As alcohol dependence decreases, spirituality increases

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Spirituality increases during recovery from alcoholism, according to a new study.
Spirituality has long been included as part of the recovery process from alcoholism, whether or not this is religious in nature. Now a team at the University of Michigan Addiction Research Center reports on how spirituality features in the life of the recovering alcoholic.

They say that measures of spirituality tend to increase as recovery from alcoholism progresses. Those who experience increases in day-to-day spiritual experiences and their sense of purpose in life are more likely to be free of heavy drinking episodes six months on. People's actual beliefs do not seem to change during recovery, but their experience of them does and they also become more open to the spiritual, say the researchers. The research looked at 154 patients with alcoholism in a recovery program. At the beginning of the study and six months on, the researchers asked about ten measures of spirituality, such as views of God, religious practices, forgiveness and other aspects of spirituality. Core beliefs did not change, but experience did and 72 per cent of the group was free of relapsing to heavy drinking at the end of the study. The researchers conclude that spirituality is an important force in helping the individual recover from alcoholism.

Source
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs March 2007

Please take a moment to give us your comments. For questions about Health matters you may check our "Questions & Answers" Portal and Service.