Naltrexone and Spirituality: How a Medication Can Support Deep Healing in Addiction Recovery
When you’re fighting addiction, the body and mind don’t heal the same way. One side needs chemistry - a pill to quiet cravings. The other needs meaning - a reason to get up in the morning that’s bigger than the urge. Naltrexone does the first. Spirituality does the second. Together, they’re not just complementary - they’re necessary.
What Naltrexone Actually Does
Naltrexone is a medication approved by the FDA and the UK’s NICE guidelines to treat alcohol and opioid dependence. It doesn’t make you feel good. It doesn’t ease withdrawal. It doesn’t calm anxiety. What it does is block opioid receptors in the brain. That means if you take heroin, oxycodone, or even drink alcohol, the high doesn’t come. Or it comes weak, flat, empty.
Think of it like a lock. Addiction tries to turn the key. Naltrexone jams the lock. It doesn’t fix the broken lock. It just stops the key from working. That’s why it’s called a medication-assisted treatment - not a cure. You still have to do the work. But without naltrexone, that work is often impossible.
Studies show people on naltrexone are 50% less likely to relapse in the first six months compared to those on placebo. That’s not magic. That’s physics. Your brain’s reward system is stuck in a loop. Naltrexone breaks the feedback. It gives you space to breathe.
Why Medication Alone Isn’t Enough
Here’s the truth no one talks about: addiction isn’t just about chemicals. It’s about loneliness. It’s about shame. It’s about a life that stopped making sense. You might stop drinking because naltrexone made you sick. But if you don’t find something to replace the void - if you don’t find meaning - you’ll find another way to numb.
I’ve spoken with people in Manchester recovery groups who’ve been on naltrexone for years. Some are clean. Others relapsed anyway. The difference? The ones who stayed clean had something they believed in. A faith. A practice. A community. A sense of purpose that didn’t come from a bottle or a needle.
Spirituality isn’t about religion. It’s not about kneeling in church or chanting mantras. It’s about connection. To yourself. To others. To something larger than your pain. That’s the gap naltrexone can’t fill.
How Spirituality Supports Recovery
Spirituality in recovery isn’t fluffy. It’s practical. It’s daily. Here’s how it works in real life:
- Mindfulness - Sitting with discomfort without reaching for a drink. Noticing cravings without acting on them. This is meditation, but you don’t need a cushion. You can do it while walking to the bus stop.
- Service - Helping someone else stay sober. Calling a friend who’s struggling. Volunteering at a shelter. When you focus on others, your own pain shrinks.
- Ritual - Morning coffee without alcohol. Writing in a journal. Lighting a candle. These small acts rebuild structure. Structure replaces chaos.
- Forgiveness - Not just of others. Of yourself. Addiction thrives on guilt. Spirituality helps you release it.
- Community - Not just AA. Any group where you’re seen, not judged. A yoga class. A hiking club. A church group. A therapy circle. Belonging is medicine.
These aren’t suggestions. They’re survival tools. People who practice even one of these regularly are twice as likely to stay sober long-term, according to research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Naltrexone and Spirituality: A Real-Life Pairing
Meet Sarah. 42. Two kids. Three relapses. She started naltrexone after her third overdose. It worked - the cravings dropped from a 9/10 to a 3/10. But she still woke up feeling empty. She didn’t know why she was sober.
Then she joined a weekly meditation group at a community centre. At first, she sat there fidgeting. After three weeks, she noticed something: when she felt the old pull to drink, she didn’t run. She breathed. She remembered her kids. She remembered she was worth more than a binge.
Naltrexone gave her the quiet. Spirituality gave her the reason.
That’s the pattern. Naltrexone reduces the noise. Spirituality helps you hear yourself again.
Common Misconceptions
Some people think spirituality is a replacement for medication. It’s not. You wouldn’t stop insulin for type 1 diabetes because you started praying. You wouldn’t stop blood pressure meds because you started yoga. Naltrexone isn’t optional because you’re spiritual. It’s a tool - and tools work better together.
Others think you need to believe in God. You don’t. Spirituality doesn’t require a deity. It requires awareness. It requires honesty. It requires showing up for yourself, even when it’s hard.
And some think it’s only for people who’ve hit rock bottom. That’s false. People start spiritual practices early in recovery - and they do better. You don’t need to be broken to begin healing.
How to Start
If you’re on naltrexone and feel like something’s missing, here’s how to begin - no experience needed:
- Try 5 minutes a day of quiet. Sit. Breathe. Don’t fix anything. Just be. Use a free app like Insight Timer if you need guidance.
- Write one thing you’re grateful for each morning. It doesn’t have to be big. “The sun came up.” “My coffee was hot.” Gratitude rewires the brain.
- Find one person you trust and tell them you’re trying to heal. Not your whole story. Just that you’re working on it. Vulnerability is the first step to connection.
- Do something kind for someone else, once a week. Buy a coffee. Send a text. Hold a door. It doesn’t fix you - but it reminds you you’re part of something.
