Non Religious Drug Rehab Treatment Programs

Seems the truth has finally come out about Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) being a religious program. Non 12 step programs are in the news. Recently, a federal judge in California ruled it was unconstitutional to require a confirmed atheist complete a 12 step program as a part of his sentence. The judge's ruling made it very clear: Every human being, even a convict, has the right to decide whether they want a religious based drug rehab program, or not. The federal judge ruled an atheist could not be required to complete a 12 step drug rehab program as part of his sentencing. There was no doubt in the judge's mind that 12 step based rehab programs require a certain amount of belief in God. Non 12 step recovery programs know AA is a faith based recovery system. Rehab should be about how to stay clean and sober, not about religious beliefs.

Whatever your beliefs, it is clear that religion should not have any part in a rehab program, unless it is stated as a faith-based program. Today, most rehabs still cling to the old idea that AA and the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is the solitary and best solution. And for many it is working wonders. The problem with mixing treatment centers and a faith-based AA program is it gives the patient an excuse to reject it. The vast majority of  addicts and alcoholics do not want anything to do with God, at least not in the first few weeks of recovery. Science has no cure, but scientifc based treatment does have more effective methods of putting them into remission.

In many ways, it seems like the drug rehab world is living in the dark ages. More than Ninety-five percent of the drug alcohol treatment industry is based on the 12 steps of Alcoholic Anonymous. And, although it is defined as "spirituality", it is still based on a belief in God, as a Higher Power. There is no doubt that the 12 steps has been very successful way in helping alcoholics to stay clean and sober. However, it does not seem politically correct to have a potentially fatal disease, like alcoholism treated with a heavy dose of religion. Non religious rehab centers know science and therapy are preferable to preaching God as the answer to their patient's problems.

Non Religious Drug Rehab Programs

Today, more and more of the best drug alcohol rehabs have moved the focus of their programs to individualized and therapy-based plans and delegate the 12 steps to aftercare. Good non 12 step treatment centers make therapy and counseling the primary agenda of their programs and leave the 12 steps until the very end. Good, non 12 step treatment centers address the issues at the base of the substance abuse. People want and expect and deserve more from rehab than just going to meetings and reading a 75 year old book.

Non Religious Approach to Alcohol Drug Treatment

Telling an alcoholic or an addict they have to find religion is not necessarily a good idea. The reason why it's important to have rehab treatment that offer non faith-based programs is people have rights which state that religion shall not be forced upon them. Not everyone has a belief in God or in religion. Ideally, a treatment center should offer both a 12 step based program and a secular alternative program. The person can then decide which program is right for them.

 

read the article about the judge's ruling

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