In the past 50 years, more than 30 Christian drug rehabilitation institutions have been established in China to provide drug rehabilitation services. Different from general drug rehabilitation centers, Christian drug rehabilitation institutions treat drug addiction as a spiritual issue. They adhere to the principle of "solely relying on Jesus in place of medication." The root cause of drug addiction is treated through the Christian faith. These institutions are characterized by religious belief, and by independently scattered and private operations. Most Christian rehabilitation institutions in mainland China were founded later than those in Hong Kong or Taiwan. They were often founded because of humanitarian and religious reasons. Their daily program is dominated by religious activities, and their treatment outcome is better than traditional rehabilitation centers. They have made contributions to anti-drug efforts. Regrettably, the academic sector is rarely involved in the study of religious drug rehabilitation institutions and overlooks their innovative thinking in solving the addiction problem. This article sorts out the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in Greater China. It also compares and contrasts the Christian rehabilitation services in the three regions on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, in hope to make this new mode of rehabilitation known to outsiders.
As one of the most difficult health issues to treat, drug addiction has become a problem plaguing China and the world. It is rapidly increasing and affecting the younger population. Although most of the patients have a sense of quitting, the outcome of traditional treatments is not satisfactory. According to research, more than 95% of people with drug addiction problems are aware of the dangers of drugs and are willing to quit. However, they often cannot help themselves with cravings, and cycle between recoveries and relapses. In general, the relapse rate of people with drug addiction problems is higher than 90%. Traditional rehab treatment and forced isolation can alleviate patients' physical dependence on drugs to a certain extent, but patients' "psychological dependence" on drugs is often difficult to eradicate.
In recent years, drug control as a hot-button social issue has attracted more and more attention from the government and non-government. Many charitable organizations in the regions on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have participated in rehabilitation services, including Christian drug rehabilitation institutions. These institutions are different from traditional rehabilitation centers in terms of founding beliefs, treatment approaches, marketing, and treatment outcome. Centered on those in Yunnan, this article compares and contrasts the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in the three regions on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, in hope to benefit the current drug control efforts.
Statistics of Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in Greater China: comparisons on quantity, history, locations, and founding reasons
In terms of number, there are more than 35 Christian rehabilitation institutions in Greater China, including 17 in Hong Kong, 16 in mainland China, and two in Taiwan. Some institutions operate in multiple locations. For instance, Kunming Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center has eight locations in Yunnan; Operation Dawn has 13 locations in Taiwan and four in Hong Kong. If the sizes of population and area are taken into consideration, Hong Kong has the most number of Christian drug rehabilitation institutions per capita, followed by Taiwan, and then mainland China.
In terms of geographical location, most of the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in mainland China are gathered in Greater Yunnan and Guangdong, which are Guangdong, Hunan, and Fujian, to be precise. Among them, those in Yunnan account for almost half of the total in mainland China. This is due to the unique geographical features of Greater Yunnan and Guangdong. Yunnan shares a long border with the "Golden Triangle," and has become the hardest hit area for substance abuse. Its drug problem is escalating. Yunnan is also the second-largest region in China where ethnic minorities reside. Strong ethnic awareness and dispersed inhabitants of these minority groups have caused difficulties in management. Yunnan is mountainous, especially in the west, where accessibility becomes an issue. In remote rural areas, people are more susceptible to substance abuse because medical care is relatively scarce, entertainment is very limited, and there is more free time.
In chronological order, the establishment of Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in mainland China is relatively recent. It was less than 20 years ago when Chenggong Taocheng Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center was established as the earliest of its kind. In contrast, 80% of those in Hong Kong were established more than 20 years ago. In Taiwan, it has been nearly 30 years since the establishment of the two Christian drug rehabilitation institutions. Among them, the Lutheran Church Drug Rehabilitation Center and Operation Dawn in Hong Kong have been running for more than 50 years. They are the oldest Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in greater China and even Asia. It is worth mentioning that the development of the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in mainland China in the past 10 years has shown an upward trend, while the development of those in Hong Kong and Taiwan has tended to ease. The service becomes a dominant monopoly in Taiwan.
With regard to founders, one-third of the founders of the Christian drug rehabilitation centers in mainland China have a history of addiction. After they successfully recovered, they had offered help in return to those who suffer from addictions. In fact, those who recover are generally well-received by and can empathize with people with additional problems. Almost half of the teachers in Baoshan Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center in Yunnan Province have a history of addiction. Out of their gratitude for the gospel-based rehabilitation, they help others with additional problems in turn after their recovery.
There are some other Christian drug rehabilitation centers established by churches. Three main reasons are found for churches to establish a rehabilitation center. The first is for the practical needs of missions. When talking about the original intention of its founding, Mr. Ren of Baoshan Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center said, "Baoshan is located in the border, with diverse ethnic groups and conservatives. Most of the people are indifferent to or even reject the gospel. It is difficult to break through the roadblocks in the missionary field. The successful development of the Christian drug rehabilitation program can witness the 'power of God', restore people's hearts, and promote missionary work."
