What is Christian drug rehab?

An informative articles about what to expect at a Christian drug rehab. We review treatment goals, approach, and options here.

4
minute read

What can you expect during a stay in a Christian, faith-based drug rehabilitation? We review the basics here. Then, we invite your questions at the end. In fact, we try to respond to all questions personally.

Christian drug rehab definition

Christian drug rehab is a treatment for addiction that involves faith based healing and recovery. It employs Christ as the most important tool for recovery. The aim of any Christian drug rehab program is to help clients achieve sobriety and empower them with Christian based philosophies that will help maintain sobriety in the long term.

Christian drug rehab goals

Christian drug rehab goals are similar to the goals of other rehab facilities, however each goal is Christ based and aims to strengthen spiritual foundation in order to maintain sobriety. Christian rehab goals include:

  1. Consciously commit all of your life to Christ’s care and control
  2. Earnestly believe that God exists
  3. End drug abuse
  4. Realize that you are not God
  5. Reserve time with God for self-examination
  6. Voluntarily submit to any and all changes God wants to make in your life

While it may be difficult to grasp initially, Christian drug rehabs aim to use a faith-based approach to connect you with God. These programs believe that God is the only answer to long-term sobriety and they aim to help you create and maintain a healthy spiritual relationship.

What happens during Christian drug rehab?

If you are wondering what you can expect during rehab, you should know that happens during Christian drug rehab is similar to other rehabs. Treatment usually begins with assessment, which allows the facility to determine your specific needs. Assessment usually involves intake questionnaire(s), standardized assessments for drug dependence, and a drug test. The assessments provide rehab staff with a “baseline” that they will use to adapt therapies to best meet your needs. Assessment usually continues throughout your stay in a drug rehab, as modalities will change over time.

Following assessment, Christian drug rehab centers may then help you through the process of chemical detoxification (if necessary). If you are drug dependent, you need to go through withdrawal in order to remove drugs from your central nervous system and body. It is best to go through detox in a medical setting so that you have 24-7 medical supervision. While symptoms are usually not life-threatening, intense cravings or pscyhological difficulty can lead to relapse. Rehab personnel can assist you through withdrawal by providing symptomatic relief and will monitor your condition throughout.

Following detox, psychological therapies are introduced with individual and group counseling, as well as spiritual guidance. Psychotherapy may be complemented by a combination of medications and psycho-behavioral interventions. In a Christian drug rehab, all of the counseling sessions are faith-based and follow a Christ centered approach to drug abuse and addiction.

The education portion of a Christian drug rehab focuses on the Bible and strengthening your relationship with Christ. This includes Bible studies and other spiritual guidance groups.

It is important to note here that many Christian drug rehab also use pharmacological approaches for maintenance of long-term sobriety. The use of medications in addiction treatment is supported by medical science and can address withdrawal, cravings, and co-occurring mental health disorders. It is also helpful to learn about the disease model of addiction, with education sessions about how drug affect the brain. The idea is to provide a combination of mental, physical and spiritual understandings of drug effects so that you can deter future use.

What happens after Christian drug rehab?

Christian drug rehab provide successful treatment programs that have Christ-centered values during all aspects of recovery, from physical addiction to filling the spiritual void. But what happens after Christian drug rehab?

After Christian drug rehab, it is important to be integrated into regular church attendance and other faith-based groups and services. You will be encouraged to attend Christian 12-step groups, like Celebrate Recovery, and you will also be encouraged to remain actively involved in your church.

Furthermore, there may be special services available following Christian drug rehab, like recreational outings and family programs through your Christian rehab’s referral or through your involvement in a church. These services are highly recommended, as they aim to keep you surrounded by healthy and supportive groups that will stifle the chance of relapse.

Let’s verify your coverage for treatment at an American Addiction Centers location. Your information is always confidential.
 

Questions about Christian drug rehab?

We hope to have answered your questions about what to expect during a typical stay at a Christian drug rehab. If not, we invite your questions below. We try to respond to all legitimate questions with a personal and prompt response.

Reference Sources: PubMed: Conceptual bases of Christian, faith-based substance abuse rehabilitation programs: qualitative analysis of staff interviews
NIDA: Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition)
SAMHSA: Substance Abuse Treatment: Addressing the Specific Needs of Women, Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 51.
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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