Making Amends In Later Life: The Importance of Spirituality In Substance Use Recovery for Older African Americans

Background and Purpose: Older African Americans (OAA) who use substances are significantly underrepresented in the research literature despite facing unique challenges related to their substance use. This group tends to underutilize mental health services and often seeks comfort in spirituality instead. For many OAA, spirituality offers healing and refuge from life’s daily struggles, providing a sense of connection and protection.

There is limited research on the role of spirituality in recovery for OAA, as the aging process seems to heighten their need to make amends. This research explored the impact of spiritual practices on OAA in recovery, focusing on their self-reflection and desire for reconciliation. Some participants reported that their substance use had damaged their relationships with loved ones, making it difficult for them to heal these disruptions and repair the relationships to the quality that they desired. Consequently, they turned to spirituality in their quest for forgiveness.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen OAA (ages 65 to 90) who had at least one year of experience using substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamines, and had experience with the use of spirituality. In addition, participants must have been abstinent from substances for at least one year prior to the study, i.e., in recovery. Six participants identified as male, eight as female, and one as trans-female. The years of sobriety ranged from 15 to 53 years. Participants were recruited through fliers posted in the community and on social media platforms. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded thematically using the Quirkos Cloud (2022) software, and data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings: The data suggest that OAA in recovery felt that the aging process deepened their spirituality, enhancing their recovery efforts and strengthening their commitment. Through recovery, they were better able to reflect on past choices, broken relationships, and missed opportunities. Data analysis revealed that OAA in recovery felt a great urgency to make amends with friends and family, whether by attempting to repair relationships, reconnect with estranged loved ones, or apologize for harm caused. Some participants described losing their home, partner, children, and employment due to their substance abuse. While some participants were able to make amends with their friends and family, several participants reported that they could not make amends with specific individuals because they had passed away before the recovery happened. Findings indicate that this only exacerbated struggles with regret, guilt, and unresolved conflict. Participants reported that the inability to make amends caused them to turn to spirituality to cope with their feelings of remorse.

Conclusion and Implications: Findings highlight the importance of spirituality in recovery for older African American adults. The study found that spirituality helped participants recover and make amends. For social workers assisting OAA to confront feelings of remorse, grief, loss, and sadness stemming from past substance use, understanding the important role that spirituality plays in recovery will enable them to better support these individuals as they continue to navigate their feelings related to previous substance use.