FEMINIST APPROACH FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRUG-ABUSING WOMEN IN A COED THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY

• NCJ Number: 66253
• Journal: International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 14 Issue: 5 Dated: (4979) Pages: 589-597
• Author(s): L MANDEL; J SCHULMAN; R MONTEIRO
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Marcel Dekker Journals
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FEMALE ADDICTS' EXPERIENCES IN A FEMINIST AWARENESS GROUP WITHIN A COED THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY SHOW THAT THE INTERVENTION RESULTED IN MORE TRUST AMONG THE WOMEN AND GAINS IN SELF-RESPECT.

Abstract

FOR A PERIOD OF 16 MONTHS, A WEEKLY 1- TO 2-HOUR GROUP WAS HELD IN WHICH MEMBERS PARTICIPATED VOLUNTARILY. ATTENDANCE RANGED FROM 10 TO 20 WOMEN IN ANY GIVEN WEEK. THE WOMEN RANGED IN AGE FROM 17 TO 43 YEARS, AND APPROXIMATELY 57 PERCENT WERE WHITE, 33 PERCENT BLACK, 7 PERCENT OF SPANISH SURNAME, AND 3 PERCENT ASIAN. MOST OF THE WOMEN CAME FROM WORKING CLASS FAMILIES, WERE FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, HAD HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATIONS, WERE MARRIED, AND HAD RESORTED TO PROSTITUTION AND OTHER ILLICIT ACTIVITES AS A MEANS OF SELF-SUPPORT. THROUGH DIDACTIC PRESENTATIONS AND FILMS AND READINGS, GROUP LEADERS EDUCATED THE WOMEN IN NUTRITION, EXERCISE, BIRTH CONTROL, AND SEXUALITY. THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES EMPLOYED INCLUDED ROLE PLAYING, BODY AWARENESS EXERCISES, ASSERTION EXERCISES, ART THERAPY, CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING, VALUES CLARIFICATION, AND MANY RADICAL FEMINIST THERAPY EXERCISES. THE MOST BASIC TECHNIQUE WAS DISCUSSION; TWO SUCCESSFUL 24-HOUR MARATHONS WERE ALSO HELD DURING WHICH THE WOMEN WERE ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY AND A SERIES OF INTENSIVE THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES WERE USED. SOME WOMEN EXPRESSED RESISTANCE TO THE GROUP THROUGH TARDINESS, ABSENCE, AND PARTICULARLY THROUGH THEIR FEARS OF SELF-DISCLOSURE. DURING THE GROUP EXPERIENCE, NO INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP EMERGED AMONG THE WOMEN, PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY HAD NO PRIOR LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AND FELT NO COMMITMENT TO THE GROWTH OF OTHERS. HOWEVER, THE WOMEN DEVELOPED A DEEPER SENSE OF TRUST AND FREER COMMUNICATION AMONG THEMSELVES, GREATER INTEREST IN BIRTH CONTROL AND NUTRITION, A REDUCED SENSE OF ALIENATION, MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD CHILD CARE, AND MORE SELF-ESTEEM. SUGGESTIONS FOR FEMINIST THERAPY TECHNIQUES ARE NOTED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)