A focus-group study on spirituality and substance-user treatment.
Focus groups were conducted in 2005-2006 with 25 urban methadone-maintained outpatients to examine beliefs about the role of spirituality in addiction and its appropriateness in formal treatment. Thematic analyses suggested that spirituality and religious practices suffered in complex ways during active addiction, but went "hand in hand" with recovery. Participants agreed that integration of a voluntary spiritual discussion group into formal treatment would be preferable to currently available alternatives. One limitation was that all participants identified as strongly spiritual. Studies of more diverse samples will help guide the development and evaluation of spiritually based interventions in formal treatment.
Heinz
Adrienne J
AJ
Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA.
Disney
Elizabeth R
ER
Epstein
David H
DH
Glezen
Louise A
LA
Clark
Pamela I
PI
Preston
Kenzie L
KL
D000328:Adult; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D029181:Spirituality
D008691:Methadone