Faith Based Treatment?

[rhundt67]

Someone dear recently lost his job due to a pain killer addition (and alcohol to boot) and his family (mostly two brothers) are on him saying that no treatment will EVER work for him unless it's faith-based.

I'm religious and strongly believe in God, but I don't agree with that statement and it troubles me to see them put such pressure on him when he has so much on his plate already.

The treatment he has started are therapists who worked his job for many years, saw the pain and trouble within the department (lots of divorces, alcohol abuse and other substance abuse because of the type of job) and then went on to become therapists - they lived it and breathed it and want to help others now. I think that is exactly what he needs, but his dang family.............

Any opinions?

[jedswife]

any rehab will make a difference - while it might not take right away or even the first time it will affect him whether he likes it not...cause what things he does learn in rehab will be there in his brain nagging at him even if he continues to use.

[rhundt67]

How does one get it through to his family though to lay off on the faith-based stuff?

If treatment isn't faith-based it won't work.
If you don't have god in your life you'll fail and go back to where you started.
You clearly don't have Jesus in your life and I know someone who knows someone that you should talk to about this.
You need to go to MY church (dismissing the fact that we are members of a very traditional catholic church already, but THEIR CHURCH IS BETTER).....

and it goes on and on and on.

Most addicts need to fill that void with something and all too often I've seen them fill it with Jesus. No problem but they seem to overcompensate for their past errs and feel guilty and go overboard with the religious aspects. I knew someone, he drank and drank for years and just quit when "he found Jesus." His wife never thought of a divorce until after "he found Jesus." Everyone was doing wrong and needed god..........

Frustrating.

[Tazcat]

cramming religion down his throat at such a vulnerable time will send him running. He needs help. They can pray for him, but shoving it down his throat isn't going to do a thing other than send him the other way.

[AllMyPonies]

I have to guess - is this law enforcement?

The numbers are out there. It's fact that those who have received treatment/rehab, whether in jail or for substance abuse who have gone to faith-based treatment programs DO fare better. There's a much better chance they won't slip back into previous behavior.

That being said, I think the person MUST have a faith similar to the one of the treatment center or it won't work. An athiest with a drinking problem can't go to, say Calvary Center, and have it work. I think a person must be seeking God, seeking His help to begin with, and the people in the f.b. programs are there to guide the person in their journey to wellness.

A person CAN change when they accept a faith - whether Christian, Muslim, etc. I have friends at church who were heavy drug users, in jail, etc. And since their - well, "conversion" for lack of a better term, haven't had much coffee yet this morning - they have been 100% clean, no trouble with the law - fine upstanding citizens if you will.

If the person with the problem is willing to give whatever program a try, then they should be allowed to do so, no matter if it's f.b. or secular. Everyone else can give their opinions, but healing will come from within the person with the problem, not from everyone else.

[rhundt67]

Yes, Law Enforcement.

I agree that getting involved in programs that are faith-based may be a benefit, but I absolutely dread the idea that one addiction would be replaced solely by religion and then I'll have that crammed down my throat - recipe for divorce. I want him to replace his addiction with his family. 15 years of working different shifts and me being referred to as the MARRIED SINGLE MOM because everything fell on my lap - work, kids activities, shopping, cleaning and so forth.


I'm Catholic - 4o years worth, spent 8 years going to church 6 of 7 days a week and I practice faithfully in my own personal ways and our kids are involved in various church programs...........I want us to practice together and the way we practice to be OUR CHOICE - not one his family is pushing. His one brother expects us to drive 1 hour to his church, because "ours sucks." He attended ours three times - two baptisms and one first eucharist - seems to me that, that isn't enough to even begin to judge the church we picked together.

[CarolynF]

I think the person who is going to the rehab must choose what is going to work for them. Of course the 12-Step program is great and it's faith-based sort of..
The Higher Power thing whether it's God or whatever people believe.

I think he has lots of pressure on him right now and his brothers don't need to
pressure him into their religion.

I'm a Christian and I personally would choose a faithbased path, but others would not and the religion might get in the way of hearing what the counselor has to say.

Don't let the brothers bug you..

[HappyHomeschoolMom]

Someone dear recently lost his job due to a pain killer addition (and alcohol to boot) and his family (mostly two brothers) are on him saying that no treatment will EVER work for him unless it's faith-based.

If by "faith based" they mean "our specific faith and doctrine only", the answer is No.

If by "faith" they mean a profound change brought on by surrendering the thoughts, patterns and behaviors that have developed to a power greater than himself (professionals, lay people who have BTDT, a support group, a denomination, God, Allah, Jesus.....) Yes.

I've seen (in 16 years of recovery, thousands of meetings, a hundred or so people I've sponsored) plenty of people who "make it" and plenty who don't. All who have made it (by that I mean content, productive sobriety) have some things in common.

They changed their lives by admitting they can't do it themselves, they make good with as many people as places as they can, they learn about their behaviors that hurt them and others and they help other people. I've seen this happen most often in AA and secondly in churches. But I've seen it happen without those or starting in those and "moving on".

I wish your person happy sobriety. Living that way is a great life.

[gardengoddess]

Don't forget NA also. (NA.org)

It just floors me that his brothers would criticize him at this moment in his life, when he needs support the most. He's not recovering the "right" way so it's wrong?? EVERY day clean is recovery. Meetings with people that know where he's been and what he's going through will make all the difference. God (whoever his God is) Bless.

[rhundt67]

This family is nuts! His one bro was out of town and called yesterday, "what did you accomplish while I was gone?, what time did you get up (he's never worked a first shift job and as a cop often worked horrible scenes until 4 or 5 a.m. when he was suppose to get off at midnight)? did you finish that book? why not, I would have read it in a day, what's your problem?"

"Did you go to church, you know you and your children will be condemned to hell if you don't go." "Sunday school does nothing for teaching your children religion, they are going to be a complete mess when they grow up without God in their lives.................." WE HAVE GOD IN OUR LIVES!

He attended our church for DDs first eucharist, "this church is terrible, clearly these people are not born-again." What, you were there once! And, as a Catholic my ENTIRE 40 YEARS, I'm not sure how I could be born again.

This all coming from someone raised Lutheran and became Catholic in the last 8 years. DISGUSTING.


I'm angry, frustrated and simply mad. Him, his other brother and his parents all need to stop this or they'll be the ones pushing him over the edge and then happily pointing their fingers at me.

IT'S ONE THING TO BE CATHOLIC BUT IT'S A WHOLE OTHER THING TO BE A TRUE CHRISTIAN! These are not Christians, you would not pass such judgment on your brother or son and you would not be DICTATING your life style and / or religion, especially when they are not trained couselors/therapists etc.

[jedswife]

if this is your husband - and you and he have agreed how to handle this (ie - what program, church, etc) - you need to tell his family to either just shut up and support him or you will have to cut contact with him.

the way they are pushing him is not helping only making it worse - if they just continue to harangue him he will get depressed and suicidal and it may just push him over the edge. dont let them do that to him. if you must be the buffer between them - do so. do whatever it takes to help your husband - even if it means alienating his family! his health and well being should come first!

good luck!

[CurveControl]

living outside the bottle dot com. It is about a med called Vivitrol that helps rebalance the brain chemicals affected by addiction.
It works for alcohol and seems promising in other addcitions in trials. ANY therapy done with it is helpful. Ife HE wants to do failth based great! But the medication is a MIRACLE in itself.
monthly injections, once a month for 3 months. the site lists doctors in all areas that treat with this med.

[Mickey Lou]

IT seems a lot of rehab programs are faith based of some sort- I think any way you're treated, you'll need the strength of something bigger than ourselves.