NCJ Number
112939
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 52 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1988) Pages: 4-9
Date Published
1988
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The chemical dependency treatment program for both alcoholics and drug addicts at the Eagleville Hospital (Pennsylvania) uses systems therapy to change patients from their 'old selves' (addicts) to their 'new selves' (ex-addicts).
Abstract
The old self and the new self consist of three major subcomponents: behavior, the physiological self, and the psychophysiological self. Behavioral aspects are activities (job, school, sports), relationships, self-reliance, honesty, self-respect, respect for others, self-worth, values, planning/constructive thinking, self-discovery, self-awareness, acceptance, and decisionmaking. The physiological self involves habits of eating, sleeping, general health, and physical fitness. The psychophysiological self is comprised of the drug urge, sobriety, maturity, and hygiene. The four-pronged change strategy consists of system introspection, process learning, adapting environment, and self-confrontation. Systems introspection entails examining the components of the old self; process learning involves becoming familiar with the characteristics of the new self (ex-addict); adapting environment examines all the contributing factors of a life of chemical dependency; and self-confrontation involves the patient's making daily realistic appraisals of successes and failures. 46 references.