Psychology and Spiritual Transformation in a Substance Abuse Program

The Lazarus Project

By (author) W. Paul Williamson, Ralph W. Hood

Not available to order

Publication date:

29 January 2016

Length of book:

230 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

ISBN-13: 9780739193075

Psychology and Spiritual Transformation in a Substance Abuse Program: The Lazarus Project presents the results of an independent five-year study on spiritual transformation at a twelve-month residential program called the Lazarus Project—an agency that takes a Pentecostal faith-based approach to dealing with substance abuse. Residents who completed the program experienced psychological and spiritual transformation within six months in the program. Furthermore, this change was found to persist one year after graduation from the program. Resident descriptions derived from phenomenological interviews revealed that this transformation was experienced in relation to religious and spiritual experiences while in the program, and that Pentecostal factors were significant facilitators of change and recovery from substance addiction. Psychology and Spiritual Transformation in a Substance Abuse Program concludes that Pentecostal faith-based approaches to dealing with substance addiction may be more effective than secular and even non-Pentecostal faith-based approaches. The unique and exhilarating Pentecostal experience, as an alternative to a drug-induced high leading to meaningless addiction and self-destruction, is contextualized within a religious and spiritual ontology that offers purpose and meaning to victims of substance addiction.

List of Figures and Tables
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1The Pentecostal Element and Community
Chapter 2The Lazarus Project: Hope for Substance Addiction
Chapter 3Spiritual Transformation at the Lazarus Project: Is It Really Real?
Chapter 4The Phenomenology of Spiritual Transformation in Pentecostal Religious Conversion
Chapter 5The Phenomenology of Spirit Baptism: A Facilitator of Spiritual Transformation
Chapter 6Mentoring: Guidance in Spiritual Transformation
Chapter 7Conclusion
Epilogue
References
About the Author

A major strength of the work is the authors’ ability to follow the residents longitudinally. Longitudinal studies in the area of religious conversion and spiritual transformation have been rare...and, therefore, this volume fills an important gap.... I enjoyed reading this book immensely because of my own interest in and work on this issue and because it is so well written and thoughtfully analyzed. The book continuously sparked new ideas in my mind.