Comments on: Meth Addict’s Problem with Rehab (Hint: God is Involved)

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:29:09 +0000

Whoops, meant to say non-existence. And thanks for the links Lisa!

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:22:39 +0000

I had similar trouble with my court-mandated rehab experience. There was always, without fail, talk of a “higher power” as the only path that leads to freedom from addiction. The sorry success rates of these programs is a testament to the presence of god. About 5 %. Guess what the success rate is for people who don’t go to rehab and quit on their own, it’s about 5% ! Where’s your stinkin god now? I’m proud to be a part of the latter 5 %. I’d say this policy of forcing people into a religion based system is unconstitutional, and ineffective as well.

By: pansies4me

pansies4me — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:25:20 +0000

Jenni,

There are three secular recovery programs that I know of. One is based on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (developed by the late Albert Ellis) and is called SMART Recovery http://www.smartrecovery.org

Another one is called LifeRing Secular Recovery http://www.unhooked.com

The last is called Secular Organization for Sobriety (SOS) http://www.secular sobriety.org

I hope this information is useful. Best wishes to you and your sister.

Lisa

By: Jonathan Blake

Jonathan Blake — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:36:27 +0000

There is good evidence that 12 step programs don't improve recovery rates. It may not even have the placebo effect that you suggested.

By: robin

robin — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:22:50 +0000

Do we have good evidence it doesn’t – or more aptly, is less successful than anything else? No program or cure works for everyone. In fact across all strategies for overcoming addiction, if I recall correctly, the stats are very poor.

If this is something that works for some people, then frankly the additional risks of adopting the (extremely common) problem of the God-crutch seem acceptable.

I don’t think we should dismiss a cure as ‘not good enough’ just because it comes from sugar pills.

By: Jonathan Blake

Jonathan Blake — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 04:28:04 +0000

robin,

I hear what you’re saying about a drug addict being worse off than delusional Christian, but do we have good evidence that a belief in God improves the chances of overcoming addiction? If not, then using God as a crutch might only be adding another problem to the existing one.

By: robin

robin — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:59:05 +0000

My brother has struggled with drugs and, quite frankly, if we could choose between him being a crazy Christian or an addict, I’ll take crazy Christian every time.

Some people, for some reason, need a crutch. The church of the perfect parent is, IMHO, a superior delusion than the soft lens of a drug invoked haze. I agree that for those non-believers, having God shoved down their throat when they are trying to kick a habit is BS. But I suspect that God is, for many, a suitable placebo when harder drugs have seriously messed them up.

By: The Reverend

The Reverend — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:54:33 +0000

I had called AA’s home office looking for programs geared towards agnostics/atheists and found myself being ‘witnessed’ to by a counselor. Needless to say, I don’t talk to them any more.

I am currently working on organizing a support group for alcoholics and addicts without the ‘higher power’ hoopla. If anyone has any information about non-religious programs, please let me know.

Thank you.

By: Jenni

Jenni — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:16:01 +0000

I am having this problem right now. My little sister is a cocaine addict and I have been trying to get her help. Every program I have asked them specifically if it is based, like AA, on giving yourself to a “god” or higher power. Every one of them is based on it. I can’t find ONE that seems like a good program to get her involved in. We’re both recovering Catholics…we have been atheists for quite some time now and I don’t like the idea of her being taken advantage of at a time when she is so vulnerable and needs help. I wish someone would start a good program that is science and medically based and not this fairy tale. How is she going to learn to live in the real world when they’re teaching her fairy tales?

By: Stephen

Stephen — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:13:15 +0000

My girlfriend has been involved with NA in the Austin area for 14 years, and I’ve gone to a few of the meetings. Though I was leery of the idea of the godtalk I expected to hear, I haven’t seen a lot of push about any particular god. The people I’ve heard from reference “your higher power”, and acknowledge that the phrase could refer to a christian deity, non-christian deity, reverence for nature or for your fellow man.

Overall, my experience with these people has been positive. My atheism has been a non-issue.