It is difficult to believe that a person addicted to drugs can free himself from his addiction without turning to God or his Higher Power. It might be possible but a lot more difficult.

I say this because when an addict comes into treatment, he will almost surely be into a life of crime and all sorts of antisocial behaviors. The very nature of drug addiction leads to this. The unlawful possession of drugs is a crime. Drug addicts will get into all kinds of illegal activities to get the money they need to acquire their drugs. They steal, con people and live a life on the edges of society as they sink deeper into addiction.

Their lifestyle runs contrary to what God stands for. In short, the addict cannot live a God fearing life and maintain his drug habit. In  my work with addicts, I cannot remember even one hard-core addict who lived a God-centered life before coming into treatment. I cannot remember one addict over the years whose life reflected spiritual values. Not one. Even if they were brought up in good families with solid values.

Something happens when the person trapped in drugs begins to worship at the altar of King Shabu.

Everything turns on its head. Since his addict ways are directly contrary to everything that is right, he makes the decision to reject God. Sure, he may still go to mass and pray once in a while, but his spirituality is mostly shallow and with little impact on his life.

This is why if treatment is to succeed, there will need to be a measure of spirituality somewhere in his treatment plan. More than that and not simply talk and talk. He will need to internalize what he has learned.

If he comes from a family where he was taught solid values that were lost in the midst of his roots. That is why we use the word to rehabilitate.

To rehabilitate someone means to bring him back to the life he once had. In this case, back to a life of sobriety. If, however, he never had any of those values that are needed to live a productive life, then we need to “habilitate” him. Meaning he is not going back to something he never had. Instead, we need to start from scratch. And that calls for a lot more work.