A phenomenological exploration of spirituality among African American women recovering from substance abuse

Abstract

Spirituality among African American women recovering from substance abuse is a recovery phenomena: little is known about the individual's experience in this process. The ameliorating effect of spirituality covering a broad range of positive outcomes has been consistent across populations, regardless of gender, race, study design, and religious affiliation. Giorgi's phenomenological method was used to explore and described the meaning of spirituality of 15 African American women recovering from substance abuse. The findings are described and discussed relative to the state of the science on spirituality. Implications for substance abuse and recovery practitioners are presented.