title: Spirituality, drugs, and alcohol: a philosophical analysis.
abstract: Spirituality has long been associated with recovery from the socially constructed "addictive disease." Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and its analogs have enjoyed widespread acceptance as a spiritual approach for achieving recovery. AA or its derivatives are the predominant approaches in treatment programs even though a wide array of evidence-based approaches are now promoted by governmental sources in the United States. This philosophical analysis contrasts the state of science about addictive disorders with the reliance on a spiritual approach that is heavily grounded in Christian theology. We present four problems that need consideration before accepting the applicability of 12-step spiritual practices as the backbone of addiction treatment or recovery.
authors.affiliation: 1University of Kentucky Center on Drug and Alcohol Research and Department of Behavioral Science , Lexington, Kentucky , USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Theodore M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Godlaski
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Staton-Tindall
mesh_terms: D057229:Alcoholics / Q000523:psychology*; D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D029181:Spirituality; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States