Buddhist Alcohol And Drug Rehab Centers

Medically Reviewed by Johnelle Smith, M.D. on October 26, 2020

Addiction is an all-consuming force and can wreak havoc on all aspects of a person’s life. Faith-based addiction treatment can give those struggling with addiction a purpose and a sense of belonging.

Buddhist Drug And Alcohol Rehab Programs

Addiction treatment works best when it is personalized, as each addiction story and recovery story is different from the next. Many have chosen faith-based programs, such as a Buddhist rehab program, to aid them in their road to addiction recovery.

Adopting religious and spiritual approaches can help provide individuals with the necessary guidelines and community to help them truly heal.

What Are Buddhist Alcohol And Drug Rehab Centers?

Buddhist-based alcohol and drug rehab centers emphasize the use of the Buddhist Eightfold path to aid addicted individuals in detaching themselves from the all-consuming grasp of addiction.

Some Buddhist principles that can be applicable to individuals in recovery include the emphasis on mindfulness, non-attachment, loving-kindness, and impermanence.

Addiction is a form of self-destruction. Buddhist mindfulness meditations can help an individual begin their self-love journey.

Addiction can be wrapped up in dukkha, or suffering. It is a never-ending cycle of pain.

Some of the central teachings of Buddhism are the four noble truths which are:

  • First Noble Truth: Suffering exists.
  • Second Noble Truth: Suffering is caused by attachment.
  • Third Noble Truth: Suffering stops when attachment stops.
  • Fourth Noble Truth: The Eightfold path paves the way to stop suffering.

Because addiction can be considered an extreme form of attachment, individuals following Buddhist-based therapies can avoid relapse. Alcohol and drugs are used in an attempt to distract from dukkha, yet only lead to an accumulation of dukkha.

What Happens In A Buddhist Alcohol And Drug Rehab Center?

A Buddhist-based rehab program may include aspects such as daily prayers, spiritual guidance, and faith-based counseling. Daily prayers may help those with substance use disorders reconnect with their lost spirituality.

Spiritual guidance can be provided by spiritual teachers, helping recovering individuals feel less alone in their journey. A spiritual teacher will be more versed in the principles of Buddhism and will be able to properly guide and serve the addicted individual.

Goals Of A Buddhist-Based Rehab Center

The spiritual goals and recovery goals of Buddhist-based rehab centers are formed around The Buddhist Eightfold Path.

This path is as follows:

  1. Right Understanding —This provides recovering individuals with a comprehensive understanding of the nature of addiction. Understanding is essential to overcoming.
  2. Right Thought — Negative thoughts and opinions of oneself (self-loathing, low self-esteem) can contribute to the desire to self-medicate and self-harm.
  3. Right Speech — More than avoiding negative self-talk, having right speech requires avoiding divisive language, lying, etc.
  4. Right Action — This involves doing things that center around loving-kindness and self-love instead of participating in self-destructive behaviors that may cause you and your loved ones harm.
  5. Right Livelihood — This encourages pursuing a profession that does not cause others harm. This can also contribute to giving a recovering individual a sense of purpose.
  6. Right Effort — Those suffering from addiction should make a concentrated effort to remain sober, in spite of life’s challenges.
  7. Right Mindfulness — Mindfulness can help an individual become more aware of negative thought patterns that contribute to addictive behaviors.
  8. Right Concentration — This trains and disciplines the mind so that the recovering individual is at peace and fully aware.

Benefits Of A Buddhist-Based Rehab Center

Buddhist alcohol and drug rehab centers can help those suffering from addiction by gifting them with the benefits of mindfulness. This may help to eliminate drug and alcohol cravings.

Loving-kindness may also be used to help addiction sufferers rebuild their self-esteem. Rehab centers that advocate mindfulness and loving-kindness meditations can truly help individuals unshackle the chains of addiction by benefiting their inner being.

How Buddhist-Based Rehab Programs Can Aid In Recovery

Attachment leads to suffering. Buddhist-Based rehab programs believe that addiction is an intense form of attachment.

Because Buddhism emphasizes this principle of non-attachment, working with Buddhist-based rehab centers can eliminate delusions of the mind that contribute to the need for attachment to harmful substances.

Where Buddhism really aids recovering individuals is in its healing via adoption of the four noble truths. The first noble truth states that where there is life there is suffering. Addiction can bring true suffering to an individual’s life.

People are always desiring more and more. This leads to more suffering and to the second noble truth: the cause of all suffering are our human desires.

The third noble truth informs us that suffering ends when we end desire. The fourth noble truth is the eightfold path, which, if followed through until completion, can free someone from the binds of addiction.

A Buddhist-based therapy may help those who are not drawn to the standard 12-Step program. Instead of relying on God to help overcome, Buddhism gives the addiction sufferer the power to heal themselves.

Buddhism asks those struggling with addiction to look inwards and use their own inner resources to heal themselves. Buddhist rehab centers aid individuals in accomplishing this feat.

Finding A Buddhist-Based Alcohol And Drug Rehab Center

Unfortunately, the best Buddhist-based program for the individual may not be within driving distance. Every person struggling with addiction has different needs. Some may choose to leave their home state.

Travel can also be good for renewal and rebirth. Realigning their faith may contribute to a successful recovery outcome by refocusing on the individual’s mind. Contact a treatment specialist for more information about entering/finding specialized addiction treatment.

This page does not provide medical advice. See more

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Medically Reviewed by
Johnelle Smith, M.D. on October 26, 2020
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