Recovery Training Class and Substance Relapse
The Effects of Recovery Training Class and Biblical Knowledge on Substance Relapse
Shaneil A. Guidry
School of Psychology, Liberty University
Abstract
This research will explore how effective various recovery training classes have on the
likelihood of substance abuse relapse. Research has shown that recovery training classes can be
very effective when implemented accordingly. Various recovery training classes have been
created to appeal to the various situations that substance abusers may have experienced when
seeking support. Within this research, the researcher will be observing a local church and the
various recovery training classes (traditional 12 step, Celebrate Recovery, and Uniquely designed
nouthetic approach) they will be providing for individuals within their community that struggle
with substance abuse. In this study, the researcher will argue the perspective that each
recovery training class affects participants differently due to their unique approach; however,
there will be no significant difference in relapse reoccurrence between the various recovery
training classes.
Introduction
While each of the recovery training classes seek to accomplish the same goal, each one
takes a different approach and participants will gravitate to the approach that appeals to their
Recovery Training Class and Substance Relapse
situation best. With the constant evolution of support techniques, counselors continue to seek
out effective training and training tools that will better support those that combat the disease
called addiction. In addition to identifying long-term effective recovery tools, researchers are
understanding the socio-culture plays a substantial part in recovery. Is the addict within an
environment that they can easily fall prey? Does the addict have support such as family, friends,
or church outside of their NA group? There is a large volume of churches that seek to be a main
support unit and are the churches providing the most effective recovery training classes within
the community in which they serve. The researcher selected to assist the mentioned church
will seek to help answer this question by obtaining data collected through observation and total
number of addicts that have relapsed within six-months via the ANCOVA statistical analysis
approach. With the collected data from the ANCOVA, the researcher hopes that the church will
then be able to answer some of the church’s questions and to determine what works best for its
ministry. Will the type of recovery training class and one’s biblical foundation influence one’s
relapse odds?
Methods
The researcher conducted a pilot study consisting of randomized participants (n= 30)
that will be participating in one of three recovery training classes (n=3). The ANCOVA statistical
factor will be utilized to assist with the generating of the collected data (α=0.5). With the
collected data, the researcher will confirm as to whether the type of recovery training class and
biblical knowledge (score of 0-100) will have an affect on the participants substance
consumption.
Hypothesis
Each recovery training class affects participants differently due to their unique approach;
however, there will be no significant difference in relapse reoccurrence between the various
recovery training classes.
Recovery Training Class and Substance Relapse
Variable
The independent variables within the pilot study are the recovery training classes
(Traditional 12 Step, Celebrate Recovery, and Uniquely Designed Nouthetic Approach). The
dependent variables will be the participants’ consumption of substance(s). And the covariance
within the pilot study will be the participants corrected biblical knowledge (scored between
0100).
Participants
All participants must be between the ages of 18-45 years old with a current substance
addiction order to participate. The medical records of each participant will be collected by
either the participant or a caregiver (so AEs and SAEs are documented accordingly). The
researchers will provide the church with 100 brief questionnaires to be completed by a member
that struggles with substance abuse or has a friend/ family member that struggles with
substance abuse that desires to participate in the pilot study. The questionnaire will consist of
four detailed questions: 1) the substance with which they are struggling with. 2)how long they
have struggled with the abuse. 3) how they participated in recovery training in the past. 4) their
biblical understanding (none, some, knowledgeable). Those that complete the questionnaire
will be informed that there are very limited available openings and not all will be able to
participate in the pilot study. Out of the 100 completed questionnaires, there will be a total of
30 participants within this pilot study based on inclusionary and exclusionary criteria selected.
All 30 participants will be randomly selected for each of the recovery training classes: 10
participants per group. In addition, each of the groups will be made up of 5 women and 5 men.
Procedures
The participants will be required to complete an approved IRB informed consent prior to
any study activities. The pilot study will take place over the course of eight months. All
participants within each group will be observed by three separate researchers. Each researcher
Recovery Training Class and Substance Relapse
will be assigned to each of the recovery training classes to avoid any possible bias and to
provide consistency. The participants are required to attend the recovery training class each
week per the approved protocol. The recovery training class will take place once a week, along
with the participation of Sunday service and Wednesday Bible study. However, Lead counselor
must ensure that they or a staff member is always available during the pilot study to speak with
the participants. If a participant misses more than a total of 3 weeks, the participant will be
terminated from the study.
