Open AccessUrban Religious Congregations’ Responses to Community Substance Use: An Exploratory Study of Four Cases
Author(s) -
Benjamin E. Hidalgo,
Kathryn Pitkin Derose,
David E. Kanouse,
Peter Mendel,
Ricky N. Bluthenthal,
Clyde W. Oden
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of religion and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.548
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1573-6571
pISSN - 0022-4197
DOI - 10.1007/s10943-019-00788-9
Subject(s) - faith , exploratory research , substance use , qualitative research , public health , psychology , sociology , social psychology , public relations , criminology , medicine , nursing , clinical psychology , social science , political science , philosophy , theology
Faith-based drug treatment programs are common, and many are implemented through congregations; however, little is documented about how congregations conceptualize and implement these programs. We use case study analysis to explore congregational approaches to drug treatment; qualitative findings emerged in three areas: (1) religion's role in congregational responses to substance use, (2) relationships between program participants and the broader congregation, and (3) interactions between congregational programs and the external community. Congregational approaches to drug treatment can be comprehensive, but work is needed to evaluate such efforts. Congregants' attitudes may influence whether program participants become members of a sustaining congregational community.