The second reason is that many Christian drug rehabilitation centers are founded out of humanitarian care for people with additional problems. Pastor Paul Chen, the founder of Operation Dawn, recalled his experience in founding, "The addiction problem in Hong Kong was significant in the 1960s. When passing Kowloon every morning, I often saw scrawny bodies squatting or lying there. The houses were full of smoke and foul smelling. Occasionally there were burlap bags dragged out from public restrooms. Inside the bags were those who died from drug addiction."
Partnerships with secular drug rehabilitation centers under the support of the government are the third reason for founding a rehabilitation center. For example, with the support of the Guangzhou Drug Rehabilitation Bureau, Guangzhou YMCA has collaborated with various compulsory drug rehabilitation centers for 14 years. In 2016, it established the social work station of rehabilitation assistance and education in Guangzhou to create a platform based on families, rehabilitation centers, and community resources.
Comparison of Christian components, populations served, and daily activities of Christian drug rehabilitation centers
Gospel-based is the most important difference between Christian drug rehabilitation centers and general ones. Many churches cite and use the Bible as the theoretical foundation for Christian drug rehabilitation. This approach has greatly alleviated the division and controversy within the church over Christian drug rehabilitation.
Under this unique ideology, the vast majority of Christian drug rehabilitation centers consider addictions as a "mental issue" rather than a physical one. This is particularly noticeable in the external communications of Christian drug rehabilitation institutions. The treatment principle of Operation Dawn in Hong Kong is "solely rely on Jesus in place of medication or self-reliance." Baoshan Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center explains clearly in its Drug Rehabilitation Manual that rehabilitation is about “sin” rather than “drug”; it is spiritual rather than physical; it is a matter of “addiction” rather than “disease.”
Drug addiction is not only a physical health issue, but also a "product of sin." The work of drug rehab is transformed into a work of "sin removal." Therefore, professing Christian faith is the primary premise of the treatment. Baoshan Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center requires that those who sign up for the program must be willing to profess Christian faith. This has become a typical requirement of the Christian drug rehabilitation centers in mainland China. From this point of view, the "Christian nature" of the Christian drug rehabilitation in mainland China is stronger than that of Hong Kong and Taiwan. It is worth mentioning that the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in Hong Kong and Taiwan generally do not require clients to convert their faith.
There are at least a few reasons for this: First, many of the Christian drug rehabilitation centers in mainland China are founded by “recovered people” who have succeeded in Christian drug rehabilitation. Due to the lack of funds, they cannot accommodate a large number of clients. Priority is given to those who are willing to profess the Christian faith. Most of the Christian drug rehabilitation centers in Hong Kong and Taiwan are located in cities, with relatively abundant funds. They are founded or assisted by foreign missionaries, and the evangelistic nature is often not emphasized as much.
Secondly, Christian churches in mainland China pay more attention to spiritual life and pastoral care. They do not think that being overly involved in secular affairs is necessary. In contrast, most Christians in Hong Kong and Taiwan believe that churches should care about the general public, especially the disadvantaged in communities. It has always been a tradition to participate in community services.
Thirdly, believers’ views on the rehab programs are divided within many churches in mainland China. They are puzzled about using believers’ financial offerings to support drug rehabilitation services. It is a waste of funds from their standpoint.
Taking Baoshan Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center in Yunnan as an example, the evangelical feature of the Center is reflected in the following daily activities:
First of all, spiritual life becomes the main content of daily activities. After professing their faith, the clients are taken to the recovery room, where a staff member prays and cares for them 24 hours a day. For a year and a half since the admission, the daily activities have been centered on praying, reading the Bible, and attending classes.
Secondly, church visits are scheduled every month for the clients to participate. During the visits, the clients share their testimonies and experiences of drug addiction, rehabilitation, and "salvation". Their sharing often links the treatment with Christian teachings. The encouragement and support they receive from the church members become their source of strength. This approach has created a virtuous cycle.
Thirdly, work and exercise are part of the treatment. The Center has breeding cages, small-scale farmland, and basketball courts. There are 3 hours of work and exercise every day.
It is worth noting that most Christian drug rehabilitation institutions focus on group activities and give their clients little personal time. Group activities help increase the accountability of group members and consolidate the treatment outcome. Within a year and a half of rehabilitation is the peak period of relapse. Group cohesion is enhanced through praying for each other and engaging in singing, working, and exercising in groups. This approach helps the clients gain confidence in the rehabilitation.
In terms of populations served, the clients in mainland China are relatively homogeneous, while the Christian rehab programs in Hong Kong and Taiwan are more inclusive.
According to the author’s statistics, thirteen of the 16 Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in mainland China serve mainly male clients, accounting for 81.25% of the total. In Hong Kong, seven of the 15 provide treatment to males only, which is 46.7% of the total.
Regarding the services available to female clients, there are 6 Christian drug rehab institutions in Hong Kong geared towards this population. Among them are Barnabas Charitable Service Association and Ark Action of Christian New Life Association. In mainland China, only Guangzhou Shengen Life Reconstruction Home provides services for females. In fact, the number of females with drug addiction in mainland China is higher than that in Hong Kong and Taiwan, but the number of female rehab programs is the other way around. That is particularly disappointing.
