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Substance Abuse and Addiction are very hot topic items. They vary across the board in
nature but ultimately come back to very similar beginnings. There was an entry wound
somewhere in their life that they could not overcome and have turned to ways of numbing
themselves. According to our textbook, addicts tend to come from families that have wounded
them emotionally, physically, sexually, and/or spiritually. (Clint, 2023)
Some refer to addiction or substance use disorder as a disease, while others see it as a
spiritual and/or mental health issue. Many factors go into addiction, the abuse of drugs, etc. The
risk of becoming addicted is largely dependent upon the type of drug, how often usage is, and the
dosage/amount used. Drugs can be recreational in nature to some in the beginning but ultimately
lead to addiction. Dictionary.com defines addiction as “the fact or condition of being addicted to
a particular substance, thing or activity”. (Dictionary.Com, 2023) While substance abuse is defined
as the “long-term, pathological use of alcohol or drugs, characterized by daily intoxication,
inability to reduce consumption, and impairment in social or occupational functioning; broadly,
alcohol or drug addiction”. (Dictionary.Com, 2023) Addiction covers a vast variety of things,
whereas substance abuse is limited to just that – a substance.
The concentration of substance abuse is different and varies per capita, however, it
affects Appalachia at a ridiculous rate. Despite how it began, the long-term effects are residual
due to the poverty rates and not being able to afford proper care, gain employment, etc. Once a
person becomes fully engulfed in substance abuse, it is hard to overcome and return to a fully
100% functional life. It’s not impossible, but it takes a lot of work, dedication, accountability,
and help to walk away from a substance abuse disorder and step back into a sober life. One of the
things that assists with this is counseling – in particular Christian counseling as it can assist in
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addressing all aspect of the life that are out of order and need to come back into alignment with
the way God has created us to be.
Christian counseling assists more in substance abuse/addiction cases more so than secular
areas because of the different aspects that are presented. A holistic faith-based approach will
assist a person with staying in recovery. According to the Blackberry Center, people who
relapse after receiving2inpatient addiction treatment, many report not feeling “healed” after
finishing a program. (Center, 2023). Healing occurs when the wounds are healthy, and while some
recovering programs like AAA and 12 steps offer a road to “recovery”, Christian therapy takes
this to a whole new level by offering a journey to total healing by inviting the Creator into all of
the issues.
It is important for the client to understand their feelings toward Christ in the journey. This
is something that will develop along the road to healing. A mental health diagnosis is vital in the
early road to recovery, if for no other reason to help the client find and define what their coping
mechanisms are. Instead of turning to drugs when triggered, they will need to devise a strategy to
cope and stay accountable. By using a faith-based treatment center and Christian counseling an
extra layer is added that secular centers and counselors do not have that will assist in staying
free.
Having a spiritual counselor administer a spiritual assessment can be a great tool to offer
a client or residential facility. It will also help the client on the road to finding a deeper meaning
of life and their relationship with a “higher power. According to Covenant Hills Treatment
Center, their Christian Counselors assist the individuals in defeating their demons and avoiding
relapse. (Hills, 2023) They assist with coping mechanisms and creating all the goals needed to get
on the right path to total recovery. A Christian Counselor has a tool that isn’t taught in school
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and that tool is the Holy Spirit, which helps be the navigator for the recovery along with
whatever tools that particular facility chooses to use.
There are many different types of counseling available for those who struggle with
addiction. Faith-based 12-step programs use the 12-step model only to add Christian principles.
There are also rehab centers that are specific to the Christian faith, not just “faith-based”. These
can usually assist with detox, therapy, spiritual guidance, and more. Addiction support groups
that are based out of churches are also an added step that those in recovery can seek out to add to
their accountability list, support team, etc.
Online Christian counseling is very popular now, especially after the pandemic and
lockdowns ensued. The convenience of meeting with someone via zoom or whichever platform
makes obtaining counseling much easier for those who do not have transportation or other means
of going to an actual office. There are outpatient, inpatient, residential, and hospitalization
programs that are available to those who need them.
Some of the techniques in Christian Substance Abuse Counseling include prayer and
meditation. Prayer is the vehicle to connect a person to our Heavenly Father. It is the means of
communication to say all of the things that need to be said and to really connect with heaven.
Along with prayer is meditation. Studying and meditating on what the Word says is key to
understanding a person’s whole identity. Once they understand who they are, it is much easier to
begin to move towards the true identity and out of the pain that caused their addiction. It is also a
way to release all of that hurt.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT is therapy that helps individuals identify and change
negative thought patterns and behaviors. (Simran, 2023) This helps the person understand why
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References
ARC. (2023, October 22). Appalachia Regional Commission. Retrieved from Addressing Substance Use
Disorder in Appalachia: https://www.arc.gov/addressing-substance-abuse-in-appalachia/
Center, T. B. (2023, October 9). How Christian Counseling Helps in Addiction Rehab. Retrieved from The
Blackberry Center: https://www.theblackberrycenter.com/how-christian-counseling-helps-in-
addiction-rehab/
Clinic, M. (2023, October 22). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic Drug Addiction:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-
20365112#:~:text=Drug%20addiction%2C%20also%20called%20substance,nicotine%20also
%20are%20considered%20drugs.
Clint, H. O. (2023, September 24). Caring for People God's Way: Personal and Emotional Issues,
Addictions, Grief, and Trauma. In H. O. Clint. Retrieved from
https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9781418525545/epubcfi/
6/50[%3Bvnd.vst.idref%3DOhls_9781418525545_epub_c27_r1]!/4/198[d7e53964285]/1:123[y
%20m%2Core]
Dictionary.Com. (2023, October 20). Dictionary.Com. Retrieved from
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/addiction
Dunham, D. (2023, October 8). Biblical Counseling, Addictions, and the Body of Christ. Retrieved from
Biblical Counseling Coalition : https://www.biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/2015/03/04/biblical-
counseling-addictions-and-the-body-of-christ/
Hills, C. (2023, October 8). The Role of a Spiritual Counselor in Drug Addiction Treatment. Retrieved from
Covenant Hills: https://covenanthillstreatment.com/spiritual-counselors-and-addiction/
Simran. (2023, October 9). Christian Substance Abuse Counseling: Techniques and Benefits of It.
Retrieved from Mantra Care: https://mantracare.org/therapy/addiction/christian-substance-
abuse-counseling/
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