Faith based rehab: Does it work?  

May 9, 2025

9:49 am

addiction to recovery

A person of faith, when caught up in addiction, can encounter obstacles that those who are not of faith don’t. There can often be an immense sense of failure in that they have abandoned their faith or failed to adhere to its teachings and interpret this as the cause of their addiction. However, addiction is an equal opportunities illness: It doesn’t care if you are Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain or Sikh. Indeed, it matters not if you are a person of faith or no faith. Getting caught up in addiction is neither a moral, nor a ethical failing: People get ill. However, a person in addiction can take back control and recover from addiction.  

For those caught up in addiction who come from a background of religious belief or strong roots in spirituality, faith-based rehab will use this to really optimise the transformative power of recovery and lifelong abstinence. It is not uncommon for those in recovery from addiction to have abandoned their faith and not be engaging with a higher power. This can be a strong causative factor in broth depression and utter hopelessness. For a lot of people, getting into faith-based treatment can be life changing. 

We provide a free rehab referral service to anyone needing to find either alcohol addiction recovery UK or drug addiction rehab UK. Advice is free, confidential and impartial.

Is there any evidence to prove this?  

Currently, there are over four hundred scientific research papers which demonstrate that those who enter faith-based treatments have a higher chance of long-term abstinence than those who choose a generic recovery model. Furthermore, the research also indicates that those who enrol in faith-based recovery also have less incidents of relapse post treatment.  

What are the elements of faith-based treatment?  

Within the core of faith-based recovery is a belief in the individual, that people can overcome adversity and rebuild trust in life itself if they have confidence in a higher power. There is much emphasis on trusting in each moment while recognising that they can live a life free of addiction.  

Much of the process within faith-based treatment is about believing in the ideals of faith and recognising that everyone has a capacity for positive change. The desire to use is viewed as unresolved feelings of longing, lack of fulfilment and chronic feelings of emptiness. There is also an emphasis on accepting and allowing others to help.  

Faith and spirituality experiences are subjective to oneself. They explore your relationship with your higher power and the moral code you base yourself around.  If you need to access alcohol addiction recovery UK, drug addiction rehab UK or just want some free, confidential and impartial advice: Get in touch. We provide a free rehab referral service.

How are therapies delivered within a faith-based rehab centre?  

Within the mainstay of group and individual therapy, common among all rehab centres, faith-based centres focus on acceptance, compassion, purposeful living and spirituality. These harness an understanding of the power of forgiveness of others, as well as self, and bolsters self-awareness. Many also use mindfulness so that those in recovery can process and manage difficult and troubling emotions and past experiences. Meditation and yoga, though not faith based, can also assist in personal growth and connection.  

Mindfulness training, for example, demonstrates how patients can reflect on distress and how they can manage difficult emotions. Yoga and meditation can accompany faith-based treatments for non-denominational and secular patients to achieve growth and connection. 

Can a faith-based programme assist with maintaining abstinence post-treatment?  

Within a 12-step based model there is reference to a higher power. This does not need to be a religious reference in non-faith-based centres, for those of faith, the second step “coming to believe a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity”, draws them to their beliefs.  

References to faith can be drawn from other steps in a 12-step programme and a faith-based model will utilise sponsors (those who are in recovery supporting others) who encourage a faith connection.  

Are there any faith based 12 step centres in the UK?  

Currently in the UK, private sector rehab centres are generic based and do not follow a faith-based model. That does not, in any way, suggest that those of faith are not welcome: Far from it! All centres have links with local faith groups, churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, etc and pastoral links are strong. Provision is always made for religious observance, especially around dietary requirements. There are a number of faith based “step down” centres which provide a strong faith based 12 step programmes for those who had completed detox.  

Whether you need to get into drug addiction rehab UK or alcohol addiction recovery UK, we provide a free rehab referral service. Our service is free, impartial and wholly confidential.