Faith Based Recovery

Faith-based recovery refers to programmes and communities that draw on spiritual and religious resources to support the process of change. It encompasses a wide range of approaches that foster recovery through meaning, hope, responsibility, and a renewed sense of purpose. Through fellowship, spiritual practice and guidance from faith communities, people can make meaningful changes, sustain wellness and strengthen their recovery. Faith-based support can complement evidence-informed medical, psychological, social, peer-support, and person-centred approaches according to individual needs and preferences.

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Faith-based recovery involves support for people with substance use disorders grounded in religious, spiritual, and community beliefs. This approach helps people achieve and maintain recovery while rebuilding their lives, staying well, and promoting overall well-being. It is rooted in the premise that religious faith, spiritual practices, and community accountability are supportive and healing when complemented with evidence-informed interventions. Faith-based recovery sits within the broader concept of recovery, understood as an ongoing process of behavioural change, improved well-being, finding purpose and the opportunity to live a fulfilling life.

Faith-based recovery is varied and does not refer to one specific model or religious practice. Religiously or spiritually informed approaches include Christian, Islamic, Indigenous, Buddhist, and other traditions.. These services may be provided by religious institutions or by programmes that incorporate spiritual practices into clinical care models.

Despite being related, religion and spirituality are not the same. Religion refers to a set of organised principles, beliefs, traditions, and practices shared by a community. Spirituality encompasses a broader concept, including the search for meaning, purpose, universality, acceptance, hope, and forgiveness. These concepts and terms do overlap, are influenced by culture, and are used differently by people; thus, it is important that the definitions remain inclusive.

People who have engaged in faith-based programmes have described their recovery in these settings as crucial to rebuilding their identity and regaining their dignity. They commonly attribute this change to forgiveness, unconditional love and support, spiritual care, and a supportive, accepting community.

Faith-based approaches may support long-term recovery by strengthening community and cultural recovery capital. Recovery capital refers to the internal and external resources that help people to initiate and build upon their recovery. These resources include personal strengths, supportive social relationships, and culturally meaningful community resources. Faith-based approaches can contribute across these areas through fostering hope, purpose, social support, renewed values, community participation and a sense of belonging.

There are many different religiously or spiritually informed recovery programmes and mutual-help communities. Examples include Celebrate Recovery, a Christian, church-based programme; JACS, a Jewish recovery support programme; Recovery Dharma, a Buddhist-influenced meditation-based support group; and Millalati Islami, a 12-step programme designed for Muslims.

For faith-based programmes to have a meaningful impact, they must be voluntary, person-centred and inclusive. They should also be connected to appropriate evidence-informed medical, psychological, social, and peer support according to each person’s needs and preferences.

Resources and references:

Faith Based Recovery

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