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Spirituality in Addiction Recovery: A Narrative Review

  • PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLORATION
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Abstract

In the area of addiction, Canada has been in a public health crisis since 2016. Addiction takes a toll on an individual’s self-worth and identity. In this narrative literature review, the distinct nature of spirituality was addressed. Next, individualized conceptualizations of spirituality were outlined. Subsequently, the importance of fellowship in addiction recovery was detailed. Next, the significance of being of service was presented. Meaningful and authentic spirituality were discussed in the context of recovery identity. Lastly, spirituality as a personal journey is described. A narrative literature review of 70 manuscripts published between 1999 and 2021 was undertaken to determine multiple approaches to treating addiction recovery in the context of spiritual development. An understanding of spirituality can inform counsellors regarding spiritual development in addiction recovery. Implications for counselling include a roadmap to support clients developing an individualized spiritual connection and operating as a functional system.

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The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Shelbi Snodgrass.

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Snodgrass, S., Corcoran, L. & Jerry, P. Spirituality in Addiction Recovery: A Narrative Review. J Relig Health 63, 515–530 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01854-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01854-z

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