MEDICAL WHISTLEBLOWER Abuse and Neglect in U.S.A. Residential Treatment Centers

Abuse and Neglect in U.S.A. Residential Treatment Centers Are Faith–based substance abuse programs effective?

There appears to be little scientific evidence that religious-based programs are more effective than government or private social service programs.

Supporters of Charitable Choice funds for these Faith-based programs often cite the December, 1996 report, ―Faith in Action...A new vision of churchstate cooperation in Texas,‖ by then-Governor Bush‘s Advisory Task Force.

The report quoted Governor Bush to state, ―Government can hand out money, but it cannot put hope in our hearts or a sense of purpose in our lives. It cannot bring us peace of mind. It cannot fill the spiritual well from which we draw strength day to day. Only faith can do that. In the final analysis, there is no overcoming anything without faith - be it drugs or alcohol or poverty or flawed social policy.‖ 657 Another cited study is a 1996 comparison of homeless shelter programs in New York City. One program was operated by the Bower-y Mission Transitional Center, under Robert J. Polito, Executive Director. The statistical data was from monthly reports the shelters filed with New York City DHS. These were self-reported data on a mailed in survey and did not comprise valid scientific evidence.658 The vice-president of Teen Challenge U.S.A., Carl Chrisner, actively solicits federal funds for the religion-based program, citing its ―success rate‖ 659 He stated ―from our own self-studies, we have over 40 years of proven success of 70%... We‘ve also had studies conducted by the Federal Government...that confirm our 70% success rate.‖ No government studies have been provided to validate that claim. The study referred to is from 1976 and does not mention the purported 70% success rate. Scientific researchers have grave reservations regarding the methodology and execution of the evaluation. Data was collected years after clients were associated with the program and they were paid to participate. They were asked to report what they remembered. Many participants reported they had objected to the intensely religious nature of the Teen Challenge program. Black participants fared more poorly than whites according to the study results.‖ 660 There is little scientific documentation to show that religious indoctrination is associated with positive outcomes for drug abuse treatment programs. It is a distorted doctrine to promote changes in social policy based on casual assumptions about a single variable such as religion in statistical regression analysis and other sociological statistical measurements. 661 Yet, political 170