NCJ Number
48385
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
BRIEF HISTORIES OF SIX THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES DEALING PRIMARILY WITH DRUG ABUSERS THROUGH A COMMON PHILOSOPHY EMPHASIZING PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT OF CLIENTS ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
IN 1968 THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH PUBLISHED A CIRCULAR STRESSING THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM REHABILITATION OF EX-ADDICTS. CONCEPT HOUSES ARE CONSIDERED PART OF THE RESPONSE TO THIS NEED. PROGRAMS IN THE SIX HOUSES PRESENTLY OPERATING ARE BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT DRUG ABUSE IS A SYMPTOM OF THE USER'S INABILITY TO TAKE CHARGE OF HIS OWN LIFE AND DEAL WITH HIS PROBLEMS WITHOUT THE ESCAPE MECHANISM PROVIDED IN THE MIND-ALTERING EFFECTS OF DRUGS. UPON ENTERING CONCEPT HOUSES, CLIENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ABSTAIN FROM ALL DRUG USE AS A PRELIMINARY TO DEALING WITH THEIR UNDERLYING PROBLEMS. THE ORGANIZATION OF EACH HOUSE IS BASED ON A HIGHLY STRUCTURED HIERARCHY, CREATING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RESPONSIBLE POSTS WITHIN WHICH RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO FUNCTION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY LIFE. FAILURE TO PERFORM RESPONSIBLY RESULTS IN DEMOTION TO A LOWER LEVEL IN THE HIERARCHY. THE INTENTION IS TO STRUCTURE THE LIFE OF THE HOUSE TO PARALLEL SOCIETY'S STRUCTURE SO THAT ADAPTIVE SKILLS ARE LEARNED AND FAILURE EXPERIENCES ARE RESOLVED WITHOUT SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR. THE STAFFS, WHICH CONSIST OF A NUMBER OF EX-ADDICTS, PROVIDE BOTH AN INFORMAL AND STRUCTURED ATMOSPHERE WITHIN WHICH FEELINGS ARE EXPRESSED AND ANALYZED, AND BEHAVIOR IS EVALUATED WITHIN A CLIMATE OF ACCEPTANCE AND AFFIRMATION OF A CLIENT'S POTENTIAL FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT. EVENTS SURROUNDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH HOUSE ARE DESCRIBED. THE MOST RECENT HOUSE ESTABLISHED EMPLOYS THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE OTHER HOUSES IN TREATING RECIDIVISTS WHO MAY NOT NECESSARILY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN DRUG ABUSE. (RCB)