To the author’s knowledge, there is no Christian drug rehabilitation institution specifically targeting youths in mainland China. In Hong Kong, there are 5 institutions that take youths. Among them, Christian Zheng Sheng College, The Christian New Being Fellowship, and New Life Ministries solely provide services for youths.
However, it is encouraging to see a diversified development trend in the services provided by the Christian drug rehabilitation programs no matter in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan. The programs go beyond drug rehab and include rehab programs for addictions to alcohol, nicotine, and gambling. Some even serve AIDS patients and people with mental health issues such as depression.
Comparison of program marketing and vocational choices of the program graduates
The marketing approaches of the Christian drug rehabilitation centers differ from region to region. Those in mainland China primarily promote the services within churches and by setting up billboards in local communities. Most of the billboards are in the form of traditional blackboards, which has limited the population reached. It is rare to promote or recruit clients through websites or social media. However, most of the Christian drug rehab institutions in Hong Kong and Taiwan run their own websites to post recent activities, testimonies, educational rehabilitation information, and the introduction of the institution. Operation Dawn in Taiwan and some institutions in Hong Kong even set up online counseling rooms on their websites. In addition, they organize groups of fans on social media. Their websites and publications contain cartoons and short videos, making them popular among young people.
In terms of vocational choices, most program graduates have re-entered the communities, and there is not much difference in this regard across the regions. Some serve in churches and other related jobs. Generally, the institutions allow their graduates to freely choose their vocational direction. Some programs provide vocational skills training. Graduates sometimes choose to study theology and stay to serve in the church or work in the rehab program.
Evaluation and Suggestions on Christian drug rehabilitation
Reflecting on the history of Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in the three places on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, it is not difficult to find that these institutions are developing. To some degree, these kinds of institutions that combine religious belief with humanitarian care help make up for the possible insufficiency of government organizations in care for the disadvantaged. It is also a manifestation of the humanitarian care of religions. Fortunately, from the periphery of the social hot-button, Christian drug rehabilitation institutions have increasingly received attention and partnerships from the religious, political, and academic sectors, providing great impetus for the development of these rehab institutions. Take Baoshan Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center as an example. Although it is in a remote and underdeveloped area, it has received the attention and support of Yunnan government and religious institutions in recent years. It has gradually become a "new star" among the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions across the regions. In September 2017, it was acknowledged on its tenth anniversary and supported by Baoshan Municipal Government and the Christian Council.
It is evident that the Christian drug rehab programs in mainland China have been successful even though there is still room for improvement.
