THE ROLE OF SPIRITUALITY, FAITH AND
LIFE MEANING IN THE ADDICTION
RECOVERY PROCESS
Alexandre B. Laudet
Center for the Study of Addiction and Recovery
National Development and Research Institutes, Inc.
William L. White
Chestnut Health Systems/Lighthouse Institute
28th Congress of the World Federation for Mental Health - Sept. 2005
Funded by NIDA Grant R01 DA14409 & by the Peter McManus Charitable Trust
Correspondence: laudet@ndri.org
BACKGROUND
Many recovering substance users report quitting drugs
because they wanted a better life.
The road of recovery is perceived as the path to a better life
It is a challenging and stressful path for most – cravings,
temptations to use, ―dealing with wreckage of the past,‖
establishing a drug-free life (friends, employment), facing
stigma and discrimination, self-esteem issues etc.
There has been little research among persons in recovery in
spite of the numbers involved, and most research has
focused on substance use outcomes.
BACKGROUND: THE RECOVERY PROCESS
Addiction conceptualized as a chronic disorder
Recovery from a chronic disorder is a process that:
Unfolds over time; and
May occur in a succession of stages
Most addiction research has used relatively short-term follow-ups ( 6 mos 6 - 18 mos. 18 - 36 m 3 yrs +
N = 312 N = 87 N = 82 N = 63 N = 80
Length of recovery .26** .31** .26* .11 .21†
Stress .03 .23* .00 .02 .16
Quality of life .17* .11 .14 .02 .09
F 12.02*** 4.3** 2.9* .21 1.2
R2 11% 14% 10% 1% 5%
QOL SIGNIFICANT PREDICTOR OF RECOVERY FOR TOTAL SAMPLE
STRESS SIGNIFICANT PREDICTOR OF SUSTAINED F1 RECOVERY
AMONG INDIVIDUALS IN EARLY RECOVERY (when risk of relapse is
highest)
*p 6 mos 6 - 18 mos. 18 - 36 m 3 yrs +
N = 312 N = 87 N = 82 N = 63 N =80
Step One
BSLN recovery length .28*** .29** .28* .10 .16
F 26.5*** 7.5* 6.9* .61 3.1
R2 8% 8% 8% 1% 3%
Step Two: SFLM
Spirituality .10 -.01 .07 .16 .01
Religiosity .12 .35* .06 .16 -.24*
Life meaning .06 -.25 .26 .01 .35*
F 11.7*** 3.3* 3.7** 1.2 2.5*
R2 13% 14% 16% 8% 12%
*p 6 mos 6 - 18 mos. 18 - 36 m 3 yrs +
N = 312 N = 87 N = 82 N = 63 N =80
Step One
Baseline QOL .33*** .25* .25* .21† .39***
F 36.4*** 5.7* 5.3* 2.7† 13.4***
R2 11% 6% 6% 4% 15%
Step Two: SFLM
Spirituality .24*** .03 .32† .31* .29*
Religiosity .11 .11 .11 -.03. .12
Life meaning .03 .09 -.21 .10 .01
F 15.1*** 2.3 † 2.4 † 3.1* 6.0***
R2 17% 10% 11% 17% 25%
*p 6 mos 6 - 18 mos. 18 - 36 m 3 yrs +
N = 312 N = 87 N = 82 N = 63 N =80
Step One
Baseline Stress .36*** .26* .19† .54*** .36**
F 44.58*** 6.27* 2.8† 24.69*** 11.57**
R2 13% 7% 3% 28% 13%
Step Two: SFLM
Spirituality -.24*** -.09 -.41* -.22 † -.36*
Religiosity .03 -.01 .00 .03 .19†
Life meaning .01 .02 .23 -.04 -.13
F 15.7*** 1.7 2.2 † 7.5*** 7.4***
R2 17% 7% 10% 34% 29%
*p<.05 ** p<.01 *** p<.001 †p <.1 [trend]
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, baseline levels of spirituality, faith and life meaning were
significant predictors of outcomes one year later in a subset of analyses
This is particularly true for the subgroup of persons in stable (3yr+) at
baseline.
Meaning predicted sustained recovery in Grp 4
Spirituality predicted higher quality of life and lower stress @ F1
Greater baseline levels of religiosity were prospectively associated
with poorer recovery and stress outcomes
The role of SRLM seems to increase as recovery progresses (especially the
role of spirituality on quality of life)
IMPLICATIONS
This study is among the first to use a prospective quantitative
design to assess separately the role of spirituality, religiosity and
meaning in addiction recovery over time
Data are consistent with previous reports and extend current
knowledge to the role of SRLM at successive stages of the
recovery process
This area of inquiry is in its infancy. Research is needed on:
The processes underlying the role of SRLM on outcomes
How recovering persons define and experience SRLM; and
The path to meaning/purpose over time - as meaning may be a
useful ingredient of recovery capital that could be available to
individuals who choose not to embrace spirituality/religiosity