- Visit a recovery group, even once. AA, SMART Recovery, Refuge Recovery - doesn’t matter which. Listen. Don’t speak. See if you feel less alone.
You don’t need to become a monk. You just need to start showing up - for yourself, and for life.
The Science Behind the Connection
There’s real biology here. Brain imaging studies show that people in long-term recovery who practice mindfulness have increased activity in the prefrontal cortex - the part of the brain that controls impulse and decision-making. That’s the same area damaged by chronic drug use.
Naltrexone reduces dopamine spikes from substances. Spirituality increases dopamine naturally - through connection, meaning, and purpose. It’s not a contradiction. It’s a balance.
One 2023 study in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment followed 312 people on naltrexone. Those who engaged in regular spiritual practices (defined as daily meditation, prayer, or community involvement) had a 68% lower relapse rate over 12 months than those who didn’t.
This isn’t anecdotal. It’s measurable. And it’s repeatable.
When It Doesn’t Work
Not everyone responds to naltrexone. About 30% of people don’t feel a difference. That’s not failure. It’s biology. Some people need a different medication - like acamprosate or buprenorphine. Others need higher doses. Talk to your doctor.
Spirituality also doesn’t work if it’s forced. If you hate meditation, don’t do it. If church feels fake, skip it. Find what fits. A walk in the woods. Painting. Gardening. Playing music. Reading poetry. Any activity that makes you feel present, calm, and connected counts.
Recovery isn’t about doing everything right. It’s about doing something - consistently - that helps you feel alive again.
Final Thought
Naltrexone doesn’t make you a better person. Spirituality doesn’t make you sober. But together, they create the conditions where healing becomes possible. One handles the body. The other heals the soul. Neither is enough alone. Together? That’s how people rebuild lives.
You don’t need to believe in miracles. Just in the possibility that you’re worth more than your addiction. That’s where recovery begins.
Can naltrexone be used with spiritual practices?
Yes. Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors to reduce cravings, while spiritual practices like mindfulness, service, and community help rebuild meaning and emotional resilience. They work on different levels - one biological, one psychological - and are often most effective when used together.
Do I need to be religious to benefit from spirituality in recovery?
No. Spirituality in recovery is about connection, presence, and purpose - not religion. Many people find it through meditation, nature, art, journaling, or helping others. You don’t need to pray, believe in God, or attend church. You just need to feel something bigger than your addiction.
How long does it take for naltrexone to start working?
Naltrexone begins blocking opioid receptors within hours of the first dose. For alcohol dependence, cravings often decrease noticeably within the first week. Full effects on reducing relapse risk are typically seen after 4-6 weeks of consistent use.
Can I drink alcohol while taking naltrexone?
Technically, yes - but it’s not recommended. Naltrexone reduces the pleasurable effects of alcohol, so drinking may feel flat or unpleasant. More importantly, drinking while on naltrexone undermines the recovery process. The goal is to break the cycle, not test limits.
What if naltrexone doesn’t reduce my cravings?
About 1 in 3 people don’t respond strongly to naltrexone. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. Talk to your doctor about alternatives like acamprosate, topiramate, or buprenorphine. Pairing medication with spiritual practices can still help, even if the drug isn’t fully effective.
About Author
I am a pharmaceutical expert with a passion for writing about medication and health-related topics. I enjoy sharing insights on the latest developments in the pharmaceutical industry and how they can impact our daily lives. My goal is to make complex medical information accessible to everyone. In my spare time, I love exploring new hobbies and enhancing my knowledge.
Casey Crowell October 30, 2025
Naltrexone is the lock, spirituality is the key to the damn room you locked yourself in. I was on it for 14 months and still felt like a ghost until I started walking in the woods every morning. No prayer, no chants. Just me, the birds, and the silence. That’s when the cravings stopped being a scream and became a whisper. 🌲
Shanna Talley October 31, 2025
This is exactly what recovery needs more of - not more pills, not more guilt, but real human connection. I’ve seen people get clean on naltrexone and still disappear into their phones. But the ones who started journaling or cooking for others? They stayed. It’s not magic. It’s mattering.
Lorne Wellington October 31, 2025
Man, I love this breakdown. Naltrexone’s like putting a dam on a flood - stops the rush but doesn’t fix the broken levee. Spirituality? That’s rebuilding the whole damn watershed. I started doing breathwork after my third relapse. Didn’t believe in it. Now I do it before every damn coffee. Changed everything.
Anthony Griek November 1, 2025
I’ve been on naltrexone for 2 years. Didn’t touch a drop. But I still felt hollow. Then I started volunteering at the animal shelter. Didn’t think it mattered. Turns out, holding a scared dog while it shakes? That’s the most spiritual thing I’ve ever done. No gods required. Just presence.
Norman Rexford November 3, 2025
I dont get why people think this works like magic. I did naltrexone and yoga and still drank. Its just another scam. You dont need spirituality you need willpower. Also why is everyone so into meditation? I dont have time for that crap. Just stop drinking. Duh.