Spirituality in Addiction Medicine: Science or Science Fiction?

Spirituality is a construct that is reflected in a diversity of strongly felt personal commitments in different cultural and national groups. For persons with substance use disorders (SUDs), it can serve as an important component of the recovery. Empirical scientific research can shed light on psychological, social, and biological aspects of this construct. The ISAM Spirituality Interest Group makes recommendations for how this construct can be incorporated into research and clinical care. Spirituality has acquired recognition among clinicians because of its close association with twelve-step modalities and its perceived role in the promotion of meaningfulness, healthy lifestyles and successful outcomes in recovery from addiction. It is a common misconception that spirituality and religion are the same things. Many people may be discouraged by the idea of a spiritual road to recovery due to concerns with organized religion. However, one can be spiritual without adhering to a specific faith and it does not diminish the power of the spiritual experience. 12-step anonymous fellowship does not adhere to one specific faith but encourages seekers to find a path towards healing that encompasses their unique worldview. The importance of fellowship in addiction recovery is discussed in relation to recovery and spirituality. 12-step anonymous meetings are accessible in communities throughout the globe and are common among holistically healthy individuals.

The ISAM Spirituality Interest Group recognizes that the condition of addiction as a disorder is related to biological, psychological, and social characteristics as well as views, values and beliefs about the meaning, purpose and personal connections in the lives of individuals that motivate them to mutually seek and remain in recovery. Additionally, the families and communities of addicted individuals may have common spiritual beliefs that may be relevant to treatment and recovery. The importance of international collaborative relationships among addiction medicine physicians is recognized in mutually understanding the integration of spiritual constructs to treatment planning of individuals and families afflicted with addictive disorders from many diverse cultures and value systems. The complicated overlap of spiritual philosophy and addiction medical science will be discussed and debated during this vigorous interactive discourse.