GROUP WORK WITH ALCOHOLIC, POLYDRUG-INVOLVED ADOLESCENTS WITH DEVIANT BEHAVIOR SYNDROME

• NCJ Number: 56533
• Journal: Social Work With Groups Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1978) Pages: 39-52
• Author(s): P CITRON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT CONSIDERATIONS ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF GROUP SOCIAL WORK WITH DRUG- OR ALCOHOL-ADDICTED YOUTHS WHOSE ANTISOCIAL CONDUCT HAS LED TO ARRESTS.

Abstract

TRADITIONAL FORMS OF CASEWORK AND PSYCHOTHERAPY ARE OF LITTLE USE TO SERIOUSLY DRUG-INVOLVED YOUTHS, WHO ARE LIKELY TO DENY THEIR PROBLEMS AND TURN AWAY FROM HELP. A PSYCHODYNAMIC ORIENTATION IS NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND THE INTERNAL TURMOIL OF THESE YOUTHS, BUT TREATMENT MUST FOCUS ON SUSTAINING THEM THROUGH THE HAZARDS OF ADOLESCENCE AND YOUNG ADULTHOOD. THE BEHAVIOR OF ADDICTED, DEVIANT YOUTHS CONSTITUTES A PLEA FOR HELP. THEIR ACTIONS SEEM DESIGNED TO FORCE SOCIETY TO INTERVENE IN THEIR SELF-DESTRUCTION. THERAPISTS MUST BE AWARE OF THE SUBTLETIES IN DIAGNOSING ADOLESCENT ADDICTION AND IN RECOGNIZING SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT. FOR INSTANCE, THE MOVE FROM HEROIN TO ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA DENOTES A DEVELOPMENT IN EGO STRENGTH AND COPING SKILLS. COURT-ORDERED TREATMENT FOR DELINQUENTS HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THERAPISTS TO REACH MANY ADDICTED YOUTHS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE GONE UNTREATED. THE ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS APPROACH HAS PROVED HELPFUL FOR MANY ADDICTED ADOLESCENTS. YOUNGER ADOLESCENTS OFTEN REQUIRE INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, BUT OLDER YOUTHS RESPOND BEST TO GROUP THERAPY. IN A GROUP, YOUTHS CAN FIND A NOURISHING, SUPPORTIVE MILIEU IN WHICH TO DEVELOP THE JUDGMENT, COPING SKILLS, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITIES THEY NEED TO RECOGNIZE AND DEAL WITH THEIR ADDICTION AND THE PREDICAMENTS THAT STEM FROM IT. GROUP WORK OFFERS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FOR THERAPISTS, WHO WILL FIND BOTH INTENSE NEEDS AND GREAT SURVIVAL STRENGTHS IN THEIR YOUNG CLIENTS. A DESCRIPTION OF A GROUP SESSION INVOLVING YOUNG MEN WITH HISTORIES OF DELINQUENCY, POLYDRUG ADDICTION, ALCOHOLISM, AND EXTREME DEFICITS IN PARENTAL NURTURING (OFTEN DUE TO THE ALCOHOLISM OF PARENTS) ILLUSTRATES THE GROUP PROCESS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)