The Role Religion/Spirituality Plays in Addiction Recovery
The History of 12-Step Programs
Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, better known as “Bill W.” and “Dr. Bob.” This was the first 12-step program. Before A.A., people who struggled with alcohol and other substance use disorders were destined for death or mental institutions.
Bill W. and Dr. Bob both struggled with alcohol use disorder and discovered that they were able to stay sober by supporting each other. This led to them holding meetings with many other men who struggled with alcohol use disorder and later wrote the 12 steps and The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Around the same time, Bill’s wife, Lois W., started Al-Anon, which started as a support group for the wives of those who struggled with alcohol use disorder.
Today, 12-step programs are the most widely used method for treating addiction around the world. The 12 steps have been adapted to address numerous addictions and life problems such as drug addiction, gambling, sex, overeating, debt, and codependency. The central tenets of these fellowships are admitting powerlessness and believing in a higher power.
The Religiosity of the 12 Steps
The words, “higher power” and “God” pop up countless times in 12-step literature and meeting materials. God is still referred to as a “he” in most of the literature, and prayer (most commonly “The Serenity Prayer” and “Our Father”) are recited at the opening and closing of most meetings. This raises controversy about the religiosity of 12-Step Programs, which seem to exclude non-believers and members of minority religions. The founders of the 12-step programs were members of the Christian faith, so the program has a lot of Christian undertones.
While 12-step programs identify as “spiritual programs,” they are religious programs because they promote belief in a higher power and rituals such as prayer and meditation. However, they are not affiliated with a specific religion and allow members to freely practice any religion or no religion at all. While 12-step programs are spiritual programs because they help people spiritually, they are also religious (see here for religion vs. spirituality).
This begs the question: why is religion used in 2024 to treat addiction in the age of science and science-based therapeutic modalities?
Why is Religion Used to Treat Addiction?
· A Source of Comfort
Religion is a source of comfort for many people. Belief in a higher power and feeling its presence has been positively linked to success in addiction recovery. This is likely due to the motivation that is found in believing that Something Greater is helping us, solace found in messages of an unconditionally loving higher power, support found in a faith community, and the moral codes provided by many faith traditions.
· Appeal to the Spiritual Aspect of Ourselves
The definition for “spirituality” provided by the George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health is “Spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and the significant or sacred.”
Addiction is often said to be a “physical, mental, and spiritual disease.” When talking about “spiritual” in this context, we are not referring to a lack of religion or belief in a higher power. Rather, we are talking about how addiction fractures our spirits, which is the part of ourselves that has a sense of our uniqueness, purpose, and connection to others. Religion is a part of many people’s spiritual journeys because it provides a sense of purpose and healing from trauma.
· Substitutes a Previous Addiction
The scientific answer for why religion is used to treat addiction is it acts as a substitute for the previous addiction. Sublimation is a defense mechanism that involves transforming socially unacceptable behaviors into similar socially acceptable behaviors. This is used in addiction treatment in other forms, such as encouraging recovering individuals to exercise and engage in other “feel-good activities.” Religion is used in this same way.
Brain scans have revealed that religion and religious thoughts activate the same parts of the brain as taking drugs and alcohol. Religion can even become an addiction in itself when misused. Therefore, religion takes the place of the previous addiction.
Recovery is Not One-Size-Fits-All
Despite the mixed opinions surrounding them, 12-step programs and other faith-based interventions have helped many people recover from addiction and solve other life problems. I am one of those people who have found a great deal of help in 12-step programs while also being a huge believer in science and psychology. However, this approach is not for everyone. Fortunately, there are many paths to recovery. All people should be free to find the path to recovery, solace, sanity, spirituality, etc. without judgment.