At the conclusion of each week, the participants will be asked to complete a brief Likert
rating scale. The scale will capture their comfort level with the recovery training class, their
relatability, their growth or decline, and open comment section. The brief scale will be
reviewed by assigned researcher and not shared with colleagues until the completion of the
study. It will be at the discretion of the Lead counselor’s discretion as to whether a participant
needs to be removed from the study and provided resources to obtain professional clinical
and/or medical assistance.
Instruments/Materials
Accompanying the three recovering training classes will be the administering of a
Substance Abuse Questionnaire, Likert Scale (5-point survey: Helpful, Somewhat Helpful, No
Change, Not Help, Pointless), Bible Knowledge Assessment, and availability of Monocounseling
for high-risk events only.
Measures
For the capturing of data, the researcher will be utilizing the ANCOVA statistical
approach. The researcher will be observing three recovery training classes. The ANCOVA
statistical approach has been selected for the capturing of this data, as it enables the researcher
to observe the effects of categorical variables (Recovery Training Classes) on the continuous
Recovery Training Class and Substance Relapse
dependent variable (Consumption of substances). In addition, the statistical approach presents
a controlled variable (Biblical knowledge) that can influence other selected continuous
variables.
Results
Within Figure 1, the data shows that the selected participants ranged from high to low in
biblical knowledge. This was the case within all three groups. However, it is showing in the
following Tables and Graphs that despite one’s biblical knowledge. The likelihood of relapse is
just as to take place among those that are more biblically knowledgeable as those that are not.
The ANCOVA showed no significant difference between the type of recovery training classes and
an individual’s biblical knowledge. In addition, gender had no significance in one being
susceptible to substance consumption.
Figure 1: Within the below Q-Q Plot graph the data indicates the 10 randomly selected participant’s biblical knowledge. The participants
ranged from having a very low biblical understanding to having a very high biblical background. The data was collected from the individuals
randomly assigned to the Traditional 12-step recovery training class.
Table 1: The data collected within Table 1 contains the ANCOVA statistical results of how biblical knowledge and they type of recovery
training effect one’s substance consumption.
Recovery Training Class and Substance Relapse
Discussion
It has been described that the pilot study indicated no correlation between the type of
recovery training class and one’s biblical knowledge having an effect on substance consumption.
The study did however, provided evidence on just how important community support is to the
recovery of relapsing addicts. The covariant in this pilot study can continue to be tested to
conclude as to whether continuous biblical building and recovery training classes can have a
more positive effect over a longer period.
The women and men scored similarly across all three groups and those with stronger
biblical knowledge proved to relapse just as many times, if not more than their counterparts
that new less. The Likert test showed that the majority of participants found the recovery
training classes a safe space, even after relapse. With no real consequences, we concluded that
this made it easier for the participants that did relapse comfortable with doing so. The church
can use this information to develop a more robust but supportive recovery training class. The
attendance was consistent among the majority of the participants. All of the participants
completed month six; however, the Mono-counseling was utilized more than expected across all
Recovery Training Class and Substance Relapse
three groups. Those that had a higher increase in relapsed showed themselves to have been
confronted with traumatic events and resulted to substance consumption as an outlet.
Conclusion
The overall data support the researcher’s hypothesis of no significant difference
between the recovery training classes and the biblical knowledge on an addict’s consumption of
substance. Each recovery training class offered the same supportive tools, however, presented
different. The style in which the supportive tool was presented did not have a bearing on the
participants’ substance consumption. In addition, despite being biblically knowledgeable, the
data indicated that those that are biblically knowledgeable equally succumb to their substance
addiction(s). Lastly, the researchers did not identify any significant difference between genders.
While the recovery training classes benefits some, churches must understand that the
desire to make a significant life change first starts within the individual and despite their
struggle throughout the process, the church is an intricate part of the recovery process and the
stability of the community in which is resides.
Appendix
Table 2: Overall case ANCOVA data summary
Graph 1: The percentage of biblical knowledge the participants had within the Traditional 12 Step Recovery Training Class.
Recovery Training Class and Substance Relapse
Graph 1.2: The percentage of biblical knowledge the participants had within the Celebrate Recovery Training Class
Graph 1.3: The percentage of biblical knowledge the participants had within the Unique Designed Nouthetic Training Class.
Figure 2: Q-Q Plot of relapse data of participants within the Traditional 12 Step Recovery Training Class
Recovery Training Class and Substance Relapse
Figure 3: Q-Q Plot of relapse data of participants within the Celebrate Recovery Training Class.
Figure 4:
Q-Q Plot of relapse data of participants within the Uniquely Designed Nouthetic Recovery Training Class.
