FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS' ADDICT TREATMENT PROGRAM (FROM AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION - PROCEEDINGS OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNUAL CONGRESS OF CORRECTION SEE NCJ-02840)

• NCJ Number: 10109
• Author(s): G M FARKAS
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: American Correctional Association
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT ACA MEETING, CINCINNATI, OH, OCT 11-15, 1970

Annotation

THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES AND PROGRAMS AIDING IN THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF ADDICT OFFENDERS WERE LAUNCHED UNDER THE NARCOTIC ADDICT REHABILITATION ACT.

Abstract

SERVICES OFFERED BY SPECIALIZED NARA TREATMENT UNITS PROVIDE A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE NARCOTIC ADDICT CAN LEARN TO COMMUNICATE AND TO ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS RESOCIALIZATION. EACH NARCOTICS TREATMENT COMMUNITY UTILIZES DIFFERENT FORMS OF THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES. SOME TRAIN SELECTED INMATES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THERAPY SESSIONS IN WHICH ADDICTS CAN ACHIEVE MATURITY AND MENTAL HEALTH. OTHERS EMPLOY THE 'LINKER' CONCEPT IN WHICH TRAINED EX-ADDICTS FUNCTION AS QUASI-STAFF MEMBERS AND CO-THERAPISTS. ONE PROGRAM USES THE CONCEPT OF REALITY THERAPY WHERE AN INMATE'S BEHAVIOR IS SCRUTINIZED, PARTICULARLY THE MANNER IN WHICH HE ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY. NARA PROGRAM INCLUDES AFTERCARE AS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT. THE AFTERCARE SERVICES INVOLVE CORRECTIVE AND PREVENTIVE COUNSELING, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP THERAPY, SELF HELP GROUPS, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING, AND CONSULTATION SERVICES. THE USE OF EX-ADDICTS IN SELF HELP GROUPS HAS PROVED PARTICULARLY SUCCESSFUL.