NCJ Number
164521
Date Published
1996
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Amity Pioneer Ranch is a therapeutic community (TC) for juvenile drug abusers in Arizona and is operated by a nonprofit drug treatment, prevention, and research organization.
Abstract
Data on the 1993 participants revealed that most participants were involved in delinquent behavior and many were gang members. Most referrals came from the Arizona Department of Corrections. All participants were polydrug users. Amity has modified the traditional TC program, which rests on the belief that the youth must make a global change in lifestyle, because drug use is a symptom of the person's disorder and not the essence of the disorder. Amity assumes that most of the referred youths come from dysfunctional homes where family life was chaotic and whether they experienced traumatic events. The program consider the resolution of underlying psychogenetic material to be of primary importance, although skill building is also important. The bulk of deep psychological work is accomplished during participation in retreats. Amity tries to engage the family as soon as possible by means of telephone contact, family orientations, family picnics, family groups, family therapy sessions, and family workshops. Unfortunately, transition back into the wider community is a difficult challenge. Longitudinal data on those who take part in TC treatment as adolescents are lacking and need to be collected to clarify the full effects of adolescent intervention and treatment. Tables and 15 references