Psychology & Buddhism.pdf

Religion and Spirituality in Community Building 209
Federal Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 mandated that each of the 50 states establish
a revolving fund of $100,000 to be used to establish group homes for substance
abusers along the lines of the Oxford House model. Between 1988 and
1999, the number has increased to more than 700 houses.
After treatment for substance abuse, whether it is in hospital-based treatment
programs, therapeutic communities, or recovery homes, many patients return to
former high-risk environments or stressful family situations. Returning to these
settings without a network of people to support abstinence increases chances of
a relapse. As a consequence, substance abuse recidivism following treatment is
high for both men and women. Under modern managed care, private and public
sector inpatient substance abuse facilities have reduced their services dramatically.
Thus, there is a tremendous need to develop, evaluate, and expand lower
cost, residential, non-medical, community-based care options for substance abuse
patients.
So, what might the lesson of Oxford Houses be for individuals with
Buddhist philosophies? Oxford Houses are behavior settings where individuals
have the support of other non-using adults to begin their path toward abstinence.
If a therapist or treatment program were to offer individuals with drug and
alcohol problems Buddhist principles, and not provide those individuals behavior
settings and safe environments to protect themselves from temptation and
drug solicitations, the probability of success would be attenuated. However, if
Buddhists would also think in Eco-Transformational terms, they would provide
not only Buddhist philosophy and practice opportunities, but also work toward
establishing settings, where individuals have the chance to begin self-explorations
and practices that might allow more opportunity for developing spiritual pursuits,
like Buddhism. However, without the support and structure of these types of
settings, particularly for individuals who are such high risk of relapse, it would be
difficult to have the stability and support to develop the transformational internal
foundational values that might provide even sturdier long-term recovery.
Today we are faced with the dilemma of thousands of people who are drug
addicted, homeless, and who live in poverty. What can a Buddhist offer to such
individuals? The lesson from the Oxford Houses are clear: when people become
very sick with chronic illnesses or drug abuse problems, they need not only psychological
strategies (which can include Buddhist meditational approaches) and
medications to control symptoms, but often a setting or community to protect
them so that can regain their faith and heal. At present, there are few settings in
the world that affords this type of support for people. What is needed are families,
Oxford Houses, or communities who are willing to take in individuals for
extended periods of time. This approach represents a different way of extending
services – combining strategies that (a) strengthen inner resources through instilling
hope, confidence, enthusiasm and the will to live, and (b) provide a place for
people to live that is protected and nourishing – represents a more comprehensive