ArticleJournal of religion and health2026
From Darkness to Light: Spiritual Turning Points in Recovery among Former Substance Users in Norway.
Article in Journal of religion and health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Faith-based rehabilitation programs play a crucial role in supporting individuals' recovery from substance use disorders, where spiritual turning points often serve as catalysts for lasting transformation and renewed meaning. However, little is known about how such experiences unfold and which elements are most significant in the recovery process. This study explores how former substance users construct meaning in their existential journey from addiction to sustained recovery within faith-based contexts in Norway. Data from in-depth qualitative interviews with 24 individuals who had completed Christian rehabilitation programs were analyzed using a thematic narrative approach. The findings revealed that the participants experienced a profound existential and emotional crisis marked by identity loss and hopelessness prior to rehabilitation. Within faith-based communities, they encountered forgiveness, belonging, and unconditional love, which initiated deep spiritual turning points. These experiences were understood as transformative encounters that restored meaning, dignity, and moral direction, and reoriented participants' sense of self. The findings further indicate that spiritual care may function as a foundational and integrative dimension of recovery, shaping not only existential meaning, but also psychological, relational, and behavioral processes. Faith-based institutions exemplify how such spiritual care can be cultivated through holistic and community-based practices. This study highlights the need for greater recognition of spiritual and existential dimensions in recovery processes, as well as for more systematic evaluation and inclusion of faith-based approaches within a pluralistic healthcare landscape.
Indexed as
Identifiers
42260200What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.