Why do some recovering drug addicts become religious addicts?

They didn’t have a prayer…. then they did!

Maybe they need something to fill the void that drugs left, and God fills that void for them. Also, being surrounded by people of faith may help them stay on the straight path.

Transferring addiction from a destructive thing to a potentially positive thing is better than doing nothing at all.

I found this on another discussion site:

“Without question one of the more successful treatment models has been the 12 step program, which originated with Alcoholics anonymous. In the past several years the program has suffered a great deal of scrutiny in regards to its religious formatting, and even though it has desperately attempted to escape this labeling, for all intent and purposes that’s what it is!

…In many regards the choice of addictive behavior is a falling from spirit, in the sense that addictive behavior is of a self centered, self serving attitude, whereas spirituality encourages a sense of connectedness and being of service to others. Most individuals that have chosen to partake in addictive behavior do so at the expense of others, and they do it with one thing and only one thing in mind; the need to mask the pain of their emotional issues. Making a connection with spirit allows the addicted person to view things in a greater perspective and allows them to understand that one person’s actions affect the many.”

because while they may have finite faith in themselves, they can infinite faith in a deity. (not always for the best, though.)

If they recover through a program that has a spiritual emphasis, it is likely to be a part of working the program all the way. They are not encouraged to pick and choose the parts of the program that they like, or it won’t work for them. Giving yourself to what saved your life is an understandable human reaction.

Because they need something to grasp on to besides the drugs.

Kicking an addiction, I believe, requires becoming a new person, to some degree. It requires a central totem of hope that one can hold onto, mentally, when one gets into trouble. If your body is calling out for a drink, you have to find the will to resist somewhere. AA groups help because everyone supports you. Unfortunately, you can’t be in an AA group 24 hours a day.

Now some people can create an idea, and hold onto it, and gain the strength they need to succeed. For most people, that is not possible, and they need outside help. They need something outside themselves that is there all the time, or whenever they need it, something they can talk to, who can answer them.

All of this, of course, happens inside their heads. People who kick the habit with religion or not are probably the same in most ways. The difference is how they characterize or envision the voice of encouragement and sanity.

There is a 2000 year tradition with Christianity, and that creates an image with the weight of centuries of belief. It is compelling, and it makes that image or idea become very strong. When that voice talks to you, and you believe it is all powerful, then you have to do what it says, no matter how hard it is.

If you succeed at breaking the addiction, you attribute it to the “voice” you heard that guided you to safety. [Jeruba just put up a post that made this point, too]. It reinforces your belief. Why not stick with it?

Since most quitting models are based on religion, people feel they owe religion. However, it would not be hard to design a quitting group that created an equally powerful image that speaks on behalf of quitting. It just isn’t done very often.

I think its because they have an addictive personality. Instead of spending all their energy and brain power on drugs they switch their focus to prayer and faith.

Because the underlying need/cumpulsion to do drugs has not been addressed. Not only do ex-users/addicts become addicted to religion but they also become addicted to other drugs (prescription), caffeine, sugar, tobacco, exercise, eating, shopping…the list goes on and on. I always aver that to kick one addiction one must find another, more positive addiction.

I really think it has to do with AA type programs including God and prayer in their meetings. Vulnerable people are more likely to do things that people around them are doing.

They are trading one addiction for another.
Some people just have addictive personalities. At least the addiction to religion is more socially acceptable.

@essieness…How exactly does “religious addiction” work. Are you stealing from people you love to buy more crucifixes? Are you perhaps exchanging handjobs for hymns? Are you and your “user” friends all locked up in the basement passing around bible passages?

“Religious addiction”...kevbo was right

@Blondesjon I’m confused by your last comment…

@essieness…I am confused by what exactly “religious addiction” is.

@Blondesjon This article might best explain it. I haven’t dug around that particular site much, so don’t hold me accountable if the rest of it is wacko nonsense. But I know off the top of my head three different people exactly like this.

This is another good description, minus the drug addiction context. But I’ve known people like this as well.

It’s just an interesting occurrence that I’ve seen several times and I wondered if anyone else has experienced these types of people in their lives.

@Blondesjon who is kevbo and what was he right about?

Anyone that has gone through really hard times (whatever those were) and possibly thought they’d die, has a very high chance of finding God and becoming really religious.

People who have an addictive personality may just exchange their addiction but they don’t change their personality.

We all know of ex-smokers who become anti-smoking activists or people who lose weight and then tell everyone else what to eat and how to exercise.

“Addictive personality” pretty much sums it up. Another way to assign blame and disregard the root issues.

