#368 - Dr. Hines "After Sobriety: The Habits That Remain" | Mark E. Shaw#368 - Dr. Hines "After Sobriety: The Habits That Remain" | Mark E. Shaw
The Addiction Connection Podcast
Mark E. Shaw shares Dr. Bill Hines’ eight-part framework for life after sobriety, emphasising heart change, biblical thinking, and practical habits. The discussion focuses on faith in Jesus, accountability, and persistent growth beyond simply quitting substances.
20:00•29 Jun 2026
After Sobriety: The Eight Habits Dr. Hines Says Still Matter
Episode Overview
- Sobriety is only the beginning; ongoing growth and heart change are still needed after substances stop.
- Real change starts with a right attitude, preparing the mind for action and committing to God’s process out of love and faith.
- Struggles should be described with clear biblical terms rather than clinical labels, so that relevant scripture can be applied.
- Prayer and accountability with a trusted Christian friend are central for gaining insight, strength, and consistency.
- A written, practical plan that replaces sinful habits with God‑pleasing actions helps maintain progress, even after stumbles.
“After you're sober, you still got to grow. You still got to become more like Jesus.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This episode of The Addiction Connection Podcast zeroes in on what happens after the drinking and drug use stop, and why that’s only the start of real change. Host Mark E. Shaw talks through his friend Dr. Bill Hines’ article “After Sobriety: The Habits That Remain” and outlines Hines’ eight-part “paradigm for change” aimed at Christians coming out of addiction.
Rather than quick fixes or labels, the focus is on ongoing heart change through faith in Jesus. You’ll hear Mark stress that sobriety is hard work because old patterns linger: deceit, self‑medicating, and swapping one behaviour for another. As he puts it bluntly, “After you’re sober, you still got to grow.
You still got to become more like Jesus.” The episode walks through practical steps like having the right attitude (“preparing your minds for action”), honestly identifying specific sins rather than hiding behind clinical terms, and finding clear biblical language for struggles such as fear, anger, despair, and drunkenness. Prayer and accountability play a big role.
Mark describes the value of a “trusted Christian friend” who can help expose blind spots and hold you to your commitments, pushing back against the modern message of just “being strong” in your own power. There’s also a strong emphasis on writing down a concrete plan, putting off sinful habits, putting on God‑pleasing actions, and sticking with the process even when you stumble.
Finally, Mark reminds listeners not to obsess over sobriety to the point of neglecting the rest of life, urging a broader walk “in a manner worthy of the calling” rather than a narrow focus on not using. If you’re sober or hoping to be, and wondering what comes next, which of these eight habits sounds most urgent for you?
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