SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES FOR PROFESSIONALS (FROM INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY CORRECTIONS AND THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, 12TH ANNUAL INTERAGENCY WORKSHOP - PROCEEDINGS, 1977 SEE NCJ-50660)

• NCJ Number: 50668
• Author(s): R R COHN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Sam Houston State University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

SOME OF THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN TRAINING DRUG COUNSELORS FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS ARE DISCUSSED, AND A TRAINING APPROACH USED IS DESCRIBED, AND THE UNIQUE PROBLEM OF WOMEN DRUG ABUSERS IS BRIEFLY CONSIDERED.

Abstract

IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WHILE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRAINING PARAPROFESSIONALS TO HELP SUBSTANCE ABUSER FREQUENTLY FALLS UPON PROFESSIONALS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD, THESE PROFESSIONALS ARE HAMPERED IN THIS ENDEAVOR BY A LACK OF DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN THE DRUG SUBCULTURE AND AN ABSENCE OF SOLID RESEARCH DATA FROM WHICH TO DRAW FOR TEACHING CONTENT. TRAINING EFFORTS BY SUCH PROFESSIONALS ARE ALSO COMPLICATED BY THE VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS REPRESENTED IN THOSE WHO SEEK TRAINING IN THE COUNSELING OF SUBSTANCE ABUSERS. THE TRAINING PROGRAM DESCRIBED EVOLVED OUT OF EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES. THE TRAINING IS DESCRIBED AS A 'PROCESS' APPROACH TO LEARNING. PROCESS LEARNING MOVES THE TRAINEE INTO AN ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INFORMATION GIVEN AND ON TO AN EXPLORATION OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF CERTAIN DRUG TAKING BEHAVIORS. THE TRAINING PROGRAM INCLUDES A 2-HOUR DAILY UNSTRUCTURED SMALL GROUP INTERACTION LED BY A FACILITATOR TRAINED IN GROUP DYNAMICS AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS. THE FACILITATOR'S TASK IS TO ENABLE GROUP MEMBERS TO BECOME MORE AWARE OF THEIR PERSONAL ATTITUDES AND VALUES, AS WELL AS HOW THEY COMMUNICATE THEM TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. THE INTENT OF THIS TRAINING IS TO DEVELOP COUNSELORS WHO CAN ENGAGE DRUG ABUSERS IN THIS SAME KIND OF EXAMINATION OF SELF AND SELF-EXPRESSION. THE PARAPROFESSIONAL IS THUS TRAINED BY THE PROFESSIONAL TO CONCEPTUALIZE THE COUNSELING PROCESS AND DEVELOP THERAPEUTIC TOOLS AND SKILLS. THE TRAINING ALSO INCLUDES A DISCUSSION OF VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL TREATMENT MODALITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY EX-ADDICTS IN STORE FRONT TYPE PROGRAMS. NOTING THAT SEXIST ATTITUDES OFTEN IMPEDE THE TREATMENT OF WOMEN ADDICTS, THIS IS ALSO GIVEN ATTENTION IN THE TRAINING. WORKING WITH MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VOLUNTARY VERSUS FORCED TREATMENT ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. (RCB)