STORIES OF SPIRITUAL AWAKENING - THE NATURE OF SPIRITUALITY IN RECOVERY

Substance abuse has had a devastating impact on the lives of millions. As substance use and abuse continues to ravage communities, researche rs remain in the dark about what works to ensure successful recovery,f rom addiction. In searching for the answers, researchers have often ov erlooked the role of religious and spiritual practices and beliefs in preventing use and relapse. The study reported here describes the proc ess of spiritual awakenings experienced by some persons in recovery du ring their quest for sobriety. The data suggests that pet-sons in reco very often undergo life altering transformations as a result of embrac ing a power higher that one's self that is, c Higher Power. The result is often nit intense spiritual journey that leads to sustained abstin ence. Given how widespread substance abuse is, research on the nature, implications, and limitations of a spiritual approach to addiction mi ght offer new options for treatment. (C) 1998 Elsevier-Science Inc.