Seek therapy.

all im going to say is its fucking annoying as hell. I am sick of one junkies and now religious nuts harping on to me because of my drug use and how its wrong in gods eyes. Just because they fucked up and couldnt control their use doesnt mean i cant. EGH
end rant…

And there are also plenty and plenty of ex-smokers, ex-users, recovering alcoholics, etc. etc., who don’t behave that way.

They simply found true joy instead of artificial joy.

Or maybe they glommed on to another crutch, which was easier than facing their pain.

just a suggestion

@Knotmyday I used to think that very thing… operative words being “used to”. What changed? I gave Christianity a fighting chance by actually getting involved.

Oh.

hee

@uberbatman If it will make you feel any better, I will be glad to harp on you about your self-destructive behavior. I have never been a drug addict or religious fanatic, so I wouldn’t represent either group you dislike.

@galileogirl: You would be representing a group I dislike though… judgmental people who haven’t done drugs harping on me (or anyone else) not to.

Scratch that. The group I dislike most is people harping on me in general, especially pertaining to my particular choices regarding marijuana.

@uberbatman For a mellowed out druggie, you sure dislike a LOT of people. I am not ashamed of having good judgement and using it. I always think people without it resent it most are those who never use it.

@galileogirl: I am not ashamed of having good judgment or knowing how to spell the word judgment and write clear, coherent sentences. I also know to whom I should be addressing my responses. Are we sure I’m the one whose mind is clouded?

Read again-mellowed not clouded.

@galileogirl: I think you’re missing the point of what I said. You didn’t even address your response to the right person, and you’re telling me I’m misreading your post because I elaborated on vocabulary and assumed what your implications were, judging on your past statements and the general attitude of self-righteous anti-drug zealots? You’re a teacher as well, correct?

What point? Not only do you dislike lots and lots of people you are the least respected of all posters, the grammar cop. LOL

I’m defending myself, to be quite honest. I see you also dislike people who judge you (myself, for example), so I would caution you of doing the same to others. If you can’t get beyond judging me for smoking weed, I refuse to get over the fact that you can’t use a comma or spell judgment correctly, even though you are a teacher. I also don’t respect those who won’t acknowledge the argument at hand or those who judge people for making informed decisions that only effect that individual. This isn’t the first instance of a thread in which I’ve come across you treating me and/or others like this.

“you are the least respected of all posters”

I don’t know what the history is between you two, but that’s an awful thing to say to someone, not to mention completely unsubstantiated.

Oh, and I wasn’t just critiquing your grammar; the following sentence made no discernible sense at all – “I always think people without it resent it most are those who never use it.”

@Critter38: Thank you, I thought so too.

Once again, (I’ve included this link more than once before), “judgement” is not incorrectly spelled. It is the preferred British English spelling of the word, except when used in the context of a judge’s decision. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style_(spelling)

Typos happen and people misspell words. It happens. I think it’s rude and hurtful to put someone down and out right flame them for it especially out in front of everyone else. Maybe the person is dyslexic. Maybe they have a learning disability or maybe they were just in a hurry. If you must tear someone apart for the way they spell or speak, at least do it privately.

The amount of flaming for grammar and spelling on Fluther makes the site much less enjoyable for me. It makes me afraid to post here because I’m terrified that someone is going to jump all over me and make me feel like shit just because I’m trying to participate. I really don’t think people think of it that way. They just bully people about spelling and grammar because it makes the poster look inferior. As a result, it makes Fluther come off as a very unfriendly place.

Please think twice before tearing someone a new one.

I find typos that i can’t go back and correct in my posts almost every day.
Oh well.

But I do disagree, Grammar police are not less respected than trolls.
i don’t think it was intended to mean that Tits, herself, was the least…

@dragonflyfaith: I only retort with things like that when the post itself has unnecessary sarcastic overtones or is being needlessly judgmental. If your post has respectful, engaging, and relevant content, and does not have self-righteous, condescending attitudes, then I could honestly care less whether you spell every single word correctly. When I am being critiqued for my reading of a post as well as my choices in life, I’m certainly going to be defensive, however. I’m not trying to make anyone “feel like shit,” I’m just trying to point out the fact that I can have good judgment regardless of my choices regarding drugs. Also, I will definitely respect a post more if the poster isn’t calling me a ‘druggie.’ People should think twice before slinging around distinctions like that as well. It may be well worth it to note that I was also told in another thread, by this same flutherite, that I baby sat while high, which I definitely haven’t. When I pointed out that fact, she told me to reread what I had written. Surprisingly, after a second reading, I was still perfectly assured that I had never done that.

