The Role of Faith-based Organizations in the Treatment and Correction of Substance Abuse: Insights from previous research and future research direction

Abstract

The approach of human development is concerned with increasing people's options, the most critical being longevity, education, and decent standards of living. Alcohol and other substance abuse are a hindrance to this process in contemporary times, affecting both young and old, across the gender and social status divide. Organizations founded on faith are important in addressing this problem. This review study was conducted with the main objective of finding out what these roles are, how they lead to prevention, correction and treatment of substance use disorders. Faith-based programs compared well with the traditional programs in their effectiveness in treatment and recovery process of those affected. Indeed, some primary caregivers and psychiatry physicians would not shy away from recommending them as a means of treatment. Religion and spirituality were found to work through the means of desirable religious coping (PRM). DRM is mediated by sex though used by both men and women but men are more prone to negative religious coping. Social support does not mediate the process. PRC is an effective measure of drug recovery initiatives and a significant explanatory variable of successful treatment program completion. Religious faith is a source of confidence to resist substance abuse. Decline in religiosity over an individual's life stages increase chance for substance abuse, remarkably, increase in the same relative to those without change had an increased chance for substance abuse too. A key theme emerged on the important role of religious leaders in this fight. Specific knowledge gaps and future directions in the context of the future of faith–based drug recovery programs in the SSA region, that if bridged would be source of reliable information to be used in substance use policies formulation were identified. Integration of faith-based organizations into substance use disorders prevention and treatment programs will then be possible.

Keywords: Faith-based organizations, Religion, Substance abuse, Programs, Treatment