Alternative Title

Addiction and Religion

Abstract

This study involves research using secondary sources and focuses on the relationships between substance use disorder recovery, religion, and spirituality. I dive into these issues by focusing on Alcoholics Anonymous and A.A.’s potential path to becoming an established religious organization. I also focus on religion as a substitute addiction and analyze if religion helps or hurts substance use disorder recovery. Religion proves to be generally helpful in recovery, but the risk of it becoming a substitute addiction is prevalent. Stigma and its negative effects on recovering from a substance use disorder are also discussed.

Advisor

Rapport, Jeremy

Department

Religious Studies

Disciplines

New Religious Movements | Religion

Keywords

Addiction, Religion, Spirituality, Alcoholics Anonymous, Substitute Addiction

Publication Date

2025

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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