@fireside: I’m sure I have plenty of posts with typos too. I do try to make sure that the sentences I write are clear and coherent enough for my point to come across, however.

@TitsMcGhee – What? I didn’t quite understand that. : P

@fireside: Seriously, though. This isn’t the first time I’ve had this conversation…

I know, i saw the other one too.

@fireside: There have been quite a few, tbqh.

no worries, they’re just jealous of your sexy rack

My sarcasm is always necessary

@fireside No where in my respond did I compare grammar police to troll nor did I say they should or shouldn’t be respected.

@titsmcghee What I said had nothing to do with your habits, I don’t care what you do in your personal life. To each his (or her) own. I can understand you being defensive, in your shoes I would be too. Honestly, I did not even read the comments only that someone was being flamed for spelling and grammar which is a common theme here even when the post is “respectful, engaging, and relevant content”.

I’m sorry if you felt that I was attacking you. I didn’t even look to see who was doing it. Spelling and grammar attacking is just something that bothers me about this site, especially when the word was not even misspelled in the first place.

@dragonflyfaith – I didn’t say that you had. I was referring to this exchange:

GG: What point? Not only do you dislike lots and lots of people you are the least respected of all posters, the grammar cop. LOL

C: I don’t know what the history is between you two, but that’s an awful thing to say to someone, not to mention completely unsubstantiated.

TM: Thank you, I thought so too.

@fireside Ah ok. I just misunderstood you. As I mentioned, I hadn’t read all of the responses.

@dragonflyfaith: You must admit though, if a sentence is so convoluted that it can’t be understood, that’s something different than just a misspelling (and I’m in the US, and I just know that I’ve been taught that you drop the middle e in words like judgment and argument, and spell check agrees…)

@uberbatman: Thanks, darlin :D Let’s go be mellowed out druggies together, okay?

Aww, bicostal nuggie love.

wow. ☮

My first removal. The words were not mine, honest, just a request for clarification of a suggestion of how I should live my life. <; )

I think it’s because they’re so oppositive of each other. If you’re into drugs you don’t care about religion. When you’re all spiritual/religious you don’t even allow yourself to think of drugs. Unless you mess up that is, but heck everyone makes mistakes!

@seventeen123 “If you’re into drugs you don’t care about religion. ” That is %100 incorrect. How does ones drug use effect their spirituality?

@uberbatman
– Yeah I should probably clarify that.
What I’m trying to say is that if you’re doing drugs you’re probably not as close to God as you should be. The bible talks about following the government & drugs are illegal so therefore they’re a sin. The point is if you’re doing drugs, probably more than once, you’re not as into God/religion as you might like to be..

Some religions use drugs to get closer to god. There is more to religion than the Judeo/Christian/Islamic tradition.

@tinyfaery
-interesting..how would some religions use drugs to get closer to God? doesn’t sin put a wedge between the two? what are they called?

Again, sin in one religion could be sacred in another. Look it up yourself. Try google.

@tinyfaery
– i suppose so. It’s like how the Muslims & Hindus believe in revenge. & Christianity doesn’t… My answer was based off my own personal experience..

@seventeen123; Native American religons use peyote. That’s one example.

Lets not forget Shamans either. Probably the most spiritual person you could ever encounter and they partake in ayahuasca rituals.

You clearly have a very poor understanding of drugs if you think there is nothing spiritual about them, specifically hallucinagens.

@uberbatman
-I would not have a poor understanding of them if i’ve been there and done that.
I did not say theres nothing “spiritual” about them.
They can give you “spiritual” experiences, like shrooms do.
My point was that drugs are illegal. Speaking from a Christian perspective, if you’re doing drugs than you’re not as close to God as you can be because you are disobeying him.

Many addicts find it nearly impossible to recover from a drug addiction unless they recognize they have no power over their addiction. Paradoxically, it is only when they recognize their helplessness and seek a higher strength that they begin to get well. Good explanation here: http://www.survivingdrugaddiction.com/praying-against-drug-addiction.html

AA is a religious organization. Federal Circuit Court rulings make it illegal in 16 states for courts to mandate someone to attend AA without offering them a non-religious alternative.
For more information, visit the Stanton Peele Addiction website: http://www.peele.net/

12 step programs such as AA are religious so once members give up their substance of choice, they have done it through religion. Many people say that AAmembers become addicted to AA.

What about recovering drug addicts in countries where the dominant religion is something other than Christianity? I wonder if they become religious (with their country’s dominant religion) when recovering.