This scoping review explores the role of spirituality in substance use disorders (SUD) across psychological, biological and cultural dimensions. It reviews research on topics including spiritual awakening, drug craving, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, biological and neurological aspects of spiritual experiences, and the ways spirituality is understood across different cultural settings.

The review also considers the distinction between spirituality and religion and the role of spirituality in building recovery capital. While existing research points to several potentially important...

This scoping review examines the role of spirituality in substance use disorders across three interconnected areas: psychology, biology, and culture. It explores topics including spiritual awakening, the relationship between spirituality and drug craving, spirituality in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and the psychological ways in which people understand substance use and recovery.

The review also considers biological research on spiritual experiences and brain processes, as well as cultural differences in how spirituality and religion relate to substance use and recovery. It highlights...

This qualitative study explores how spiritual experiences contribute to recovery from substance use disorders among 24 people who completed Christian faith-based rehabilitation programmes in Norway. Participants described experiencing loss of identity, hopelessness, and emotional distress before entering rehabilitation.

Within faith-based communities, experiences of forgiveness, belonging, and unconditional acceptance were described as important spiritual turning points. Participants associated these experiences with renewed meaning, dignity, and a changed sense of identity. The study...

This study describes an Islamic-inspired methadone maintenance treatment programme delivered in a mosque setting for 36 Muslim men who used heroin. The programme combined methadone treatment with peer support and religious counselling, exploring whether mosques could provide an accessible community setting for substance use treatment and longer-term recovery support.

After 12 months, the programme had an 80% retention rate, and all but one participant tested negative for opioids and other substances. Participants also reported reductions in substance use and improvements in general health and...

This study examines how religious support during and after incarceration influences substance use and recidivism among people returning to the community. Using data from the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative, the authors distinguish between individuals' initial levels of religious support while incarcerated and changes in religious support after release.

The findings show that increases in religious support during reentry are associated with lower levels of substance use after release. While baseline religious support alone did not reduce substance use or offending, individuals...

INTRODUCTION: Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) can capture fluctuations in an individual’s recovery while minimizing recall bias by collecting real-time data in daily life. Ecological Momentary Interventions (EMIs) build on EMA to provide patients with timely, real-world support. This study aimed to familiarize practitioners with the m-Path app – a tool for delivering both EMA and EMIs – and to illustrate its acceptability through interviews with five patients who used it.

METHODS: In this study, five participants in recovery from substance use disorder tested the m-Path app for 31...

This article presents key studies from the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) Courts Research Portfolio that examine pretrial, prosecution, and sentencing policies promoting alternatives to incarceration, such as Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) and other problem-solving courts. Collectively, these initiatives reflect NIJ’s long-standing collaboration with federal partners, court professionals, stakeholders, and research experts. The article also summarizes findings from NIJ’s Multisite Evaluation of VTCs and outlines recommendations for policy and future research. Together, these efforts...