First, most of the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in mainland China are small in scale, and their management systems and team collaboration need to be improved. The roles and collaboration of teams are better defined in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The institutions in these two places also set up a "halfway home" for the clients who have been enrolled for more than one year. This is to better prepare for their return to communities and a mechanism worth considering for the programs in mainland China.
Second, the program scope of Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in mainland China has yet to be expanded. For the time being, they mainly target adult males and seldom accept females and teenagers. The services provided are primarily for drug rehabilitation and less diversified in comparison with those in Hong Kong or Taiwan.
Third, many Christian drug rehabilitation institutions are founded by individuals and operate within families. They are situated in a gray area at the legal level, which could result in legal issues. If a legal representative can be established with professional medical consultants and psychiatrists on duty, it will benefit the long-term development of the Christian drug rehabilitation institution.
(This article was originally published on the WeChat account of Faith and Learning, a Christian academic magazine on Chinese Christianity. CCD reprinted with permission and does not own the copyright.)
- Translated by June I. Chen
近50年来，国内创办了30多所基督教背景的福音戒毒机构参与戒毒服务。不同于一般戒毒所，福音戒毒机构视毒瘾为一种心灵疾病，坚持“不靠药物，只靠耶稣”的原则，以信仰“根治”毒瘾，带有较强的宗教性、零散性与民间性。大多大陆福音戒毒机构创办时间晚于港台，其动机往往出于人道主义与信仰关怀，日常生活以信仰活动为主，而疗效好于传统戒毒所，对禁毒工作做出应有贡献。遗憾的是，学界较少涉及宗教戒毒机构研究，忽略了其对解决毒品问题可能存在的思维创新。文章对国内福音戒毒机构做一梳理，并对两岸三地的福音禁毒工作做一横向比较，或有助于外界了解这一戒毒新模式。
毒瘾作为最难根治的疾病之一，成为困扰中国乃至世界的难题，并且呈快速上升和低龄化趋势。虽然吸食者大多有禁戒意识，但传统治疗效果仍差强人意。据研究，95%以上的吸毒者都意识到毒品危害，也有意愿戒除毒品。然而在毒瘾发作时他们往往身不由己，在戒断、复吸之间循环，总体上吸毒患者戒毒的复吸率高于90%以上。传统药物治疗与强制隔离在一定程度上可以缓解患者对毒品的生理依赖，但患者对于毒品的“心理依赖”往往难以根除。
近年来，禁毒作为热点社会问题越来越受到官方和民间的关注，两岸三地许多社会团体参与到戒毒服务中，其中包括不少基督教的福音戒毒机构。这些机构在创办理念、治疗方式、宣传与治疗效果方面，与传统戒毒所均有所区别。现以云南戒毒机构为中心，试图对两岸三地福音戒毒机构做一横向比较，希冀对当前的禁毒工作有所助益。
国内福音戒毒机构统计：数量、历史、地理和创办原因之比较
从数量上来看，大中国区的两岸三地有超过35所基督教背景的福音戒毒机构，其中香港17所，大陆16所，台湾2所。而一些机构如昆明福音戒毒中心在云南共有8个福音戒毒辅导站，台湾基督教晨曦会在台岛也有13处工作据点，晨曦会在香港有4个据点。考虑到人口与面积因素，香港的福音戒毒机构最为丰富，台湾次之，大陆又次之。
从地理分布来看，大陆的福音戒毒机构大多处在滇粤地区，其实是广东、湖南和福建。其中云南地区的福音戒毒机构几乎占大陆福音戒毒机构的半壁江山。很大原因是由于滇粤地区有其独特的地理因素：云南与“金三角”有着漫长的边界线，则成为毒品泛滥的重灾区，并且呈上升趋势。云南又是中国第二大少数民族聚居区，各个民族的族群意识与散居特点造成了管理上的不便。云南山区较多，尤其在云南西部，交通较为困难。在偏远的农村地带，医疗较为匮乏，娱乐生活相对较少，较多的闲暇时间使他们更容易受毒品引诱。
从创办时间的角度来看，大陆福音戒毒机构成立的时间较为迟缓，最早创办的呈贡陶城福音戒毒辅导站至今尚未满20年。反观港台地区，香港创办至今满20年以上的福音戒毒机构占总数的80%，台湾的2家福音戒毒机构创办至今也已近30周年。其中香港的信义会戒毒所和晨曦会创办至今已逾50周年，是中国乃至亚洲最为老牌的福音戒毒机构。但值得一提的是，大陆近10年来的福音戒毒机构的发展呈上升趋势，而港台的福音戒毒机构发展已趋于缓和，其中台湾呈现一家独大的垄断形势。
从创办者的角度来看，1/3的大陆的福音戒毒所的创办者有吸毒史。不少创办者在戒毒成功后，再回头帮助那些同受毒品之苦的人。事实上，以过来人的身份帮助戒毒者颇能赢得戒毒者的好感，也更能同情体会戒毒的艰辛。云南保山福音戒毒所的教师，几乎一半有过吸毒史，靠福音戒毒成功后，出于对福音戒毒的感恩回报，再回来帮助其他的吸毒者戒毒。
另一些的福音戒毒所由教会创办。创办原因至少可以分为三个方面。第一，出于传教的实际需要。在谈及创办初衷，保山福音戒毒所任先生说：“保山地处边疆，民族复杂，观念保守，大多民众对‘福音’的态度漠然，甚至排斥，传教工作面临不少障碍，难以突破。而福音戒毒工作的成功创办，能够显示‘上帝的大能’，挽回人心，推动传教工作。”
第二，不少福音戒毒所的创办是出于对吸毒者的社会关爱。香港晨曦会的创办者陈保罗牧师回忆创办经历时说，“60年代的香港毒品问题十分严重，每日早晨路经九龙时，常常看见许多骨瘦嶙峋的身躯蹲卧着，屋内乌烟瘴气、恶臭不堪，偶尔看见几个麻布袋从公厕拖出，而里面是死去的吸毒者。”
第三，在政府支持下与世俗戒毒所合作。如广州市基督教青年会在广州市戒毒局的支持下，14年来与各强制戒毒所合作，并于2016年在广州设立戒毒帮教社工站，打造一个以家庭、戒毒所和社会力量为依托的平台。
福音戒毒所的福音性、服务对象、日常活动的比较
福音戒毒所的福音性是福音戒毒所与一般戒毒所最重要的区别，许多教会引用《圣经》，以《圣经》为福音戒毒事工的理论依据，这种做法在很大程度上减轻了教会内部对于福音戒毒的分歧和争议。
在这种独特的理论下，绝大多数福音戒毒所将毒品视为一种“心灵疾病”，而非一种生理疾病，这一点在福音戒毒所的对外宣传中尤为瞩目。香港晨曦会的戒毒原则是“不用药物，不凭己力，只靠耶稣”。保山福音戒毒所在其《戒毒手册》中则将这种解读更为清晰。戒毒不是“毒”的问题，而是“罪”的问题；不是“身体”的问题，而是“心灵”的问题；不是“病”的问题，而是“瘾”的问题。
