THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES (FROM HANDBOOK ON DRUG ABUSE, 1979, BY ROBERT DUPONT AND AVRAM GOLDSTEIN - SEE NCJ-57805)

• NCJ Number: 57809
• Author(s): G DELEON; M S ROSENTHAL
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE CHARACTERISTICS AND ADVANTAGES OF THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES (TC) AS ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FOR DRUG ABUSERS ARE DISCUSSED AS WELL AS TC CLIENTS AND RESEARCH ON THE OUTCOMES OF TC TREATMENT REGIMENS.

Abstract

TC REGIMEN INCLUDES ENCOUNTER-GROUP THERAPY, TUTORIAL-LEARNING SESSIONS, REMEDIAL AND FORMAL EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, RESIDENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS, AND, IN THE LATER STAGES, CONVENTIONAL OCCUPATIONS FOR CLIENTS IN LIVING-OUT SITUATIONS. THE PRIMARY STAFF ARE NONDEGREED PROFESSIONALS, USUALLY FORMER OFFENDERS, ADDICTS, AND ALCOHOL ABUSERS, WHO THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN REHABILITATED IN THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. DEGREED PROFESSIONALS IN VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE, EDUCATION, MEDICINE, AND OTHER PERTINENT FIELDS ARE INCLUDED ON THE STAFFS OF THE LARGER TC'S. THE FUNDAMENTAL TC CONCEPT IS BASED ON THE NEED FOR A TOTAL 24-HOUR COMMUNITY MILIEU TO MODIFY LIFELONG DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR PATTERNS. THE BASIC GOAL IS TO EFFECT ABSTINENCE FROM DRUGS AND ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT OF EMPLOYABLE SKILLS AND PERSONAL HONESTY. STUDIES ON THE OUTCOME AND EFFECTIVENESS OF TC REVEAL THAT IMMEDIATE AND LONG TERM OUTCOME STATUS OF CLIENTS ARE IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE PRETREATMENT STATUS; BENEFICIAL EFFECTS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO TIME SPENT IN TC TREATMENT; RETENTION IN THE PROGRAM RANGES BETWEEN 20 AND 70 PERCENT AND THIS RETENTION IS RELATED TO RESIDENTIAL TIME IN THE PROGRAM; READMISSION TO TREATMENT AFTER RELAPSE RANGES FROM 30 TO 60 PERCENT AND MOST OF THESE FORMER CLIENTS WERE NOT LONG TERM PATIENTS; AND CLIENTS ARE LIKELY TO BE MINORITY MEMBERS WITH INADEQUATE EDUCATION AND UNSTABLE FAMILY BACKGROUNDS. STUDY DATA ALSO SUGGEST THAT ATTENTION SHOULD GIVEN TO REFINING THE MATCH BETWEEN CLIENT AND TREATMENT AND TC'S SHOULD TARGET SPECIFIC CLIENTELE (E.G., ADOLESCENT DRUG ABUSERS, HOMELESS AND LATENCY-AGED CHILDREN, WOMEN), THAT FUTURE RESEARCH SHOULD FOCUS ON ENHANCING TREATMENT QUALITY, AND THAT PROGRAMS SHOULD BE PROVIDING BETTER MANAGEMENT. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. FOR RELATED ARTICLES, PLEASE SEE NCJ 57805-57808 AND 57810-57834. (DAG)