The Use of Native Spirituality in Addiction Treatment: A Case Study of the Five New Brunswick Native Treatment Centres

The literature assumes Native spirituality is an accepted part of the treatment procedures in use at Native Treatment Centres. This exploratory study uses Mills' analytic framework to examine critically this conventional wisdom in regard to the five Native Treatment Centres in New Brunswick. This study found large variations in the use of Native spirituality in the NTCs and community conflict over the use of Native spirituality in New Brunswick NTCs. The relevant literature supports Native Traditionalists' claim that the conflict over the use of Native spirituality in drug and alcohol treatment arises from the history of missionary condemnation of Native people's spiritual beliefs. This contention is confirmed in this study by counter-example: the NTC where Native spirituality is most used is the one where it has been endorsed by visiting and local Catholic clergy. Questions are raised for further study.

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