Addiction Feature, Original Broadcast Date: January 21, 2005 (Show #821):

According to some experts, substance abuse is the top crime and health problem in the nation. It is also one of America's most costly problems. But many doctors and spiritual healers disagree on how best to deal with it. A number of physicians are reluctant to recommend spiritual healing while many clergy aren't prepared to recognize the need for medical treatment. However, a new faith-based drug rehabilitation clinic in Baton Rouge is now offering both a medical and spiritual approach to treating substance abuse. Lucky Severson talks with health experts and visits the "Set Free Indeed" Clinic in Louisiana for a look at how the integration of spiritual counseling with clinical treatment is helping patients overcome their addiction. Joseph Califano, the founder of The Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, observes: "The most important thing is to marry what doctors can do and what treatment professionals can do with the spiritual component because the combination is very powerful. If you talk to recovering alcoholics and drug addicts, the overwhelming proportion of them . . . are going to tell you that spirituality was a major factor."

Featured (in alphabetical order):

Joseph Califano, Founder, The Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia University
Sr. Carolyn Farrell
Sr. Lee Anne Farrell
Alyssa Green, Patient, Set Free Indeed Clinic
Sr. Mary Gene Kinney
Judy Murphy
Tonja Myles, Founder, Set Free Indeed Ministry and Clinic
Dr.Rani Whitfield, Set Free Indeed Clinic