What Traditional Alcohol and Drug Rehabs Are Missing
This article was written by Horton and published by S2L Recovery
There are many different approaches to helping people find sobriety. And each of them has their own upsides and downsides. The main point that people should know is that any effort toward living a life free from alcohol and drugs is beneficial. Living beneath the cloud of addiction is a life littered with chaos and pain for the addicted and his or her loved ones.
However, even though any action toward sobriety is advantageous, there are parts of the traditional rehab process that stand to be improved upon. Elements of Christian alcohol and drug rehabs directly address these deficiencies.
But how has that been accomplished? And what has been left out from traditional drug rehabs?
Medication-Assisted Treatment
A big part of many rehabilitation facilities is the use of what’s called Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). This is the use of specifically-targeted drugs to assist a person who is struggling with addiction to make it through detox by minimizing the symptoms of withdrawal. There are a variety of different drugs used for MAT. For example, Methadone and Suboxone are frequently used to battle opioid addiction.
MAT can be very effective for life or death situations. People who are dangerously unhealthy as a result of their addiction can see benefits from this method. In fact, for certain addiction’s, like alcohol or benzodiazepines a medical detox is highly recommended because of the high risk of the withdraw from those substances. However, when traditional rehabs advocate the detox drugs as a maintenance that continues long after treatment, the result is often simply taking a person from a dysfunctional to functional state. More needs to be done to see long-term effects and a true life change. The goal is not to have “functional” people cruising through life but instead having people live a life of abundance and thrive.
The Teachings of Christ
The main thing missing from traditional programs are the teachings of Christ. S2L Recovery is a State Licensed and Joint Commission Accredited Christ Centered alcohol and drug rehab. We teach from our 7 Principles curriculum that is based on teachings found in 2nd Peter 1:3-10 ESV:
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
These teachings represent a missing step in traditional programs. Addictions come from within. And there’s no better way to address and combat internal issues than with the knowledge and truth found in the Word of the Living God. These lessons resonate in every aspect of our lives. They help the person to navigate not only their feelings regarding their addiction, but the situations that might lead them to use in the future.
Addressing Inner Issues
As we said above, addictions come from within. The issues at the heart of addiction must be addressed if there is to be any hope for long-term recovery. The good news is that this can be accomplished through the help of a Christian alcohol and drug rehab.
Multiple counseling sessions in both group and one-on-one settings provide opportunities for the service recipient to confront the issues that led to their addictive behaviors. These issues must be addressed in order for them to have any hope of being resolved.
A Deeper Connection
Our beliefs are tied into the very core of our being. These beliefs dictate not only how we interact with the world, but how we view it. Our opinions and interpretations of the people and circumstances we encounter every day can be radically renewed when viewed through the lens of God’s Word.
But we can lose sight of these beliefs in the fog of an addiction. A Christian alcohol and drug rehab reminds those who have lost their way of the love and personal identity contained within the Bible. Identity is so important when trying to navigate anything. S2L Recovery teaches against identifying yourself as an addict or alcoholic your whole life. These teachings can reverberate through someone’s recovery path and into the rest of their lives.
The Effect of Hope
There is no greater hope than that of the born-again believer. Hope can be the difference between maintaining focus on freedom and giving up. Looking forward to the future can manifest itself in the decision to place an importance and focus on healthy habits.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
This hope is intrinsic to the teachings of a Christian alcohol and drug rehab. It permeates every lesson. And although hope is an inextricable aspect of every recovery program, a Christ-centered model will take it a few steps further.
Continued Support
A person struggling with addiction will have support throughout their treatment. This is essential to pretty much every recovery program. But what happens after the program is complete? Does the infrastructure of support follow them for the rest of their life?
Christian alcohol and drug rehabs give their recipients more than lessons toward sobriety. They provide lessons in the word of God. And this Word will follow them throughout their lives at every moment. The support is never-ending.