毒瘾不仅是一种生理疾病，而且是“罪的产物”，戒毒工作也转变成一种“除罪”的工作，因此，加入基督教信仰是这一治疗工作的首要前提。保山福音戒毒所要求来报名的学员必须愿意接受基督教信仰，这一要求成为大陆福音戒毒所的普遍要求，从这一角度来看，大陆福音戒毒的“福音性”较之港台更高。
值得一提的是，港台的福音戒毒机构则普遍没有要求学员加入基督教信仰的强制要求。
这至少有一些如下原因：首先，大陆的福音戒毒所不少是自身成功通过福音戒毒的“过来人”创办，所办规模相对较小，而且大陆的戒毒所往往处在经济较为落后的偏僻乡村，经费较为缺乏，无法顾及众多的吸毒者，因此优先考虑愿意接受基督教信仰的吸毒人员。而港台的福音戒毒所大多位于城市，资金相对充裕，不少福音戒毒所是由外籍传教士创办或受到其协助，对吸毒人员的福音性往往不会太过强调。
其次，大陆的基督教相对比较注重灵修生活与教会牧养，认为不应过多参与世俗事务。反之，港台的基督教大多认为教会应关心社会大众，尤其需要关心社会上弱势群体的生活，并且历来有参与社会服务的传统。
第三，不少大陆教会内部对于这种福音戒毒事工观点不一，许多教会人士对于将信徒奉献集得的资金用于戒毒工作表示不解，认为是一种浪费。
以云南保山福音戒毒所为例，福音戒毒机构的福音性还体现在学员的日常生活以下几个方面：
首先，灵修生活成为学员的主要生活内容。在同意接受基督信仰后，学员会被带到复原室，受到一名工作人员全天24小时的看护，受其照顾与祷告。从进入戒毒中心的一年半内，每天都是以祷告、读经、上课为主。
第二，戒毒学员参与教会互访活动。学员每个月都会到一些教会中作见证，分享自己吸毒、戒毒、“得救”经历，这些内容往往将戒毒和基督教教义联系起来，受到教会信徒的鼓励与支持，这种支持又成为学员的精神力量，形成良性循环。
第三，参与劳动与锻炼。戒毒中心有养殖笼舍、小规模农田和篮球场，学员一天有3小时的劳动与锻炼时间。
值得注意的是，福音戒毒中心的学员绝大部分时间都是以集体活动为主，少有个人时间，这种集体活动加强了群体对内部成员行为的约束力，有助于巩固戒毒的成果。而戒毒的一年半之内是复吸的高峰期，这种群体间彼此为对方祷告、唱诗、劳作和锻炼的方式，无疑增强了群体间的凝聚力与戒毒的信心。
从服务对象来看，大陆福音戒毒机构的服务对象较为单一，港台地区福音戒毒机构的服务对象呈现多元化发展。
据笔者统计，大部分大陆的福音戒毒机构以男性吸毒人员为主，16家福音戒毒机构有13家只为男性吸毒人员提供服务，占总数的81.25%；而香港地区的福音戒毒机构15家中只有7家专为男性吸毒人员服务，占总数的46.7%。
对于为女性吸毒人员提供服务的情况。香港地区有6家为女性吸毒人员服务的福音戒毒机构，其中巴拿巴爱心服务团和方舟行动则专为女性吸毒人员提供服务，而大陆只有广州盛恩重建生命之家一所为女性吸毒人员服务的福音戒毒机构。事实上，大陆女性吸毒人员数量高于港台地区，而女性戒毒机构少于港台，这一点尤为令人抱憾。
在针对青少年吸毒人员的服务方面，据笔者了解，大陆尚未有专门针对青少年吸毒人员的福音戒毒机构，而香港地区有5家为青少年吸毒人员提供服务的福音戒毒机构，其中正生书院、得生团契和新生命事工是专门只服务青少年吸毒人员的福音戒毒机构。
然而令人欣慰的是，无论大陆或港台地区，福音戒毒机构的服务范围呈现多元化发展趋势，所作的也超过戒毒的范围，服务对象也非仅限于华人社会，增加为戒酒、戒烟和戒赌人员、精神病患者如抑郁症患者和艾滋病感染者。
福音戒毒所推广方式、毕业出路之比较
两岸三地福音戒毒所在推广方式上并不相同，大部分大陆福音戒毒所主要通过教会内部推广，以及在当地社区设立宣传栏等方式，较少通过网站或社交媒体在社会上推广或招生。大多数的宣传栏采用较为传统的黑板报的形式，由此推广的受众也较为狭隘。然而港台的福音戒毒机构大多有自己网站，网站上基本涵括戒毒所近期的活动、戒毒见证、戒毒常识、本所简介等。台湾基督教晨曦会和香港部分机构在其网站上还设立网上戒毒辅导室。另外，港台福音戒毒机构大多在社交媒体上有自己的主页和粉丝群，其网站和刊物风格也采用漫画或短视频等较受年轻人喜欢的方式。
在戒毒学员毕业出路方面，大多数的大陆和港台地区的福音戒毒机构学员会重返社会，部分会留在教会服侍等相关工作，两岸三地呈现较为一致的情形。一般福音戒毒机构会让其学员自由选择毕业去向，有的会提供一些职业技能培训，有些选择进修神学，之后留在教会服侍或者成为了戒毒项目同事。
对福音戒毒的评价与建议
回顾两岸三地福音戒毒机构的创办历程，不难发现福音戒毒机构目前呈发展态势。这种将宗教信仰与社会关怀相结合的机构，在一定程度上有助于弥补官方组织对民间弱势群体社会关怀上可能存在的不足，同时也是宗教社会关怀的体现。值得庆幸的是，福音戒毒机构从社会热点的边缘地带，日益受到教界、政界、学界的关注与合作，为福音戒毒机构发展提供一大动力。以保山福音戒毒所为例，作为偏远落后地区的一家戒毒所，近年屡受云南政府和宗教机构的关注和支持，而逐渐成为两岸三地福音戒毒机构中的“新星”。2017年9月，保山福音戒毒所的落成十周年之际，受到保山市政府与基督教两会的褒扬与支持。
可以肯定的是，目前内地福音戒毒已经取得一定成绩，但仍然存在提升空间。
第一， 大部分内地的福音戒毒机构规模较小，在管理的系统性和分工上还有待提高。而港台地区的戒毒所分工较为系统明确，同时对戒毒满一年以上的学员设立专门的“中途之家”，倾向于为他们重返社会做准备，这点值得大陆福音戒毒机构的借鉴。
第二， 大陆福音戒毒机构的服务范围还有待扩展。目前大陆福音戒毒机构主要针对成年男性吸毒人员，对女性和青少年吸毒人员的接收较少，同时服务内容也较为单一，主要是针对吸毒人员。
第三， 不少福音戒毒机构由个人创办，以家庭式为主，在法律层面处于灰色地带，带来一定的法律风险。如能设立法人代表，引入专业的医疗顾问和心理医生等，将会有助于福音戒毒机构的长远发展。
本文原载于“信仰和学术”微信号，本平台蒙允转载，不拥有版权。
国内福音戒毒机构的现状调查
In the past 50 years, more than 30 Christian drug rehabilitation institutions have been established in China to provide drug rehabilitation services. Different from general drug rehabilitation centers, Christian drug rehabilitation institutions treat drug addiction as a spiritual issue. They adhere to the principle of "solely relying on Jesus in place of medication." The root cause of drug addiction is treated through the Christian faith. These institutions are characterized by religious belief, and by independently scattered and private operations. Most Christian rehabilitation institutions in mainland China were founded later than those in Hong Kong or Taiwan. They were often founded because of humanitarian and religious reasons. Their daily program is dominated by religious activities, and their treatment outcome is better than traditional rehabilitation centers. They have made contributions to anti-drug efforts. Regrettably, the academic sector is rarely involved in the study of religious drug rehabilitation institutions and overlooks their innovative thinking in solving the addiction problem. This article sorts out the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in Greater China. It also compares and contrasts the Christian rehabilitation services in the three regions on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, in hope to make this new mode of rehabilitation known to outsiders.
