NCJ Number
47806
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
FIVE DISTINCT LIFESTYLES ASSOCIATED WITH ADDICTION ARE DESCRIBED ON THE BASIS OF INTERVIEWS WITH 150 PERSONS RELEASED FROM FEDERAL PRISON TO AFTERCARE IN LOS ANGELES, CALIF., UNDER THE NATIONAL ADDICT REHABILITATION ACT.
Abstract
THE FIVE LIFESTYLES ARE EXPRESSIVE STUDENT, SOCIAL WORLD ALTERNATOR, LOW-RIDER, BARRIO ADDICT, AND GHETTO HUSTLER. THE FIRST TWO COME PRIMARILY FROM MIDDLE OR UPPER CLASS SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS, WHILE THE LAST THREE ARE FROM WORKING CLASS OR IMPOVERISHED HOMES. BARRIO ADDICTS ARE MOSTLY MEXICAN-AMERICAN; GHETTO ADDICTS ARE MOSTLY BLACK; SOCIAL WORLD ALTERNATORS ARE MIXED ETHNICALLY; AND EXPRESSIVE STUDENTS, WHO ALL SHARE SOME FORM OF INTELLECTUAL OR QUASI-INTELLECTUAL (HIPPIE) COUNTERCULTURE, APPEAR TO BE THE MOST RECEPTIVE TO REHABILITATION AND THE MOST REACHABLE THROUGH GROUP THERAPY, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO TRYING TO GUIDE THEIR LIVES BY INTELLECTUAL PROCESSES, AND BECAUSE INCARCERATION IS EXTREMELY REPUGNANT TO THEM. SOCIAL WORLD ALTERNATORS, WHO MOVE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ROLES IN LIFE (E.G., THE PIMP/ADDICTION THERAPIST AND THE FILMMAKER/ADDICT), ARE LIKELY TO PROVIDE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS WITH BOTH SPECTACULAR SUCCESSES AND DRAMATIC FAILURES. LOW-RIDERS (DEFIANT, AGGRESSIVE PERSONS, E.G., MOTORCYCLE GANG MEMBERS AND STREET GANG MEMBERS), BARRIO ADDICTS, AND GHETTO HUSTLERS ARE POORER REHABILITATION RISKS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE POORER PROSPECTS OF ACHIEVING A LEGITIMATE WAY OF LIFE AS GRATIFYING TO THEM AS THEIR CAREERS IN CRIME AND ADDICTION. THESE GROUPS REQUIRE DRASTIC EFFORTS IN ORDER TO ALTER THEIR EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCES AND THEIR SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)