A scoping review of spirituality in relation to substance use disorders: Psychological, biological, and cultural issues

This scoping review explores the role of spirituality in substance use disorders (SUD) across psychological, biological and cultural dimensions. It reviews research on topics including spiritual awakening, drug craving, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, biological and neurological aspects of spiritual experiences, and the ways spirituality is understood across different cultural settings.

The review also considers the distinction between spirituality and religion and the role of spirituality in building recovery capital. While existing research points to several potentially important connections between spirituality, substance use and recovery, the authors identify significant gaps in the evidence. They call for more rigorous research to better understand whether and how spirituality can be effectively incorporated into clinical care.