As one of the most difficult health issues to treat, drug addiction has become a problem plaguing China and the world. It is rapidly increasing and affecting the younger population. Although most of the patients have a sense of quitting, the outcome of traditional treatments is not satisfactory. According to research, more than 95% of people with drug addiction problems are aware of the dangers of drugs and are willing to quit. However, they often cannot help themselves with cravings, and cycle between recoveries and relapses. In general, the relapse rate of people with drug addiction problems is higher than 90%. Traditional rehab treatment and forced isolation can alleviate patients' physical dependence on drugs to a certain extent, but patients' "psychological dependence" on drugs is often difficult to eradicate.
In recent years, drug control as a hot-button social issue has attracted more and more attention from the government and non-government. Many charitable organizations in the regions on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have participated in rehabilitation services, including Christian drug rehabilitation institutions. These institutions are different from traditional rehabilitation centers in terms of founding beliefs, treatment approaches, marketing, and treatment outcome. Centered on those in Yunnan, this article compares and contrasts the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in the three regions on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, in hope to benefit the current drug control efforts.
Statistics of Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in Greater China: comparisons on quantity, history, locations, and founding reasons
In terms of number, there are more than 35 Christian rehabilitation institutions in Greater China, including 17 in Hong Kong, 16 in mainland China, and two in Taiwan. Some institutions operate in multiple locations. For instance, Kunming Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center has eight locations in Yunnan; Operation Dawn has 13 locations in Taiwan and four in Hong Kong. If the sizes of population and area are taken into consideration, Hong Kong has the most number of Christian drug rehabilitation institutions per capita, followed by Taiwan, and then mainland China.
In terms of geographical location, most of the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in mainland China are gathered in Greater Yunnan and Guangdong, which are Guangdong, Hunan, and Fujian, to be precise. Among them, those in Yunnan account for almost half of the total in mainland China. This is due to the unique geographical features of Greater Yunnan and Guangdong. Yunnan shares a long border with the "Golden Triangle," and has become the hardest hit area for substance abuse. Its drug problem is escalating. Yunnan is also the second-largest region in China where ethnic minorities reside. Strong ethnic awareness and dispersed inhabitants of these minority groups have caused difficulties in management. Yunnan is mountainous, especially in the west, where accessibility becomes an issue. In remote rural areas, people are more susceptible to substance abuse because medical care is relatively scarce, entertainment is very limited, and there is more free time.
