Our ethnographic study on help-seeking pathways of Latino immigrants in northern California reveals that they turn to anexos in their treatment and recovery quest. Anexos are linguistically- and culturally-specific recovery houses with origins in Mexico and Alcoholics Anonymous and a long history in Latino communities across the United States. Drawing on the findings of our study, we characterize the anexos and compare them to other recovery residences using National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) criteria. The description and comparison reveal that anexos cannot be placed into a single NARR residence category. We discuss why this is the case.
This article describes Hong Kong's overall youth drug abuse situation and the society's prevention and intervention with focus on Christian Zheng Sheng College, the only high school that provides drug abuse treatment and recovery services in Hong Kong. Through literature review, site visit, and interview, researchers study the school's Holistic Interactive Therapeutic Community model, its interrelated four emphases, spiritual life, community life, laboring and schooling through the lens of holism, and typical treatment means the school uses. Limitation and future research possibilities are included in the end of the study.
The objective of the current study is to investigate the association between time in treatment and participants' perceptions of the treatment process in therapeutic communities (TCs) for addictions. Using a linear mixed effect model, we assessed whether the rate of participant change was related to motivation, cluster B personality traits, and psychological distress. Longitudinal data were gathered among 155 adults in 4 traditional TCs for addictions in Belgium. The results provide evidence that with time in treatment participants develop more profound perceptions regarding the TC concepts and processes of self-change, which denotes the theoretical assumption of identity change and right living in TC treatment.
This qualitative research explores the dynamic roles of peer support in substance use disorder treatment. Interviews were conducted with 41 participants across three long term residential substance use disorder treatment programs in the Greater Toronto Area. Findings indicate four key themes of peer support: 1) Learning opportunities (that provide perspectives of oneself, perspectives of progress, and perspectives of positive social interactions); 2) Treatment opportunities from shared experiences (which help to create trust, provide a common understanding, and alignment based on shared experiences); and 3) Mutual support (which helps to prevent isolation, acts as an informal component of intervention, and supports reassurance and ongoing feedback). Together, the findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the specific nuances of peer support in longer term substance use disorder treatment centers.
Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment is typically delivered in group format, but clinical research focuses on individual therapy. This exploratory study narrows this gap through a survey of 566 SUD group clinicians in the United States, concerning most commonly used group practices, attitudes about evidence-based treatments (EBTs), and beliefs about addiction. Clinicians reported high use of open groups, moderately high utilization of EBT practices, and moderate use of questionable practices. Clinicians' attitudes about EBTs and beliefs about addiction were correlated with the use of certain EBTs and questionable practices. Strategies for implementation of EBTs in group settings are discussed.
We may hear in the rooms of mutual support groups that God does not close a door without opening a window. In this era of diminishing library budgets and increased financial pressures on publishers...
The present study assessed the efficacy of focus groups (FGs) used as part of a prevention-action project targeting students in their first and second years of Italian high school (9th and 10th graders). A sample of 661 students was randomly divided into an experimental group participating in an FG activity and a control group only attending a brief informative meeting. Two questionnaires were administered to measure alcohol consumption and any psychopathological vulnerability, respectively, with test-retest modality. Among the most important results, 52.4% of students drank alcoholic beverages on Saturday evenings and this consumption increased with age; in addition, alcohol consumption was associated with psychobehavioral problems of the externalizing type. The FGs proved effective in reducing the known tendency for alcohol consumption to increase with age, in terms of both the frequency of ingestion of alcoholic beverages and the quantity of alcohol involved.
Peer Recovery Support (PRS) is emerging as a key intervention for communities and individuals as they address high rates of substance abuse and limited recovery resources. American Indian populations were among the first people to use concepts of PRS through abstinence-based revitalization movements and ceremonies. The present study examined the impact of PRS on substance use, emotional and psychological problems, and social connections among urban and reservationAmerican Indian peers involved in a 3-year PRS program. A total of 224 individuals, 110 male and 114 female completed baseline GPRA. Of these, 65 peers completed baseline and 6-month follow-up GPRAs. Involvement in PRS decreased substance use significantly among peers. Peer attendance at voluntary self-help groups and support from family and friends increased as a result of PRS.
This study's purpose is to determine the effectiveness of cognitive group therapy based on schema-focused approach on self-esteem and emotion regulation in drug-addicted prisoners under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). The research population comprised addicted male prisoners under the MMT in Chenaran Prison. The experimental group received cognitive group therapy based on schema-focused approach, whereas the control group received no treatment. The instruments used for measurement in this research were the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Results revealed that cognitive group therapy based on schemafocused approach increase self-esteem and regulate emotions in addicted prisoners who are under the MMT.
