b'We must address the whole person to be as influential as possible using successful evidencebased practices (yes, Christcentered programs can be evidencebased). In her 2023 book, Ending the Crisis: Mayo Clinics Guide to Opioid Addiction and Safe Opioid Use, Dr. Holly Geyer suggests this requires a biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual approach, all four comprehensive elements of a human being.We need to address theand spiritual approach, all four comprehensivewhole person collectively. elements of a human being. The emphasis on spiri-I nstead, with every passing month, statisticaltuality is missing from many of the governmental analysis, or research report, we create new focalor health-care approaches to the treatment and points that become the buzz terms or phrasesrecovery of an AUD or SUD. In fact, in a study within the recovery industry. Organizations shiftdone by the White House (see Inouye v. Kemna) focus to these new elements until the next newthat evaluated 138 federally administered programs best practices emerge. Perhaps we are chasingand identified 35 program areas, only 11 percent a trend over a real solution. Is it the problem, theof federally funded grants went to faith-based pro-treatment, or the root cause? Indeed, many of thegrams. Faith-based programs do matter and do new treatments and methodologies are positivemake a difference in recovery. One study shows that (although some still need more longitudinal dataup to 82 percent of clients who experienced a spiri-analysis). However, as we interact with the peopletual awakening during treatment and recovery were suffering from alcohol/substance use disordercompletely abstinent at a one-year follow-up com-(AUD or SUD) and hear from tens of thousandspared with 55 percent of those without a spiritual over the years, we begin to understand that criticalcomponent in treatment. In research that evaluated to the success of sobriety is the ability to address six278 quantitative studies, 86 percent of those studies major areas (questions) in the life of every personfound that faith reduced the risks associated with struggling. These areas are not unique to thosealcohol use, abuse, or dependency. suffering but are amplified when we suffer. Again,Research also shows that those in recovery to be as influential as possible, we must addressseek out programs that also provide a spiritual the whole person using successful, evidence-basedfocus. One study states that 84 percent of the clients practices (yes, Christ-centered programs can bein addiction counseling expressed a desire for evidence-based). In her 2023 book, Ending thea greater emphasis on spirituality in treatment. Crisis: Mayo Clinics Guide to Opioid AddictionA National Center on Addiction and Substance and Safe Opioid Use, Dr. Holly Geyer suggests thisAbuse study shows adults who attend a religious requires a biological, psychological, sociological,service weekly are almost four times less likely to \x02 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG 9'