In chronological order, the establishment of Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in mainland China is relatively recent. It was less than 20 years ago when Chenggong Taocheng Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center was established as the earliest of its kind. In contrast, 80% of those in Hong Kong were established more than 20 years ago. In Taiwan, it has been nearly 30 years since the establishment of the two Christian drug rehabilitation institutions. Among them, the Lutheran Church Drug Rehabilitation Center and Operation Dawn in Hong Kong have been running for more than 50 years. They are the oldest Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in greater China and even Asia. It is worth mentioning that the development of the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in mainland China in the past 10 years has shown an upward trend, while the development of those in Hong Kong and Taiwan has tended to ease. The service becomes a dominant monopoly in Taiwan.
With regard to founders, one-third of the founders of the Christian drug rehabilitation centers in mainland China have a history of addiction. After they successfully recovered, they had offered help in return to those who suffer from addictions. In fact, those who recover are generally well-received by and can empathize with people with additional problems. Almost half of the teachers in Baoshan Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center in Yunnan Province have a history of addiction. Out of their gratitude for the gospel-based rehabilitation, they help others with additional problems in turn after their recovery.
There are some other Christian drug rehabilitation centers established by churches. Three main reasons are found for churches to establish a rehabilitation center. The first is for the practical needs of missions. When talking about the original intention of its founding, Mr. Ren of Baoshan Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center said, "Baoshan is located in the border, with diverse ethnic groups and conservatives. Most of the people are indifferent to or even reject the gospel. It is difficult to break through the roadblocks in the missionary field. The successful development of the Christian drug rehabilitation program can witness the 'power of God', restore people's hearts, and promote missionary work."
The second reason is that many Christian drug rehabilitation centers are founded out of humanitarian care for people with additional problems. Pastor Paul Chen, the founder of Operation Dawn, recalled his experience in founding, "The addiction problem in Hong Kong was significant in the 1960s. When passing Kowloon every morning, I often saw scrawny bodies squatting or lying there. The houses were full of smoke and foul smelling. Occasionally there were burlap bags dragged out from public restrooms. Inside the bags were those who died from drug addiction."
Partnerships with secular drug rehabilitation centers under the support of the government are the third reason for founding a rehabilitation center. For example, with the support of the Guangzhou Drug Rehabilitation Bureau, Guangzhou YMCA has collaborated with various compulsory drug rehabilitation centers for 14 years. In 2016, it established the social work station of rehabilitation assistance and education in Guangzhou to create a platform based on families, rehabilitation centers, and community resources.
Comparison of Christian components, populations served, and daily activities of Christian drug rehabilitation centers
Gospel-based is the most important difference between Christian drug rehabilitation centers and general ones. Many churches cite and use the Bible as the theoretical foundation for Christian drug rehabilitation. This approach has greatly alleviated the division and controversy within the church over Christian drug rehabilitation.
Under this unique ideology, the vast majority of Christian drug rehabilitation centers consider addictions as a "mental issue" rather than a physical one. This is particularly noticeable in the external communications of Christian drug rehabilitation institutions. The treatment principle of Operation Dawn in Hong Kong is "solely rely on Jesus in place of medication or self-reliance." Baoshan Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center explains clearly in its Drug Rehabilitation Manual that rehabilitation is about “sin” rather than “drug”; it is spiritual rather than physical; it is a matter of “addiction” rather than “disease.”
Drug addiction is not only a physical health issue, but also a "product of sin." The work of drug rehab is transformed into a work of "sin removal." Therefore, professing Christian faith is the primary premise of the treatment. Baoshan Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center requires that those who sign up for the program must be willing to profess Christian faith. This has become a typical requirement of the Christian drug rehabilitation centers in mainland China. From this point of view, the "Christian nature" of the Christian drug rehabilitation in mainland China is stronger than that of Hong Kong and Taiwan. It is worth mentioning that the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in Hong Kong and Taiwan generally do not require clients to convert their faith.
There are at least a few reasons for this: First, many of the Christian drug rehabilitation centers in mainland China are founded by “recovered people” who have succeeded in Christian drug rehabilitation. Due to the lack of funds, they cannot accommodate a large number of clients. Priority is given to those who are willing to profess the Christian faith. Most of the Christian drug rehabilitation centers in Hong Kong and Taiwan are located in cities, with relatively abundant funds. They are founded or assisted by foreign missionaries, and the evangelistic nature is often not emphasized as much.
Secondly, Christian churches in mainland China pay more attention to spiritual life and pastoral care. They do not think that being overly involved in secular affairs is necessary. In contrast, most Christians in Hong Kong and Taiwan believe that churches should care about the general public, especially the disadvantaged in communities. It has always been a tradition to participate in community services.
Thirdly, believers’ views on the rehab programs are divided within many churches in mainland China. They are puzzled about using believers’ financial offerings to support drug rehabilitation services. It is a waste of funds from their standpoint.
Taking Baoshan Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center in Yunnan as an example, the evangelical feature of the Center is reflected in the following daily activities:
First of all, spiritual life becomes the main content of daily activities. After professing their faith, the clients are taken to the recovery room, where a staff member prays and cares for them 24 hours a day. For a year and a half since the admission, the daily activities have been centered on praying, reading the Bible, and attending classes.
