but the medical aspect of addiction treatment is just as necessary. It combines medical detox and behavioral therapy in order to achieve the best possible results. The former is all about getting rid of the adverse effects and restoring the patient’s health, while the latter is all about addressing the issues that led to addiction in the first place. Medical detox is the process of gradually lowering the drug addicted individual’s intake so that withdrawal can be more manageable. Their symptoms will be handled by medical professionals who are ready to provide the patient’s needs 24/7 (if this is an inpatient program). This will make the withdrawal process safer for the individual, and it makes relapse less likely to occur. Behavioral therapy tackles the emotional aspect of addiction: the reasons they got addicted, and the reasons why they never quit. The person’s family background, career, education, environment—and in this case, religion—will play an important role in this process. Therapists can properly create a plan of action by getting to the root causes of addictive and abusive behavior. By getting to know the person deeply, therapists can help them overcome the mental burdens that keep them from becoming sober. They can teach the patient various ways to manage their cravings, and how to channel their energy in productive ways. This is what makes individualized care so important. Some addictions are more severe than others, some have different causes, and some people react to different adverse effects in varying ways. There’s no single way to address addiction. Rehab facilities usually take a flexible approach. Recovery options can easily be customized as needed. In Christian rehab, this versatile approach has a certain roadmap or framework behind it, which keeps everything tied together: faith. A person’s faith is solid, no matter how severe their addiction is. It is there within them, and it’s something they can hold on to when things are becoming too much for them to handle. Secular rehab will do the exact same treatments, but perhaps without the prayers before, during, or after meetings. The takeaway here is that neither is more effective than the other. It depends on the person receiving treatment and what they believe in. Recovery options only work best when the patient believes in it and feels compelled to continue with it. After all, rehabilitation takes a long time. It requires a lot of effort on the part of the patient. They have to be dedicated to getting sober and remaining drug-free. Otherwise they will only relapse. Achieving and maintaining this motivation is the key here. Christian rehab presents information that is relevant to the religious person’s beliefs. It makes them comfortable enough to continue with the group therapy and medical detox. Secular drug and alcohol rehab may need to find a different approach through the person’s hobbies and other interests.

Why Do Some People Choose Non-Faith Based Rehab?

Simply put, some patients don’t go for faith based addiction treatment because they don’t feel comfortable with it. This makes them unlikely to open up during recovery, preventing them from making any significant or lasting changes for their future. They will need to keep their self-destructive thoughts at bay. And if they say faith based treatment isn’t for them—they are probably correct. But for those who do want to involve spirituality into their treatment, it can work wonders. Many programs that deal with drug addiction and alcoholism are based on the format first developed in Alcoholics Anonymous: the 12-step program. Some people may find it useful, some people won’t. And this has everything to do with the fact that the 12-step program itself emphasizes the religious side of recovery. There’s no denying that Alcoholics Anonymous has a history of religious tradition. Even the 12-steps are religious or spiritual in nature. Some of their values are overtly religious, including “spread the word,” “improve the connection to a Higher Power,” and “Appeal to a Higher Power for help”. Certain people simply aren’t comfortable with that. They may have no true spiritual convictions, or maybe they just prefer the secular approach when it comes to treatment. Others are actually religious, but would prefer to keep their spiritual life separate from their current condition. Or perhaps the patient doesn’t feel the need to address their spiritual side at the moment. In some cases, religious patients have tried the faith based approach but want to try other forms of treatment that are available.

What Does the Bible Say About Addiction?

Christian patients will certainly find comfort in the Bible, and what it says about addiction, as it is meant to give hope and strength to those in need. Addiction is a difficult thing to deal with—and for those who are seeking the help of a Higher Power—the Bible can be their source of strength. These are some of the Bible verses that address addiction and other temptations in our lives:

1 Corinthians 10:13-14

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Therefore, my dear friends flee from idolatry.

1 John 2:16

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Hebrews 4:15-16

t have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Matthew 26:41

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And here is a verse from Galatians that inspires Christians to avoid all temptations that keep them away from Jesus Christ’s teachings.

Galatians 5:13-26

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

What Does the Bible Say About Self-Control and Indulgence?

The Bible also urges Christians to maintain their self-control in order to be free from the temptations that control and enslave us. If anything, these verses are great inspiration to seek addiction treatment.

James 1:2-3

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Titus 2:12

It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

Romans 5:3-5

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

James 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

1 Thessalonians 5:6

So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

2 Timothy 1:7

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Proverbs 16:32

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.

Proverbs 25:28

“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”

Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Titus 2

You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.  

Should You Go for Christian Rehab?

A person may or may not involve their spirit[maxbutton id="1" ] ality into their treatment plan, but the most important thing is that they seek treatment. An addicted individual will need to look for the right addiction treatment center so that it will motivate them enough to stay until they are cured. If you are a religious and faithful individual, then by all means, go for Christian drug rehab. Look for the best Christian drug and alcohol rehab facility near you. The faith based approach may work best for you. But even if you are not a religious person, and you don’t believe in a Higher Power, you must seek treatment for your addiction anyway. There are many different treatment methods out there, and there’s surely one that’s a good fit for you. If you are in a relationship and your partner is also addicted to drugs or alcohol, couples therapy may be the right thing for you. If you want a holistic approach with only the finest amenities available, luxury addiction treatment can work wonders. If you are more comfortable when you’re around your family, then family therapy is a great option. There’s a type of treatment for everyone, because addiction affects everyone in different ways. Religious or not, we are all human beings with great, sober lives to live, once the addiction is beaten.  

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