Treatment Centers for A&D issues were originally founded in the early fifties where treatment was invariably based on the principles of the 12 Step program. This was the result of studies done by Jellinek, which found that “inebriates” had been often placed in Psychiatric Hospitals, which gave little assitance in treating the basic causes of their “ailment”, while AA was having a marvellous success rate. The result of this was to become known as the Jellinek Curve, which many of you will be familiar with, and Treatment Centers grew up for the “sickest of the sick,” based on this Model, (known as the Minnesota Model.)
Today however, TCs have become places where Govt. Interventions and funding have grown to demand more active participation in Treatment by the clients themselves, Community reinforcement models, behavioural models, and social models which attract the majority of the funding provided they meet Accreditation Standards are all given the funds.
Invariably, they are staffed by “Social Workers,” or folks with some Science Degree, who have little or no real knowledge of Addiction. Once, the majority of therapists had not only the training in Addiction, but first hand experience of what it was like to be an addict. Staffing is “complemented” by medical model folks who often it seems, fail to see the behaviours of incoming clients as substance induced, diagnosing them as having social anxiety disorders, etc, etc, and begin them on regimes of medications which for many, they are never to come off.
Success rates for treatment continue to go down, however, those who hand out the funds take credit for being seen to do something positive for the industry, while TCs with real success rates which run the old models, and dont pander to the Politically Correct, who recognise that the Addict comes to treatment because they are out of control and unable to do it themselves, lose funding and close doors.
The proliferation of alternative models within our communities, often situated on the doorsteps of the dealers, the new models of “community based,” where clients just come in for day treatment and get to go home at night and drink or ping, are a sign of the ever increasing invasion of the liberal minded politically correct radicals and their influence over our systems. Its time we got back to the basics, and folks with real success stories who benefited by going to treatment within systems which confronted them, can speak up by telling their stories. Tell me yours, let me publish it, after all, there is no shame in it for you, if you were not ashamed when you used, why be ashamed now you are clean.
love to all,
Michael:wacko: