The experience of drug‐dependent adolescents in a therapeutic community

Abstract

There needs to be a more central role for creative and vocational activities in adolescent programs and a variety of ways for them to document their journey. Group encounters need to be skillfully facilitated by staff to handle fluid inter-personal dynamics and residents need support outside of formal program time to minimise drop-out. The concept of a navigation-engagement continuum is discussed and the need to see treatment as a series of encounters that may be 'successful' despite 'non-completion'. This study gives adolescents a voice in program evaluation which may help improve retention.

Peer and sexual relationships in the experience of drug-dependent adolescents in a therapeutic community

“…PALM incorporates key features of TCs providing a structured program that includes: therapeutic, vocational, educational and creative group work; individual counselling; family work; journaling; and recreational activities [18]. The program and setting are described in further detail in a previous paper [19].…”

“…Ethics approval was received from the UNSW Ethics committee. Further details of methods, including participant recruitment, are described in a previous paper [19]. The supervisors were active mentors for the student, with weekly meetings held throughout the study where field notes, key findings and issues arising in the field were discussed.…”

“…From our searching of the literature, this is the first Australian study, which explores the daily experiences of adolescents in a treatment program, following young people in both formal and informal program time. The data presented in a previous paper [19] provide insight into the experience and response of adolescents to key program elements. This paper explores the formation of relationships among residents, and the implications for this and other treatment programs for adolescents.…”

Therapeutic Engagement and Posttreatment Substance Use in Adolescent TC Clients

“…Research using adult TC populations, however, shows a significant relationship between therapeutic engagement and posttreatment behaviors (Foster et al, 2010). To extend the literature from adults to adolescents, the present study examined whether therapeutic engagement influenced posttreatment substance use.…”

Incorporating Islam in the Therapeutic Community modality for rehabilitation of substance and drug users. A Malaysian experience

“…Overall, studies find that therapeutic community (TC) participants show improvements in substance abuse, criminal behavior and mental health symptoms. 1,[11][12][13][14] The structure and function of an organization gives ample evidence on how a therapeutic community can be helpful in the psychosocial and socio-cultural rehabilitation of persons suffering from chronic mental illness like schizophrenia. This is especially true of participants who enter treatment with the most severe problems.…”