What Contributes to the Positive Outcomes of Gospel Drug Treatment?

Illicit drug use is a big problem in Hong Kong. Gospel drug treatment has been found to be one of the most effective methods of drug abstention. Thus in this thesis two major concepts were analysed: religiosity and spirituality. In addition the aspects of gospel drug treatment that have successfully contributed to drug abstinence were identified. The central question of the thesis was as follows: “What factors have contributed to successful treatment outcomes for former users who have participated in residential gospel drug treatment programmes?” To answer this a life story approach was adopted and in-depth interviews were conducted with eight former drug users. The life story approach allowed all of the informants to freely share their life journeys. Each of them spoke of the low points in their lives and the turning points at which their recovery began. The road to successful drug abstention was very difficult for the eight informants. Among them seven said that they would only consider themselves successful if they could refrain from taking drugs until they died.