NCJ Number
134691
Journal
Journal of Adolescent Chemical Dependency Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (1991) Pages: 115-137
Date Published
1991
Length
23 pages
Annotation
Adolescent drug abusers and adolescents with other problems may join cults as means of addressing their malaise; therefore, clinicians who work with these adolescents must identify and address cultism to aid the youth in reaching the goals of recovery and adulthood.
Abstract
Cults include political cults, religious cults, and psychotherapy cults. Youths may experience cult membership as highly rewarding in the short term. However, such groups may not provide what is sufficient either for meaningful recovery from addiction or for resolution of developmental issues. Moreover, when membership in the cult ends, the youth experiences immense problems of reentry into society and the family. Clinicians must be alert to the signs of hidden cultism within seemingly conventional religious, political, and therapeutic organizations; expose formerly addicted cult members to recovery fellowships; avoid devaluing the cult experience of the recovering youth; and address the mental status of the cult member. Note and 32 references