Secondly, church visits are scheduled every month for the clients to participate. During the visits, the clients share their testimonies and experiences of drug addiction, rehabilitation, and "salvation". Their sharing often links the treatment with Christian teachings. The encouragement and support they receive from the church members become their source of strength. This approach has created a virtuous cycle.
Thirdly, work and exercise are part of the treatment. The Center has breeding cages, small-scale farmland, and basketball courts. There are 3 hours of work and exercise every day.
It is worth noting that most Christian drug rehabilitation institutions focus on group activities and give their clients little personal time. Group activities help increase the accountability of group members and consolidate the treatment outcome. Within a year and a half of rehabilitation is the peak period of relapse. Group cohesion is enhanced through praying for each other and engaging in singing, working, and exercising in groups. This approach helps the clients gain confidence in the rehabilitation.
In terms of populations served, the clients in mainland China are relatively homogeneous, while the Christian rehab programs in Hong Kong and Taiwan are more inclusive.
According to the author’s statistics, thirteen of the 16 Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in mainland China serve mainly male clients, accounting for 81.25% of the total. In Hong Kong, seven of the 15 provide treatment to males only, which is 46.7% of the total.
Regarding the services available to female clients, there are 6 Christian drug rehab institutions in Hong Kong geared towards this population. Among them are Barnabas Charitable Service Association and Ark Action of Christian New Life Association. In mainland China, only Guangzhou Shengen Life Reconstruction Home provides services for females. In fact, the number of females with drug addiction in mainland China is higher than that in Hong Kong and Taiwan, but the number of female rehab programs is the other way around. That is particularly disappointing.
To the author’s knowledge, there is no Christian drug rehabilitation institution specifically targeting youths in mainland China. In Hong Kong, there are 5 institutions that take youths. Among them, Christian Zheng Sheng College, The Christian New Being Fellowship, and New Life Ministries solely provide services for youths.
However, it is encouraging to see a diversified development trend in the services provided by the Christian drug rehabilitation programs no matter in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan. The programs go beyond drug rehab and include rehab programs for addictions to alcohol, nicotine, and gambling. Some even serve AIDS patients and people with mental health issues such as depression.
Comparison of program marketing and vocational choices of the program graduates
The marketing approaches of the Christian drug rehabilitation centers differ from region to region. Those in mainland China primarily promote the services within churches and by setting up billboards in local communities. Most of the billboards are in the form of traditional blackboards, which has limited the population reached. It is rare to promote or recruit clients through websites or social media. However, most of the Christian drug rehab institutions in Hong Kong and Taiwan run their own websites to post recent activities, testimonies, educational rehabilitation information, and the introduction of the institution. Operation Dawn in Taiwan and some institutions in Hong Kong even set up online counseling rooms on their websites. In addition, they organize groups of fans on social media. Their websites and publications contain cartoons and short videos, making them popular among young people.
In terms of vocational choices, most program graduates have re-entered the communities, and there is not much difference in this regard across the regions. Some serve in churches and other related jobs. Generally, the institutions allow their graduates to freely choose their vocational direction. Some programs provide vocational skills training. Graduates sometimes choose to study theology and stay to serve in the church or work in the rehab program.
Evaluation and Suggestions on Christian drug rehabilitation
Reflecting on the history of Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in the three places on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, it is not difficult to find that these institutions are developing. To some degree, these kinds of institutions that combine religious belief with humanitarian care help make up for the possible insufficiency of government organizations in care for the disadvantaged. It is also a manifestation of the humanitarian care of religions. Fortunately, from the periphery of the social hot-button, Christian drug rehabilitation institutions have increasingly received attention and partnerships from the religious, political, and academic sectors, providing great impetus for the development of these rehab institutions. Take Baoshan Christian Drug Rehabilitation Center as an example. Although it is in a remote and underdeveloped area, it has received the attention and support of Yunnan government and religious institutions in recent years. It has gradually become a "new star" among the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions across the regions. In September 2017, it was acknowledged on its tenth anniversary and supported by Baoshan Municipal Government and the Christian Council.
It is evident that the Christian drug rehab programs in mainland China have been successful even though there is still room for improvement.
First, most of the Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in mainland China are small in scale, and their management systems and team collaboration need to be improved. The roles and collaboration of teams are better defined in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The institutions in these two places also set up a "halfway home" for the clients who have been enrolled for more than one year. This is to better prepare for their return to communities and a mechanism worth considering for the programs in mainland China.
Second, the program scope of Christian drug rehabilitation institutions in mainland China has yet to be expanded. For the time being, they mainly target adult males and seldom accept females and teenagers. The services provided are primarily for drug rehabilitation and less diversified in comparison with those in Hong Kong or Taiwan.
Third, many Christian drug rehabilitation institutions are founded by individuals and operate within families. They are situated in a gray area at the legal level, which could result in legal issues. If a legal representative can be established with professional medical consultants and psychiatrists on duty, it will benefit the long-term development of the Christian drug rehabilitation institution.
(This article was originally published on the WeChat account of Faith and Learning, a Christian academic magazine on Chinese Christianity. CCD reprinted with permission and does not own the copyright.)
- Translated by June I. Chen
A Survey on the Christian Drug Rehabilitation Institutions in China