Cocaine disorder has been shown to have an important impact on the success of treatments because it is often associated with social or occupational impairment, high relapse incidences and poor treatment outcomes. Many community group treatment programs for cocaine disorders use a rolling admissions structure, in which a group member who drops out or successfully completes therapy is replaced by another individual. Despite the common use, little is known about the effectiveness of this group. The study involved 18 patients who started a group therapy for cocaine abuse disorder. Outpatients group therapy take place into Clinical Center of Cocaine Addicts in Brescia, Italy. The measures used are DAST-20, OQ-45, GMLCS. The analysis conducted by the Multilevel Models show improvements compared to the symptom that is reliable with respect to psychological functioning. Patients who remain in treatment longer experience a greater quality of relationships within the group.
This article presents a revised curriculum for a family program developed for family members who are participating in a family program at a residential treatment for addiction. The article consists of a comprehensive overview of the modules developed for the program, inclusive of multifamily groups, psychoeducational components, and other family therapy modalities. In addition, preliminary results are presented demonstrating the positive effects of the program, while simultaneously building a foundation for the development and necessity of family member recovery.
The world has seen its share of turmoil and disaster in 2017. Social upheaval, political unrest, terrorism, and natural disasters daily have dominated headlines. And as the year ends, we learn that...
ABSTRACT Despite more than 40 years of research, limited evidence is available for the effectiveness of drug-free therapeutic communities (TCs). Worldwide, TCs have attempted succesfully to integrate innovative and evidence-based interventions, while adhering to the “community as method” (De Leon, 2000). This article is a case study of scientific research on practice and innovations in a TC, De Kiem (Belgium), over the past 40 years, illustrating how research and innovative approaches have shaped the TC into its current practice. From the start, scientific research was used to develop and adapt the TC program. International collaboration introduced new ideas, instruments, and methods and promoted a culture of inquiry. Several interventions that were implemented have contributed successfully to increased program retention, like the introduction of a welcome house phase, social network support, and a mother and child program.
The aim of this study was to identify gender differences between a group with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the sample of 76 clients of therapeutic communities. The battery of tests contained three questionnaires based on ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), and Conners Teacher Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by combining a descriptive approach and sectional processes of qualitative data analysis. Women with ADHD exhibit more complications in the WURS-25 scale and (together with the women without ADHD) in ASRS. Gender differencies in ADHD-related complication in treatment were expressed on a qualitative level; severe complications occurred mainly in the men in both groups.
Therapeutic communities (TCs) are well-known as a treatment modality and can be found in a variety of populations and settings, including addicts, as well as children and young people, individuals ...
The knowledge available on the effectiveness of treatment interventions for methamphetamine users in Europe remains scarce. The present study investigated the patterns of use and treatment outcomes of 176 clients, predominantly injecting methamphetamine users, in 4 residential therapeutic communities in the Czech Republic. Most of the clients were multiple drug users. Overall, methamphetamine users showed favorable outcomes with significant improvements in their substance misuse, injecting, health and criminal behavior at 1 year after discharge from treatment. Findings suggest that many methamphetamine users are able to complete the treatment and achieve considerable improvements.
Integrated and/or multidisciplinary working has become a central guiding principle of addiction treatment throughout the Western world. Indeed, the notion has become virtually synonymous with good practice in intervening in a complex disorder like addiction. There has been surprisingly little analysis or evaluation of the efficacy of this approach. Rather, it is effectively taken for granted that integrated and/or multidisciplinary working is without question a "good thing." But for complex interventions such as the therapeutic community, it is equally possible that these developments can threaten the underlying principles of the approach. This short literature review considers three areas of integrated working: integrating professional staff into therapeutic community teams; integrating new treatment approaches into existing therapeutic community frameworks; and the issue of therapeutic communities co-working with other treatment services with different philosophies and working practices. The work originated in an evaluative study of a network of Scottish addiction treatment services and the initial findings are that although there are some advantages to broadening the horizons of the therapeutic community movement, there is equally a danger of undermining some core principles.
Although addiction is increasingly considered as a chronic problem, only a limited number of studies have addressed quality of life (QoL) in therapeutic communities (TCs) for addictions. This reflective conceptual article assesses the history, philosophy, and background of the TC movement as modern concept, with roots in existentialism and phenomenology, as well as the QoL approach as a "postmodern" concept, with a positive vision on wellbeing and happiness, grounded in Aristotelian rationalism. The exploration of the QoL concept situated in the context of TC values, facts, and subjects leads to the finding that both visions can go alternatively together and fertilize each other.
Despite limited evidence base, rehabilitation services are associated with positive outcomes in U.K. research (Best et al., 2010). The authors investigated outcomes associated following a 12-week abstinence-based treatment program. Data were collected from 145 patients using a European Version of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-X) at intake, 6 months, and 1 year after completion. Individuals showed significantly better ASI-X scores after participating in program compared to their scores prior to the intervention. Those who completed the program had significantly better outcomes in medical and psychiatric domains at 12-month follow-up than those who dropped out before completion. Attending this abstinence-based program was associated with positive changes to physical health and social wellbeing, which were sustained 12 months after completion.
