Religion And Quality Of Life

Addiction is a phenomenon that has long existed in different human societies; and now again, it is still expanding despite the scientific advances and indisputable increase in people’s level of understanding and awareness; and each year, many people fall into the trap of drug addiction (1). Drug addiction, as a biological, psychological, and social problem which influences various aspects of individual’s life, destroys many components of quality of life and lowers the quality of life in patients (2). In the lives of addicted people, quality of life is an understanding people have about their status in life in terms of culture and value systems and it is connected to their goals, aspirations and standards (3). Quality of life is considered as

For example, Raiya, Pargament, Mahoney, Stein (2008)(5) showed that religion causes well-being. And suggest that religious beliefs improve health and quality of life and increase self-esteem. Religious beliefs is among the factors that can have an effective role in preventing and reducing mental disorders and related problems such as suicide, drug addiction, depression and anxiety. The history of mankind has indicated that religious humans have a long history; and as the anthropological and archaeological studies of the old times show, religion has been an integral part of human life. Will Durant believes that religion is so rich, complex, and comprehensive that its various aspects appear differently to different attitudes and views. But what is important is that no period in human history has been devoid of religious beliefs; and closeness to God and paying attention to spirituality leads to peace, satisfaction and mental health

Studies show that God, religion and spirituality are the key factors in the prevention and treatment of drug abuse (16). The reason is that religion plays a very strong role in the self-control and can affect individual’s health and proper social behavior (17). Other studies also show that spiritual needs have a relationship with the physical health and they accelerate the healing process of patients (18). Those addicts who continue the treatment programs longer show higher levels of spirituality (19). Beigi (2011)(20) conducted a study entitled the impact of social, religious activities on the quality of life of the addict. The results showed that these activities are good predictors of the quality of life of addicts. Therefore, therapies based on religious beliefs are effective way to treat addiction. According to subsequent and continuous returns to drugs and the inability in being treated which are observed in the vast majority of drug users, as well as the importance of the social dimension in the third level prevention of health measures and rehabilitation of these people aimed at returning them to the society on the one hand, and the lack of studies and research on this issue on the other hand, the necessity of this study made the researchers to examine the relationship between religious orientation and quality of life of the addicts referred to