 |
| photo credit: Kevin Shorter via photopin cc |
Drug and
alcohol addiction are some of the most devastating types of issues that people
can face. Fighting these diseases oftentimes takes more strength than we can
muster on our own. This is why so many different treatment philosophies have
been developed over the years.
For
Christians and people of faith, having a treatment plan that not only respects
Christianity, but also seeks to make it an integral part of the healing process,
can make all the difference.
12-Step Programs
Most of
the well-known 12-step programs already have some type of spiritual basis that
accounts for a large part of their success. Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers
Anonymous both encourage participants to give themselves and their lives over
to a 'higher power,' although neither actually specifies this power as Christ.
This
acceptance of a higher power is a recognition that we cannot ordinarily
overcome addiction by ourselves. Most 12-step programs seem to have already
recognized the fact that in order to really heal someone, they must heal the
whole person, body and soul.
Holistic Drug Rehab
In order
to be effectively treated and give yourself the best chance of sustaining
recovery, it is important to receive individualized treatment. This is the case
for holistic drug rehab where each treatment plan is
specifically tailored to what the individual really needs.
Such
treatment is very capable of reducing stress, boosting self-esteem and helping
former addicts develop the tools needed to cope with life instead of turning to
drugs. It is also important to realize that the spiritual component of holistic
drug treatment plans helps people to examine and understand their reasons for
turning to drugs in the first place.
The Root Cause of Addiction
At the
center of all addiction causes is the feeling of something missing. This
emptiness is seen by the addict as being too painful to deal with. So, they
turn to drugs in an effort to either forget or take that emptiness away.
The real
problem is that it only works for a while; eventually those feelings return.
This, ultimately, is the root cause of addiction. It seems that every drug
rehab program should be trying to focus on this root cause, which is ultimately
a spiritual issue.
How Christian-Based Programs
Are Different
The key to any holistic drug rehab treatment
plan is to focus on all the aspects of a person. This means not only his health
and physical issues, but also his soul. Finding the emptiness inside someone that
originally led him to the drugs is going much deeper than many typical
treatments offer. The rewards are incredible, however, with the potential to
truly transform someone's life.
